Saturday night’s results at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing Park provided an unprecedented medal haul for the VIS. In just one hour of racing, two gold medals and one silver were added to the VIS and Australian medal tally.
The first medal was gold and came from Drew Ginn, with partner Duncan Free (NSWIS), in the men’s coxless pair. The pair led from start to finish and never looked like losing, beginning a fantastic session of rowing for Australia.
Australian team rowing captain and VIS athlete David Crawshay was next up in the men’s double scull (with partner Scott Brennan), where they also asserted their strength to finish first and take the gold medal.
To cap off a sensational day on the water, the men’s coxless four of James Marburg (VIS), Cameron McKenzie-McHarg (VIS), Francis Hegarty (AIS) and Matt Ryan (AIS) finished second in the men’s coxless four to take the silver medal.
For full VIS Olympic rowing results go to www.vis.org.au and click the Beijing tab.
VIS swimmer Leisel Jones has finished her sensational Olympic meet with two gold and one silver medal. After taking gold in the 100m breaststroke, Jones went on to finish second in the 200m breaststroke before helping the women’s 4 x 100m medley relay team to another gold medal in world record time. VIS freestyle swimmer Shayne Reese also won gold in the medley relay event as a heat swimmer.
Australian swim team captain Grant Hackett set an Olympic record in his 1500m heat swim, before managing the silver medal in the final to become one of only two swimmers to medal in the event at three Olympics (along with fellow Australian Kieren Perkins).
Hackett also won bronze medal in the men’s 4 x 200m freestyle relay along with Patrick Murphy.
After a stunning fifth in the final of the men’s 100m backstroke, VIS youngster Ashley Delaney received a silver medal for his heat swim in the men’s 4 x 100m medley relay.He was joined by freestyler Matt Targett to finish their heat first, in the second fastest time overall.
In the 100m freestyle, Targett also managed to slice more than half a second off his personal best time to qualify for his first Olympic final, where he finished seventh.
For full VIS Olympic swimming results go to www.vis.org.au and click the Beijing tab.
VIS diver Bree Cole won the silver medal with partner Melissa Wu (AIS) in the women’s 10m synchronised platform diving. After qualifying for the final in eighth place, Cole and Wu executed some brilliant dives in their final rounds to climb the placings and finish second.
In the men’s 3m synchronised diving, VIS diver Scott Robertson qualified for the final with partner Robert Newbery and eventually finished in eighth place.
After qualifying for the semi final in the women’s 3m springboard, Chantelle Newbery finished 14th and did not make it into the final diving round.
For full VIS Olympic diving results go to www.vis.org.au and click the Beijing tab.
VIS cyclists Mark French and Shane Kelly made it to the bronze medal race of the men’s team sprint, but could not match the speed of the German team and had to settle for fourth place.
VIS road cyclist Cadel Evans also finished just outside of the medal places last week, after placing fifth in the men’s road time trial, the last of his Olympic events for Beijing.
For full VIS Olympic cycling results go to www.vis.org.au and click the Beijing tab.
VIS athletes Luke Doerner and Travis Brooks had a sensational start to their Olympic campaign with the Kookaburras, winning their first three games and having only two goals scored against them for the tournament. A 2-2 draw to the Netherlands yesterday should not harm the finals chances for the medal-favourite Australian team.
For full VIS Olympic hockey results go to www.vis.org.au and click the Beijing tab.
The Hockeyroos, with star goalkeeper and VIS scholarship holder Rachel Imison, commenced their Olympic campaign strongly - winning the first three games before suffering a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands.
For full VIS Olympic hockey results go to www.vis.org.au and click the Beijing tab.
Australia’s softball team, including VIS athletes Natalie Titcume and Justine Smethurst, have won four from six matches and are now on track for the finals. After losing their first two matches to medal favourites Japan and USA, the girls bounced back and recorded some convincing wins to qualify for the playoffs. All teams have a rest day tomorrow, and will commence finals matches on Wednesday.
For full VIS Olympic softball results go to www.vis.org.au and click the Beijing tab.
VIS sailor Sarah Blanck won her seventh race today to put her in fourth place overall in the women’s laser radial. After race six, Blanck had slipped to seventh position overall, however following her stunning win she is back in medal contention.
Consistency is the key for VIS athlete Glenn Ashby and partner Darren Bundock (NSWIS), who sit in first place after race five. The pair have recorded top-five placings in each race and will now look to extend their close lead over the next five races.
Krystal Weir has ended her Olympic campaign in the women’s Yngling, finishing tenth overall following an unfortunate disqualification in the final race.
For full VIS Olympic sailing results go to www.vis.org.au and click the Beijing tab.
VIS shooter and Olympic veteran shooter Russell Mark was the highest placed VIS shooter at the Games, finishing fifth in the men’s double trap. After previously retiring and returning to the sport, Mark has hinted at the possibility of contesting a sixth Olympic Games following his Beijing results.
For full VIS Olympic shooting results go to www.vis.org.au and click the Beijing tab.
VIS 400m track runner Sean Wroe has qualified for the semi finals in a personal best time of 45.17. Wroe finished his heat in second place and will contest a finals berth in tomorrow night’s semi finals.
Benita Johnson was the highest-placed VIS runner in the women’s marathon, finishing in 21st place after a courageous second-half of her race, where she overtook many runners to better her placing. Fellow VIS athletes Lisa Jane Weightman and Kate Smyth finished the marathon in 33rd and 44th places respectively.
For other VIS Olympic track & field results go to www.vis.org.au and click the Beijing tab.
VIS table tennis player Miao Miao qualified through to the second round of the women’s singles competition today, the first Australian to progress in these Olympic Games.
VIS athletes Stephanie Sang, Kyle Davis and David Zalcberg all contested the teams and doubles events last week but could not break through their opposition to pass through the first round. Like Miao, they will also play singles matches over the coming days.
For full VIS Olympic table tennis results go to www.vis.org.au and click the Beijing tab.
The VIS baseball team is heading into the final round of the Victorian Winter League with a record of 15 wins and two losses. Currently sitting on top of the ladder, the team is a certainty to progress to the finals series following the final round game.
VIS scholarship holder Andrew Jones recently returned from the U19 Baseball World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, where Australia finished fourth. Details of the championship can be found at http://www.baseball.com.au/default.asp?MenuID=National_Teams/86/0/,National_AAA/14885/33124/
VIS cyclists (non-Olympic) competed in the Victorian Cycling Championships in Ballarat over the weekend.
Bridie O’Donnell recorded three wins for the weekend, in the women’s road time trial, the criterium and the road race. Leigh Howard was successful in the men’s events, also winning the road race and the criterium, while Tess Downing came in fifth in the women’s time trial.
