First gold just the beginning

2006-03-16 21:56

Wilhelm de Swardt

Melbourne - "The four musketeers from Africa have their first gold.

A jubilant Roland Schoeman said: "Isn't this great? And this is just the beginning.

"The South African cricketers showed us how to beat the Aussies. We're definitely going to win more medals."

Schoeman was speaking after he and teammates Ryk Neethling, Lyndon Ferns and Gerhard Zandberg won the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Their winning time of 3min 14.97sec is a new Commonwealth record and nearly two seconds faster than the Aussies' record time of 3:16.42 recorded in Manchester in 2002.

The South Africans also showed they were serious with their victory on Thursday about wanting to remain unbeaten in the relay event until the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Although it was the second time Ryk Neethling had won gold in a relay, he said he battled not to cry when the South African anthem was played and the flag was hoisted.

Aussies fought to the end

"I find it incredible to win a medal for South Africa.

"When I stood on the starting block waiting for my chance to swim, I told myself it was now or never. We couldn't allow the Aussies to beat us.

"The relay was really tough. The Aussies fought right to the end, exactly like we knew they would."

Ferns attributed their victory to the fact that they had known one another for years and knew what to do to bring out the best in each other.

"We were all taught at the University of Arizona exactly how to swim a relay."

Zandberg, more known for his backstroke ability, also thought the victory was momentous.

"It was incredible to swim in the same relay as these guys. My biggest fear was that I would let them down."

As was the case when they won the gold at the Athens Olympic Games, Schoeman dived in first and with a time of 48.65 gave South Africa the lead after the first 100m. Yannick Lupien of Australia completed his 100m in 49.28.

In the second 100m, Ferns was locked in a titanic struggle with Australia's Eamon Sullivan.

The Aussie beat him by two one-hundredths of a second, but Ferns' time of 48.43 was the fastest of all the South Africans.

It was Zandberg against Australia's Brett Hawke in the third 100m. The South African won his tussle in 49.44 with Hawke trailing in 49.49.

Neethling looked like a speedboat in the water in the last 100m. He won his battle against Ashley Callus by .11s.

His time of 48.45 was the second fastest of the South Africans. Ashley recorded a time of 48.56.

Australia were second overall in a time of 3:15.54, followed by Canada with a time of 3:15.74.

Brent Hayden, who swam the final 100m for the Canadians, recorded the fastest 100m in the relay in a time of 48.13.

- Beeld