Schoeman breaks African record

2008-08-16 12:04

Beijing - Athens bronze medallist in the 50m freestyle, Roland Schoeman, set a new African record in his bid to be South Africa's first medallist of the Games in Saturday morning's final.

Schoeman, 28, gave his all in the "splash and dash" event which saw Brazil's Cesar Ceilo Filho take the gold and set a new Olympic record in 21.30s.

Schoeman, who once again had the fastest reaction time from the blocks, finished seventh in 21.67s, with the front to back of the field being split by only 0.42s.

A pragmatic Schoeman said afterwards: "It's hard not to be happy with a personal best, especially in the Olympic finals. If Eamon Sullivan had swum a PB he would have won the race.

"An event like this it's like having an Augusta or Wimbledon once every four years. I don't think I had the greatest start, but overall I think I had a great race.

"I didn't take a breath there, finished pretty strongly and it just wasn't to be."

'Funding is meagre'

While the team expect a lot of criticism from home, the feeling among the athletes is that they have done pretty well considering the funding they receive to prepare themselves.

Schoeman, who won gold in the Athens relay event, said: "We're not funded the way the US or Australian teams are funded, or even the the Europeans.

"The funding we do get is meagre in comparison," highlighting the vast differences and limitations of preparation and approach of the South African team compared to the dominant swimming nations.

"I hope the response from the SA public is going to be positive - sometimes we win medals and sometimes we don't - and that's an acceptance we have to have. It's a very, very young team...you look at William Diering, Melissa (Corfe) and Wendy (Trott), who are all kids in comparison. Hopefully they have learnt a lot from this.

The swimmer said: "This is the grandest stage of swimming; if they can take positives away and say 'I've got four years to make it even better', then that's the key."

Schoeman admitted his desire to share his experience of three Olympics at the top level of sport to assist with future preparation of teams and individuals.

Ramolefi ignored the heat

The last 24 hours have left all in no doubt that the athletics squad are on a do or die mission.

Ruben Ramolefi started Saturday where the three hurdlers left it on Friday night, by not just qualifying for the final of the 3000m steeplechase, but taking it to a place it has not seen since 1992.

Ramolefi ignored the 28 degree heat and led the field out from the gun at his chosen pace, going through the first kilometre in 2:49,62s.

At that stage most of the field that included Spain's Eliseo Martin, Morrocan Hamid Ezzine and Kenyan Kipkemboi Mateelong, all of whom have personal bests under 8:10, were intact in the bunch.

With the pace metronomically stuck, the field became strung out behind Ramolefi, 30, who added a kick with 300m to go to keep Mateelong and Uganda's Benjamin Kiplagat at bay.

'It was just awesome'

Clearing the final barrier with the Kenyan on his shoulder, a final push gave him the edge at the line to record eight minutes 19.86s, a personal best and only 0.89s off Whaddon Niewoudt's national record, which has lasted 16 years.

"I received a mail from a friend with part of the scripture 'I'm victorious in Jesus' and I came here with that attitude.

"I put my hope and trust in Him and He didn't fail me. That just motivated me every second, every stride, every hurdle - it was just awesome, a wonderful experience," said Ramolefi.

The Johannesburg-based athlete had the eighth best time of the day behind Ethiopia's Yakob Jarso who won the second heat in 8:16.88s, also setting a personal best.

A tactical race would give the South African the best chance of a high finish in Monday's final (15:30 SA time).

Ending the morning athletics session Tsholofelo Thipe finished sixth in her 400m heat which was won by Jamaican Novelene Williams in 51.52 seconds. Thipe recorded 54.11, over two seconds slower than her qualifier.

Hockey and athletics on the cards

South African hopes later on Saturday will be at the rowing venue outside Beijing where Ramon di Clemente and Shaun Keeling compete in the finals. Di Clemente, the Athens bronze medallist, will be hoping they can step up a gear to take on top seeds Canada, Australia and New Zealand, while Britain came into the final through the repechage.

They should have confidence over the German crew who they already accounted for in the first round.

Other action includes women's hockey where the team will be hoping to get their first score on the board in their fourth pool match against Spain.

At the athletics track, world indoor champion Khotso Mokoena, will need to clear 8.15m for an automatic qualification to the final, and the semi-final of the 400m hurdles event also takes place, which could see South Africa place three athletes into the final.

- SAPA