Misery for Sullivan as Bernard takes gold in 100m freestyle swimming final
August 14, 2008
Don’t you hate it when you see someone break world records in the races that don’t matter. That is how it has panned out for Australia’s Eamon Sullivan in the men’s 100m freestyle at the Beijing Olympics.
Sullivan had broken the world record in the first leg of the 4 x 100m freestyle final a few days ago. He saw France’s Alain Bernard snatch it away from him in the first semi of the 100m freestyle yesterday. Sullivan then hit back and further lowered the mark to 47.05 in the second semi.
That set the stage for today’s climatic 100m men’s freestyle final. Sullivan and Bernard have been the hot swimmers in this event in 2008. Each held the world record only to see it broken by the other man.
The two lined up next to each other in the final and after the first lap it was Sullivan who held a narrow lead as he made the first turn with a time of 22.48. The Frenchman was just 0.05 behind.
You had the feeling that the gold was going to be won by a narrow margin, and that it was. Bernard came home in 24.68 compared with Sullivan’s time of 24.84. That gave him a margin of 0.11over his Australian opponent.
Bernard was triumphant, Sullivan looked on stunned. After all the build up, the world records and the expectation he was going home with the silver.
The old saying goes ”You can break world records anytime however you can only win an Olympic gold every four years.” Has Sullivan missed his chance? I am sure he would trade all the world records for the gold.
Congratulations to Alain Bernard the men’s 100m freestyle champion at the Beijing Olympic games. It was a race that lived up to expectations. A great one in the long Olympic history.
Comments
Got something to say?
