athens2004

medal agony for goddard

James Goddard won and lost an Olympic bronze medal inside a topsy-turvy thirty minute period at the Olympic Aquatic Centre last night. Goddard was promoted to third place after race winner Aaron Peirsol was disqualified for an infringement at his third turn, before the American was reinstated on a technicality.
Goddard was originally finished in 4th place, agonisingly close to bronze having spent the majority of the race in second place. His time of 1:57.75 was outside his Commonwealth record from the semi finals but still faster than his best heading into the meet. Team-mate Gregor Tait was seventh in a disappointing 1:59.28.
In the nights other action, Katy Sexton was unconvincing in her 200m backstroke semi final but progressed to the final in eighth place nonetheless. Her time of 2:12.62 was over 4 seconds outside the time she set to take last year’s world title.
Britain’s other semi-finalist last night was James Hickman who clocked a below par 53.10 to finish 15th overall. He has what could be his last long course international race remaining when will line up in the men’s 4x100m medley team heats. However, he is likely to get a second swim in the final of that event should the team progress following British Champion Todd Cooper’s disappointing heats swim which saw him fail to make the semi-finals.
There was better news for Rebecca Cooke who swam a commanding heat in the 800m freestyle to qualify second fastest for the final in 8:28.47. She will now have her eyes on a medal and Sarah Hardcastle’s British Record in the final.