RELAY GOLD FITTING FINALE FOR SUCCESSFUL PARALYMPIC SWIM TEAM
Beijing, September 16: Australia's Paralympic swimming team wrapped up its incredibly successful campaign in Beijing with one last golden moment as the men's 34 points medley relay team claimed victory in a new world record.
The team of Matthew Cowdrey, Rick Pendleton, Peter Leek and Ben Austin became enthralled in a epic tussle with host nation China with the Aussies just touching out the crowd favourites by 0.77 of a second in a new world record of 4:11.90.
The relay win was Australia's ninth gold medal of the Games in the Water Cube and was a fitting farewell to the pool for two of the world's most successful swimmers here in Beijing in Matthew Cowdrey and Peter Leek.
The pair both bagged eight medals each with not even a ripped swim suit tonight enough to stop Cowdrey claiming a total of five gold, and three silver medals while Leek grabbed three gold, four silver and one bronze.
"This was about the whole team and that's what I'm proud of. The whole Australian male team pushed for a place on this relay, which shows our depth and competitiveness," Cowdrey said.
``I went in with eight swims hoping for eight medals but I didn't expect a medal in the 400m freestyle at all. To come out and get a silver and then a gold tonight in a ripped suit. Awesome.''
Both are set to return home as national heroes and the Australian swimming team under head coach, Brendan Keogh performed brilliantly to overall win three more gold medals than they did in Athens four years ago.
The Australian swimmers finished their 2008 Paralympic campaign with a total of 29 medals, 9 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze.
2008 PARALYMPICS AUSTRALIAN SWIMMING MEDALLISTS AFTER DAY EIGHT
Gold (9)
Matthew Cowdrey Men's 50 metre freestyle S9 25.34 WR
Matthew Cowdrey Men's 100 metre backstroke S9 1:03.34 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
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
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
Matthew Cowdrey Men's 4x100 metre medley relay 34PTS 4:11.90 WR
Rick Pendleton
Peter Leek
Ben Austin
Silver (11)
Peter Leek Men's 50 metre freestyle S8 26.89
Peter Leek Men's 100 metre backstroke S8 1:07.28
Peter Leek Men's 400 metre freestyle S8 4:31.16
Matthew Cowdrey Men's 100 metre butterfly S9 59.46
Matthew Cowdrey Men's 400 metre freestyle S9 4:17.02
Marayke Jonkers Women's 150 metre I.M SM4 3:28.88
Michael Anderson Men's 100 metre backstroke S10 1:01.47
Ellie Cole Women's 100 metre butterfly S9 1:10.92
Blake Cochrane Men's 100 metre breaststroke SB7 1:23.36
Sarah Bowen Women's 100 metre breaststroke SB6 1:42.39
Ben Austin Men's 4x100 metre freestyle relay 34PTS 3:53.59
Peter Leek
Sam Bramham
Matthew Cowdrey
Bronze (9)
Jacqueline Freney Women's 50 metre freestyle S8 32.37
Jacqueline Freney Women's 100 metre freestyle S8 1:08.56
Jacqueline Freney Women's 400 metre freestyle S8 4:57.21
Ellie Cole Women's 100 metre backstroke S9 1:11.87
Ellie Cole Women's 400 metre freestyle S9 4:44.60
Katrina Lewis Women's 50 metre freestyle S10 29.13
Annabelle Williams Women's 100 metre butterfly S9 1:10.98
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