Golden Lochte gives medal away
Source: AFP |
December 16, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
RYAN Lochte shattered his own world record in winning the 200 meters individual medley at the world short course championships in Istanbul on Friday and celebrated by tossing his gold medal away.
The 28-year-old New Yorker, an 11-time Olympic medalist, finished in 1 minute, 49.63 seconds en route to a fourth consecutive gold medal at Sinan Erdem Arena.
His previous record had been 1:50.08 set in December 2010 in Dubai.
Japan's Daiya Seto clocked 1:52.80 to add the silver medal to the gold he won in the 400 IM, and Laszlo Cseh of Hungary won bronze in 1:52.89.
It had already been a stellar meeting for Lochte after he had won gold in the 200 freestyle, 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relays. But he stunned the crowd by handing his gold medal to a nine-year-old boy who had been patiently waiting for the American's autograph.
"I give them all away. One of the main reasons for racing is because of my fans, so I always want to give something back," said Lochte, who now has 27 short course medals, including 18 gold.
"If I took the medal it would end up in a sock drawer, if I give it to a fan they're going to treasure it. It will make their day or even their life. To see that smile on that little face means everything to me."
Lochte wasted no time in taking the lead on Friday and by the end of the butterfly stage he was already under world-record time. He held his pace over the backstroke, then stretched his lead further in the breaststroke.
By the time he turned for the freestyle leg he was well clear of his rivals and powered his way to the wall for his fourth gold medal of these championships and his 18th in world short-course championship history.
Lu Ying and Jiao Liuyang led home a gold and silver finish for China in the women's 50 butterfly.
Lu clocked 25.14 seconds to win China's first gold of the championships, while Jiao followed her in 25.23. Dane Jeanette Ottesen Gray was third.
Paul Biedermann defended his men's 400 freestyle title, but he needed to be at his best after China's Hao Yun had gone out strongly from lane eight.
Eventually, the German caught Hao in the final 50 meters and touched home in 3:39.15, while Hao took silver with 3:39.48. Bronze went to Denmark's Mads Glaesner, who finished in 3:40.09.
The 28-year-old New Yorker, an 11-time Olympic medalist, finished in 1 minute, 49.63 seconds en route to a fourth consecutive gold medal at Sinan Erdem Arena.
His previous record had been 1:50.08 set in December 2010 in Dubai.
Japan's Daiya Seto clocked 1:52.80 to add the silver medal to the gold he won in the 400 IM, and Laszlo Cseh of Hungary won bronze in 1:52.89.
It had already been a stellar meeting for Lochte after he had won gold in the 200 freestyle, 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relays. But he stunned the crowd by handing his gold medal to a nine-year-old boy who had been patiently waiting for the American's autograph.
"I give them all away. One of the main reasons for racing is because of my fans, so I always want to give something back," said Lochte, who now has 27 short course medals, including 18 gold.
"If I took the medal it would end up in a sock drawer, if I give it to a fan they're going to treasure it. It will make their day or even their life. To see that smile on that little face means everything to me."
Lochte wasted no time in taking the lead on Friday and by the end of the butterfly stage he was already under world-record time. He held his pace over the backstroke, then stretched his lead further in the breaststroke.
By the time he turned for the freestyle leg he was well clear of his rivals and powered his way to the wall for his fourth gold medal of these championships and his 18th in world short-course championship history.
Lu Ying and Jiao Liuyang led home a gold and silver finish for China in the women's 50 butterfly.
Lu clocked 25.14 seconds to win China's first gold of the championships, while Jiao followed her in 25.23. Dane Jeanette Ottesen Gray was third.
Paul Biedermann defended his men's 400 freestyle title, but he needed to be at his best after China's Hao Yun had gone out strongly from lane eight.
Eventually, the German caught Hao in the final 50 meters and touched home in 3:39.15, while Hao took silver with 3:39.48. Bronze went to Denmark's Mads Glaesner, who finished in 3:40.09.
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