TRIPLE GOLD TRIUMPH TO AUSSIE MEDLEY TRIO
Beijing, September 12: Australia's Paralympic swim team produced a memorable night at the National Aquatic Centre on day five of the Beijing Paralympics last night when Peter Leek, Matthew Cowdrey and Rick Pendleton grabbed an historic triple gold medal haul - all in world record time.
The Australians dominated their respective 200 metre individual medley events with Leek (S8), Cowdrey (S9) and Pendleton (S10) in a memorable night at the Water Cube.
One of the rising stars of the sport, Leek kicked off the golden run with the teenage cerebral palsy sufferer from Sydney clocking his second win of the Games in a new world time of 2:20.92, blitzing his nearest rival, Wang Jiachao of China (2:29.71) by almost nine seconds.
Leek is set to return home a star with his medal tally now standing at two gold, two silver and one bronze.
Leek said the only secret to his "awesome" results in Beijing was 18 years of hard work.
"And every minute of that hard work has been worth it to get results like these," he said.
"I knew I had to go out hard to win a race like this. So I just went for it and I can't believe how fast the time is. I'm just stoked that time belongs to me because I think it's going to be a long time before anyone beats it."
South Australian teen sensation and two-time Paralympian, Cowdrey also grabbed his second gold of the Games and the fourth of his career with an amazing world record display in his 200 medley final, slashing nearly three seconds off his previous world mark to take the victory in an unbelievable S9 category time of 2:13.60.
Cowdrey who has a congenital amputation of his left arm to the elbow flew home over the final stages of the race to grab gold ahead of Ukrainian, Andriy Kalyna (2:17.21) with the South Australian having a running tally in Beijing of two gold and two silver.
"I knew I'd be close to going under 2:15 but I didn't think a 2:13 was quite possible, so hey, I definitely came out, enjoyed the night and swam fast," Cowdrey said.
"That was probably the biggest race of the meet for me, so now I've defended both titles from Athens I'm ecstatic. And that time was really, really quick so I don't think I could have had a better night than tonight."
Cowdrey, who trains with Peter Bishop and alongside Olympic silver and bronze medallist, Hayden Stoeckel at Adelaide's Norwood Swim Club,believes confidence helped him more than anything else.
"In the marshalling area I was the only one really talking and just enjoying the time, and confidence is a good thing," he said.
"Tonight's the first night we've got more than one Aussie gold in the pool and I don't think that even happened in Athens so it's a good night. "
A devastating breaststroke leg capped an unforgettable come from behind victory to John Shaw coached Coogee boy, Rick Pendleton who claimed his maiden Olympic gold four years after missing a medal in Athens by just 0.07 of a second.
Pendleton came from third place at the half way mark of the race to power home in the breaststroke and freestyle legs to a new world record time of 2:12.78 and upset Brazilian, Andre Brasil (2:14.20) and former world record holder of Canada, Benoit Huot (2:15.22).
"I'm glad to be the third one in the same category or same event to smash the world record - it's a good trifecta," he said.
"I'm just over the moon with that..wow! What a big swim and a big race and I'm glad to be on top at the moment."
Pendleton, who was born without a left hand, said he was shocked with his time.
"I was expecting maybe a 2.14, so four seconds off my personal best, that's a massive swim.
"I always knew that I'd be behind in the fly and backstroke so once I got to the breast stroke I knew I just had to drop the hammer and go for it.
"Just everything came together at the same time - everything falls into line properly for you, that's the reason you go so fast."
Adelaide 18-year-old, Jay Dohnt who lost both his legs and one hand to meningococcal disease at age 13 picked up Australia's final medal of the night, a bronze in the S7 400 metres freestyle in a time of 4:59.47 to take their overall tally after five days to six gold, five silver and four bronze.
"I came here to get a medal and didn't care what colour it was. This is the best. I am so relieved and happy," he said.
In other news Australian team officials have taken responsibility for a mix up that witnessed female swimmer, Ellie Cole miss her final in the S9 200 metre individual medley on day five. Cole claimed a silver medal earlier this week in the S9 100 metres backstroke.
"For the team I take full responsibility. We probably didn't warm her up enough. She's a bit upset but we're working through it," he said.
2008 PARALYMPICS AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING MEDALLISTS AFTER DAY FIVE
Gold (6)
Peter Leek Men's 100 metre butterfly S8 1:00.95 WR
Peter Leek Men's 200 metres individual medley S8 2:20.92 WR
Matthew Cowdrey Men's 100 metre freestyle S9 55.30 WR
Matthew Cowdrey Men's 200 metre individual medley S9 2:13.60 WR
Katrina Porter Women's 100 metre backstroke S7 1:24.30 WR
Rick Pendleton Men's 200 metre individual medley S10 2:12.78 WR
Silver (5)
Matthew Cowdrey Men's 100 metre butterfly S9 59.46
Ellie Cole Women's 100 metre butterfly S9 1:10.92
Blake Cochrane Men's 100 metre breaststroke SB7 1:23.36
Peter Leek Men's 100 metre backstroke S8 1:07.28
Ben Austin Men's 4x100 metre freestyle relay 34PTS 3:53.59
Peter Leek
Sam Bramham
Matthew Cowdrey
Bronze (4)
Annabelle Williams Women's 100 metre butterfly - S9 1:10.98
Jacqueline Freney Women's 100 metre freestyle - S8 1:08.56
Peter Leek Men's 100 metre freestyle - S8 59.14
Jay Dohnt Men's 400 metre freestyle S7 4:59.47
Kurt Hanson
Media Manager
Hanson Media Group
* Additional reporting APC Media Team, Beijing