Brit beats Ryk and Roland
2006-03-19 11:07
Melbourne - England's Simon Burnett upset South African world sprint medallists Ryk Neethling and Roland Schoeman to win the men's 100m freestyle gold medal at the Commonwealth Games Sunday.
Burnett, who trains with Schoeman in Arizona in the United States, won the blue riband sprint in a Games record 48.57 seconds.
Burnett gave Schoeman much of the credit for his Games triumph.
"Roland has been great, he's helped me so much in the last year," Burnett said.
"I train with him back in Arizona and he's really been almost instrumental in my change, he's helped tweak my stroke and I owe a lot to him."
Burnett said after his 4x200m freestyle relay success with England over Scotland and Australia on Saturday, he was determined to come away with an individual gold medal at the Melbourne meet.
Schoeman was the favourite after taking the silver medal at last year's Montreal world championships, while Neethling took the bronze.
Neethling took the silver medal behind Burnett in 49.20 with Schoeman third in 49.24.
It continued a stellar rise for 22-year-old Burnett, who broke three British long-course records at the British Games trials, and his gold medal swim was his personal best time.
The three Australians in the final - Eamon Sullivan, Ashley Callus and Kenrick Monk - all finished outside the medals.
- AFP