Coutts, Hayden win gold despite scare
Source: Agencies |
October 8, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
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MORE than a dozen swimmers from Australia and England have fallen ill at the Commonwealth Games in the latest setback for trouble-plagued organizers in New Delhi.
British media reported that 20 percent of England's swimmers - about eight to 10 competitors - had been struck down with a stomach virus. The Australian team also confirmed at least six of its swimmers had been sick, including Andrew Lauterstein, who had to withdraw from the 50-meter butterfly.
Organizers rejected speculation the spate of sick swimmers was related to the water quality at the aquatics complex. Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell said that officials would conduct tests on both the main pool and the warmup pool at the Dr S P Mukherjee Aquatic Complex.
But five-time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe said he didn't think the swimming pool is the cause of the illness.
"I'd be surprised if it was the pool because chlorine has an amazing ability to kill just about anything that we have ever created," said Thorpe, who is working here as a television commentator for the BBC.
England swim team spokesman Dave Richards said reports of the sickness had been wildly exaggerated. "No (English) swimmer has missed a competition at all," he said.
Meanwhile, Alicia Coutts of Australia won her third individual gold medal, winning the 100m butterfly in the opening event on the fourth night of the swimming program.
Coutts finished the race in 57.53 seconds. England's Ellen Gandy was second in 58.06 while Jemma Lowe Wales took the bronze in 58.42.
Coutts won her previous golds in the 200-meter individual medley and 100 freestyle.
Brent Hayden gave Canada another gold medal with victory in the 100 freestyle in a time of 47.98 seconds. Simon Burnett of England was second in a time of 48.54 while pre-race favorite and fastest qualifier Eamon Sullivan of Australia took the bronze in 48.69.
Canada continued its unbeaten streak in synchronized swimming when Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon won the solo competition, then teamed with Chloe Isaac to win the duet. Canada has never lost a synchro swim competition at the Commonwealth Games, winning 13 gold medals in 13 events across six games back to 1986.
Jenna Randall of England took silver in the solo and Lauren Smith of Scotland the bronze.
World and Olympic champion Anna Meares won the women's sprint to claim her third gold medal at this year's Games, and teenage teammate Megan Dunn collected her second title as Australia stamped its dominance of track cycling.
Jamaica didn't even need Usain Bolt at the Commonwealth Games to remain the team to beat in the men's 100 meters, with Lerone Clarke winning the marquee race yesterday.
Clarke was near the front of the pack and crossed the line first in 10.12 seconds. Mark Lewis-Francis of England was second in 10.20 and Aaron Armstrong of Trinidad and Tobago was third in 10.24.
In the women's 100, Sally Pearson of Australia crossed first, finishing in 11.28 seconds.
Pearson, the Olympic hurdles silver medalist, and Laura Turner appeared to false start. Turner was given a red card, but the Englishwoman successfully argued her case and stayed in the race, competing under protest. She finished eighth in 11.57. Osayemi Oludamola of Nigeria was second in 11.32, and Natasha Mayers of St Vincent and the Grenadines crossed third in 11.37.
Jamie Adjetey-Nelson of Canada took the early lead in the decathlon, winning two events and finishing second in another to amass 2,583 points.
British media reported that 20 percent of England's swimmers - about eight to 10 competitors - had been struck down with a stomach virus. The Australian team also confirmed at least six of its swimmers had been sick, including Andrew Lauterstein, who had to withdraw from the 50-meter butterfly.
Organizers rejected speculation the spate of sick swimmers was related to the water quality at the aquatics complex. Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell said that officials would conduct tests on both the main pool and the warmup pool at the Dr S P Mukherjee Aquatic Complex.
But five-time Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe said he didn't think the swimming pool is the cause of the illness.
"I'd be surprised if it was the pool because chlorine has an amazing ability to kill just about anything that we have ever created," said Thorpe, who is working here as a television commentator for the BBC.
England swim team spokesman Dave Richards said reports of the sickness had been wildly exaggerated. "No (English) swimmer has missed a competition at all," he said.
Meanwhile, Alicia Coutts of Australia won her third individual gold medal, winning the 100m butterfly in the opening event on the fourth night of the swimming program.
Coutts finished the race in 57.53 seconds. England's Ellen Gandy was second in 58.06 while Jemma Lowe Wales took the bronze in 58.42.
Coutts won her previous golds in the 200-meter individual medley and 100 freestyle.
Brent Hayden gave Canada another gold medal with victory in the 100 freestyle in a time of 47.98 seconds. Simon Burnett of England was second in a time of 48.54 while pre-race favorite and fastest qualifier Eamon Sullivan of Australia took the bronze in 48.69.
Canada continued its unbeaten streak in synchronized swimming when Marie-Pier Boudreau-Gagnon won the solo competition, then teamed with Chloe Isaac to win the duet. Canada has never lost a synchro swim competition at the Commonwealth Games, winning 13 gold medals in 13 events across six games back to 1986.
Jenna Randall of England took silver in the solo and Lauren Smith of Scotland the bronze.
World and Olympic champion Anna Meares won the women's sprint to claim her third gold medal at this year's Games, and teenage teammate Megan Dunn collected her second title as Australia stamped its dominance of track cycling.
Jamaica didn't even need Usain Bolt at the Commonwealth Games to remain the team to beat in the men's 100 meters, with Lerone Clarke winning the marquee race yesterday.
Clarke was near the front of the pack and crossed the line first in 10.12 seconds. Mark Lewis-Francis of England was second in 10.20 and Aaron Armstrong of Trinidad and Tobago was third in 10.24.
In the women's 100, Sally Pearson of Australia crossed first, finishing in 11.28 seconds.
Pearson, the Olympic hurdles silver medalist, and Laura Turner appeared to false start. Turner was given a red card, but the Englishwoman successfully argued her case and stayed in the race, competing under protest. She finished eighth in 11.57. Osayemi Oludamola of Nigeria was second in 11.32, and Natasha Mayers of St Vincent and the Grenadines crossed third in 11.37.
Jamie Adjetey-Nelson of Canada took the early lead in the decathlon, winning two events and finishing second in another to amass 2,583 points.
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