Jul - Aug 2002 View the PDF - Swimnews Online

ZIMBABWE’S FIRST GOLDNikki DrydenKirsty Coventry was “discovered” while swimmingin South Africa, spotted by a former US collegecoach who saw her swimming and called up hisformer swimmer, Dave Marsh, to let him know hehad found a winner. Marsh, who is head coach atAuburn University, was told by his old coach abouta girl from Zimbabwe who “holds the water welland has great potential.”And so it happened, Kirsty Coventry was off toswim in Alabama. As a freshman at this year’sNCAAs, she showed off her backstroke skills with athird-place finish in the 200 back and a fourthplacefinish in the 100 back. But it was the 200 IMin Manchester where she earned her stripes. FromLane 8, Coventry surprised the field with a threeseconddrop off her PB and a CommonwealthGames record. “I had a pretty terrible swim thismorning. I was seeded fourth coming into theGames, so I just wanted to do better tonight thanI did this morning.”Her win, in a time of 2:14.53, was a surpriseeven to her. “I am quite amazed. It really hasn’tsunk in yet, and it doesn’t seem very real.” Her winmarked the first gold for Zimbabwe in the pool atthe Commonwealth Games, and brought cheersand pride from her coach. Marsh arrived inManchester just in time to watch Coventry makehistory and was excited about her swim. Coventrywent on to place fifth in the 100 and 200 backs atthe Commonwealth Games and seems poised forcontinued successas it’s my best time. I knew Natalie was going to behard to beat. My aim was to just get out there and doa good time, and hopefully go for a medal.”Thorpe and Hackett were back in action in the200 free, and in any event they both swim, they makeit difficult to race for anything else but the bronze.And it was Canada’s Rick Say who was able to layclaim to the left-over medal. While Say wasdisappointed with his time, he will take the bronze.“Coming home with a medal, after swimming socrappy, is pretty good.,” said Say. “I am strugglingwith something here, but it is getting better.”Thorpe and Hackett both seemed somewhatdisappointed with their races. Thorpe was off hisworld record, touching in 1:44.71, with Hackett in1:46.13. Both also felt like they were in need of somerest before the 4x200 relay. “I’ve had lots of sleepbetween heats and finals,” said Thorpe. “But it’s justone of those things where I am probably not asrecovered from yesterday as I would have liked.”Day Three, Thursday, August 1In a controversial ruling in the heats of the 200 back,favourite Matt Welsh of Australia was DQed for movingon the start. Although the Aussies protested, and thevideo did not seem to prove his guilt, his DQ remained,leaving the door wide open for whoever was ready tostep up to the plate. That person was local hero JamesGoddard, who lives and trains less than 15 minutesfrom the pool in Manchester. His win was the first offour for the home team on the third day.Goddard took the race out and led from start tofinish, yet all eight men turned on the same strokegoing into the 100 wall. But Goddard stroked well,keeping up his edge to touch in a best time of 1:59.83to Scotsman Gregor Tait, who finished with a 2:00.55.Canadian swimmers Philippe Gagnon and BenoitBest ever Canadian men’s 4x200 free relay wins silver in 7:17.17 with Rick Say, Brian Johns,Michael Mintenko, and Mark JohnstonDan GalbraithHuot won silver and bronze in the SWAD men’s 50free. Gagnon tied the world record with 25.04, whileHuot was 0.03 seconds off the world record with histime of 25.07, both in the S10. “My performancesprove how far disability swimming has come,” saidGagnon. “The team spirit and integration into theCanadian team is great.”Australia’s Leisel Jones was just off her best, butit was good enough to put a body length on hernearest competitor in the 200 breast. Jones finishedahead of Sarah Poewe, 2:25.93 to 2:27.47. Jones washappy with her win, but not with her time. “My firstinternational gold feels fantastic. It was good to getout of the silver bracket. I was a little disappointedwith the time; I was out there at the 100 but just can’tbring it home. As I get older and stronger I will be ableto bring it home better.”For South African Sarah Poewe, this meet isquite emotional. “This will be the last time I swim forSouth Africa. I have dual citizenship and will beswimming for Germany from now on.” At 19, Poewesays her move has to do with her future in the sport.“It’s been an honour to swim for South Africa, and Iam very thankful, but now I have decided to swim forGermany.”Sarah Price, complete with her fake nails paintedwith the English flag, broke her third Games recordenroute to her emotional win. In tears of joy, shewaved to the crowd after swimming the 100 back in1:01.06. “I’ve shown everyone now that I can performin major competitions, and I’m just so happy!” Pricebroke the Games record in the heats and semis of thisevent, before winning the gold in the final. Herapproach to competition is part of an initiative inBritish swimming where swimmers have to swimwithin two percent of their best time in heats, withinone percent in the semis, and then a PB in the finals.With the crowd still on their feet, England hadanother one to cheer about with the big win of AdamWhitehead in the 100 breast. His win and time of1:01.13 brought the hugs of his Mum, who camedown the stands to embrace her tearful son. Canada’sMorgan Knabe swam to silver with a 1:01.23, off hisbest of 1:00.95.“I nearly quit the sport a year ago,” saidWhitehead. “I’ve had a lot of bad experiences afterSydney and a lot of bad swims, but my friends andfamily keep me in it.” Whitehead broke countrymanAdrian Moorhouse’s Games record in the heats witha 1:01.05.For the first time in Games history, Australia wasdefeated in the women’s 4x200 free relay. The racecame down to the final lap between Aussie PetriaThomas (swimming her 4th race in one day) andEngland’s Karen Pickering (winner of the 200 free).Pickering sealed the deal with her 1:59.41 split, andthe crowd erupted to celebrate yet another English8SWIMNEWS / JULY-AUGUST 2002