Swanton wins SA's 7th gold
2006-03-21 09:49
Melbourne - Shooter Diane Swanton won South Africa's seventh gold of the Commonwealth Games on Tuesday but was pushed all the way to the women's trap title by a heavily-pregnant rival.
The 25-year-old from Pretoria marked her Games debut with a score of 92, six better than Rebecca Madyson who took silver for Malta with 86.
Madyson lives in Australia but chose to shoot for Malta, where she was born, and the decision paid off despite being 29 weeks pregnant and having to compete in hot and humid conditions at the Melbourne Gun Club.
"The baby kept kicking me in the bladder which certainly kept me awake," said the 25-year-old who lives in Morwell in Victoria.
Swanton, whose brother Byron goes for gold in the men's double trap on Wednesday, shot 92 targets from a possible 100 having finished the qualification round with 72 from 75, equalling the Games record.
"I'm overwhelmed," said Swanton. "This is a first for me so I am very happy."
Athens gold medallist Suzanne Balogh never made the final crashing out in qualification.