Dias just ahead of He for gold

Source: China Daily | 09-09-2008 15:15

Luck was on Brazilian Daniel Dias' side yesterday when he narrowly defeated China's gold medal hopeful He Junquan by 0.15 sec, taking his second gold at the Beijing Paralympics.

"It was sensational. It took me a while to realize I had won, as I wasn't a favorite in this event," said Dias. "Two races, two golds. But this one has a better taste because it was decided on the touch, so it was more exciting."

Daniel Dias of Brazil celebrates after winning the men's 100m freestyle S5 final during the  2008 Beijing Paralympic Games at the National  Aquatics Center in Beijing on September 7, 2008. [Agencies]

Silver medalist Chinese swimmer He Junquan was overcome with disappointment on losing gold.

"I sprinted too hard at the beginning, so I ran out of strength in the end," said the three-time Paralympian. "I went all out to hit my head on the touch pad at the finish, but I still lost."

On the second day of the Paralympic swimming action, 13 countries swept up the 18 gold medals on offer. The United States and Britain, the leading forces at the Water Cube, swept three and two gold, respectively.

American swimmer Jessica Long, who is looking for gold in seven S8 events, kept her momentum yesterday, claiming her second gold in the women's 100m freestyle.

Her compatriots Anna Eames and Erin Popovich claimed another two gold in the women's 100m butterfly S10 and 100m freestyle S7.

South African Natalie du Toit won gold in the women's 100 m freestyle S9, clocking in at 1 min 1.44 sec, falling short of the 1 min 1.08 sec world record she set in 2006.

"I was expecting to do a little bit more than I did," said du Toit. "But, I just did my best, as I'm not a sprinter."

In the men's 100m freestyle S6, veteran Swedish swimmer Olsson Anders won gold and set a new world record of 1 min 5.95 sec, shaving 0.13 sec off his former world record.

"I didn't expect to break the world record, as the Chinese swimmers challenged me a lot in the final," the 43-year-old told The Paralympian, referring to Chinese swimmer Tang Yuan and Yang Yuanrun, who won the event's silver and bronze.

Today, 16 gold medals are up for grabs at the Water Cube.

Editor:Xiong Qu