Twelve-year wait over for Ryk
Brad Morgan
27 July 2005
Ryk Neethling became the second South African medalist at the FINA World Championships in Montreal when he claimed bronze in the 200 metres freestyle.
"I've been swimming internationally for 12 years", Neethling said, "so to finally get on the podium as an individual feels great."
Neethling just missed out on a medal with his fourth-place finish in the 50 metres butterfly - which Roland Schoeman won in a world record 22.96 - and afterwards was less than happy, saying it was like reliving the Athens Olympics, where he finished fourth in the 100 metres freestyle.
"I will rather finish last than in the fourth place, because then you have just missed a medal," he said.
A surprise
His third place in the 200 metres freestyle worked wonders for wiping out his disappointment, however. It was also something of a surprise to the swimmer himself, because it was the first time he had contested the 200 at a world
meeting since 1998.
In the final, Neethling was out front through the first 100 metres and under world record pace. "I knew I had to use my speed," he said.
Michael Phelps, who won six gold medals at the Athens Olympics last year, followed the South African star through 100 metres, also under world record pace. Australian ace Grant Hackett, the winner of the 400 metres freestyle, lay poised to make his challenge over the second 100 metres.
Phelps, though, upped the pace and moved clear to win in one minute 45.20 seconds, over a second outside Ian Thorpe's world record of 1:44.06, but a personal best nonetheless, and the tenth best time in history.
Hackett, who contested qualifying for the 800 freestyle in the morning, captured second in 1:46.14, with Neethling in third in 1:46:63.
The Australian's silver medal increased his haul at world championships to 14 medals, a new record. He is the overwhelming favourite to win the 800 metres and 1 500 metres, so
he should improve the mark he has set.
More medals?
Neethling's bronze and Schoeman's gold could well be added to when the pair contest the 100 metres freestyle final on Thursday.
Neither Ian Thorpe nor Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband is in Montreal, and it is worth remembering that Schoeman finished second to the Dutch sensation in the Athens Olympics. Also, he and Neethling were the dominant stars in the 2004/2005 FINA World Cup.
While the events in the World Cup are short course in nature, a good swimmer usually wins no matter whether the course is short (25 metres) or long (50 metres).
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