The Frenchman Bernard became Olympic champion in the 100 meter free

Posted by bumeral

August 14, 2008

BEIJING - The Frenchman Alain Bernard certainly could not sleep well last Monday after losing the gold medal before the American Jason Lezak in the last span of the 4×100 free relay, but today in the individual test was avenged by U.S. and Australian Eamon Sullivan and won its first Olympic gold medal.

This morning, in the “Water Cube”, the French asserted his personal motto: “take your time to be fast,” since he was 50 in the second when the Australian won.

In one of the most eagerly awaited final of the Olympic Games in Beiijng, Bernard aventajó to Sullivan after they both yesterday in the semifinals by two Bates overcome world best mark of the 100 free at the end it was the ocean, with 47.05 by the European 47.20.

Before the Olympic Games in Beiijng, the record was held by the French with 47.50.

The third was the executioner of Bernard in the relay, Lezak, down the street seven won the bronze medal but was unable to regain hegemony in this test for the Americans who were in their day. The last time an American won in the 100 meter free was Matt Biondi at the Olympic Games in Seoul in 1988.

Lezak surpassed the Brazilian Cesar Cielo, which grazed the third place on the podium in a top-level test.

The new Olympic champion scored 47.21 for silver medalist of 47.32, 47.67, American and South American’s 47.67.

The Olympic champion from Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, Pieter van den Hoogenband, who last March served 30 years, was fifth in what will be probably the Olympic farewell in his outstanding career that led him to dominate the distance the first half of the twenty-first century.

The swimmer from the Netherlands had made the third best mark after the ocean and the European 47.68, and today was not at that level and made 47.75.

Van den Hoogenband overcame the South African Lyndon Ferns, 48.04; targeted the Australian Matt, 47.32; and Swedish Stefan Nynstrand, 48.33, eighth and last.

Sullivan took the better part in the first 50, with 22.53, ahead of Bernard, Heaven, Nystrand and that the Ferns went with 22.53, 22.74, 22.84 and 2.86.

Van den Hoogenband was the latest twist to 23.25, but on lap was faster, more even than Bernard, who made 24.68 by 24.50 of the Dutch.

Eamon Sullivan stopped the chrono at 24.80 in the last partial and Cesar Cielo at 24.93 compared with 24.81 of Jason Lezak. They lost the final the Brazilian.

Win because he had lost
The French swimmer acknowledged that the failure in the 4×100 free, in which he was the last relief, he served as extra motivation to face the end of Hectometre.

“I hit a lot have lost the baton. Upon leaving the fourth taking all the blame. I said that was something of four, but have been encouraged to me recover,” said French swimmer.

With his victory in the final 100 metres Bernard said to have achieved “a victory against himself.”

“I hate losing, this year he only lost two races of 100 meters and won me over in fastidió me. I knew that the defeat was a possibility because in the end had major rival, has been a difficult fight but I am proud of my triumph “He said.

“We were all physically butt, had so much tension at the end has not beaten the world record. But the important thing here was the victory, I am happy to have succeeded,” he said.

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