andygates: (Default)
andygates ([personal profile] andygates) wrote2008-08-20 08:57 pm
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Olympic hero of the day

The 10km open-water swim is a new event for the Olympics and I think it's a great one - a gruelling endurance race with pack tactics, weather, drafting and a little ankle-grabbing. 

Brits Keri-Anne Payne and Cassie Patten took silver and bronze after being out-sprinted at the end by Russian Larisa Ilchenko (sneaky!) but for me the Man Of The Match, so to speak, was South African Natalie du Toit.  That's her, number 23, and yes, that's her peg-leg.  Lost it in an accident and just carried on competing at international level.  Natalie finished about a minute behind the leaders at just over two hours. 

That's gumption.  Gumption and lats, clearly ;)

[identity profile] ravenbait.livejournal.com 2008-08-20 08:24 pm (UTC)(link)
She was absolutely brilliant.

10k in 2 hours! OMG!

[identity profile] andygates.livejournal.com 2008-08-20 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
They all were! I'm looking at posting 45 minutes for just 1900m, ffs!

They're so damn fast (I refer to your previous post about "how the hell do elite swimmers do it?")

I swear my legs are just drag anchors. Maybe a little drastic surgery will boost my time...

...sux on the bike though.