OLYMPIANS DIG DEEP: AUSSIES WIN THREE MEDALS ON OPENING DAY
Surf Life Saving Australia, September 18, 2014: Australian head coach Danny Short has praised his team for “digging deep” in easily the most competitive start to any Lifesaving World Championships on record after the first day of pool lifesaving events in Montpellier today.
LIFESAVING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, RESCUE 2014 (September, 17-21): Antigone Olympic Pool in Montpellier; Le Couchant Beach, La Grande Motte.
Australian head coach Danny Short has praised his team for “digging deep” in easily the most competitive start to any Lifesaving World Championships on record after the first day of pool lifesaving events in Montpellier today.
The Australians, with Olympians Ryan Napoleon and Naomi Flood, both on the podium, finished with one silver and two bronze medals and four Australian records.
It has kick-started its World Lifesaving Championships, Rescue 2014 campaign in fine style.
According to the Rescue 2014 website, the Australians are placed third on the pointscore behind host nation France and defending champions New Zealand with Australia in a stronger position than they were two years ago after the opening day.
Napoleon had a busy day – twice lowering the Australian record in the 200m Obstacle Swim – and was right in the mix in a classic Trans Tasman shoot out against Kiwi Olympians Steve Kent and Andy McMillian, with Kent smashing the world record.
"It was busy that's for sure; I’m ready to crash; but happy to swim a couple of PBs in what was a great race with the New Zealand boys before coming together with the boys in the relay," said Napoleon.
"But seeing I have only been doing this for 12 months, I couldn't be happier for myself and more importantly the team."
The 2010 Commonwealth Games swimming gold medallist and London Olympic finalist made a move down the third lap in the 200m Obstacle Swim, a tactic he has used in his swimming career, and as hard as he fought it was Kent who edged in front to set a new world record of 1:53.73 ahead of McMillan with Napoleon stopping the clock at 1:53.93.
The Currumbin Beach Viking/RLSS QLD representative then backed up for fourth in the 100m Rescue Medley to Germany’s Danny Wieck, with Kent and MacMillan taking the minor placings.
Napoleon was back in the water, swimming the second leg of the 4x25m Manikin Tow Relay - the final event of the day.
First swimmer Andrew Bowden gave Australia an opening lead, which Napoleon and Tim Schofield kept and in a thrilling, blanket finish it was the German swimmer who edged out Ironman Shannon Eckstein in a touch – the Australians setting a New National mark and clocking a time if 1:06.56 with Germany setting the new world record of 1:06.15 - and the Aussie foursome also under the old world mark.
Australia’s other individual medal came from Flood who showed her remarkable versatility, coming from the recent World Kayak Championships to snatch a bronze in the 100m Manikin Tow With Fins, stopping the clock in a new Australian record time of 1:00.46, with team mate Pamela Hendry a close-up fifth in 1:01.04.
“It was certainly a great day’s racing and full marks to Ryan and Naomi who are special athletes and the boys in the relay in what was a thrilling final event that went right down to the wire,” said Short.
“I reckon Shannon Eckstein is the only Australian Ironman champion who has ever broken a world record in pool lifesaving; the whole team dug deep and it was an encouraging start for us on a day that saw the Kiwis, the French and Germans all swim fast.
“Special mention also to Pamela Hendry who was never out of the water , swimming in four finals – two individual and two relays.”
It already betters Australia's pool lifesaving medal tally from Adelaide in 2012 with the second day remaining tomorrow, before the SERC on Friday and the beach events at Couchant Beach, La Grande Motte on Saturday and Sunday.
FULL RESULTS
Australia’s results, which saw the team gather valuable points are:
Ryan Napoleon 1:53.93 (3rd) 200m Obstacle Swim
Miranda Bell 2:12.24 (7th) and Kristyl Smith 2:13.22 (8th) - 200m Obstacle Swim
Kristyl Smith, Pamela Hendry, Christina Ruiz, Miranda Bell 1:54.50, Australian record 1:39.18 (7th) 4x50 Obstacle Relay
Andrew Bowden, Ryan Napoleon, Shannon Eckstein, Tim Schofield (5th) 4x50m Obstacle Relay
Naomi Flood 1:00.46 Australian record (3rd) Pamela Hendry 1:01.04 (5th) 100m Manikin Tow With Fins
Christina Ruiz 1:14.29 (7th), Pamela Hendry 1:17.10 (8th) 100m Rescue Medley
Ryan Napoleon 1:01.75 (4th) 100m Rescue Medley
Christina Ruiz, Miranda Bell, Pamela Hendry, Kristyl Smith 1:28.22 (8th) 4x25m Manikin Relay
Andrew Bowden, Ryan Napoleon, Tim Schofield, Shannon Eckstein 1:06.56 Australian record (2nd) 4x25m Manikin Relay
It was great to see Australia's Youth Team flying the flag at the pool. They start their campaign at Couchant Beach tomorrow.
The Australian Lifesaving Team, World Life Saving Championships, Rescue 2014, Montpellier-La Grande-Motte, France, September 13-26, 2014:
Men - Shannon Eckstein (Northcliffe SLSC) Captain, Andrew Bowden (Bronte (SLSC/ The Hills Life Saving Club) Jake Lynch (Newport SLSC) Ryan Napoleon (Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC / RLSS Queensland), Tim Schofield (Terrigal SLSC / The Hills Life Saving Club), Lachlan Tame (Avoca Beach SLSC).
Women - Miranda Bell (Northcliffe SLSC), Naomi Flood (Manly LSC), Pamela Hendry (Maroochydore SLSC / Brisbane Life Saving), Melissa Howard (Kurrawa SLSC), Christina Ruiz (Northcliffe SLSC / RLSS Queensland), Kristyl Smith (Northcliffe SLSC).
Australian Youth Lifesaving Team, World Life Saving Championships, Rescue 2014, Montpellier-La Grande-Motte, France, September 13-26, 2014:
Men - Joshua Brown (Byron Bay SLSC), Daniel Collins (Redhead SLSC), Matt Davis (Northcliffe SLSC / RLSS Queensland), Jason Gough (Mooloolaba SLSC), Nik Green (Alexandra Headlands SLSC), Brad Woodward (Shelley Beach SLSC / The Hills Life Saving Club).
Women - Prue Davies (Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC / RLSS Queensland), Chelsea Gillett (Maroochydore SLSC / Brisbane Life Saving), Ela Heiniger (Byron Bay SLSC / Port Hacking Lifeguard Club), Nicole Kay (Mooloolaba SLSC), Alyssa Koenan (Northcliffe SLSC), Georgia Miller (Newport SLSC).
Team Management and Traveling Staff: Head Coach: Danny Short (Maroochydore SLSC), Team Manager: Keith Caldwell (Bulli SLSC), Assistant Coach: Wade Sinclair (Picnic Bay SLSC), Physiotherapy: Nick Marshall (Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park SLSC), Sport Science/ Assistant Manager: Elise Bateman. Beach Coach: Martin Lynch (Newport SLSC)
Australian Youth Lifesaving Team Management: Head Coach: Brett Dowker (Currumbin SLSC), Team Manager: Garry Mensforth (Umina SLSC), Assistant Coach: Craig Holden (Elliot Heads SLSC), Physiotherapy: Troy Eady (Byron Bay SLSC), Beach Coach: Martin Lynch (Newport SLSC).
Travelling staff members: Kitty Chiller – SLSA GM Capacity & Capability (Female Athlete Liaison – Australian Youth Lifesaving Team), Nathan Hight – SLSA Sport Manager (CEO’s Representative, Australian Lifesaving Team and Youth Lifesaving Team.
PROGRAM DAYS – Open and Youth
Wednesday, September 17:
OPEN (Pool, Day 1)
Thursday, September 18:
OPEN (Pool, Day 2)
YOUTH (Beach, Day 1)
Friday, September 19:
OPEN (Pool, SERC)
YOUTH (Beach, Day 1)
Saturday, September 20:
OPEN (Beach, Day 1)
YOUTH (Pool, Day 1)
Sunday, September 21:
OPEN (Beach, Day 2)
YOUTH (Pool, Day 2).
Social media (hashtags/twitter/websites):
#rescue2014 (event)
#pridemateshippassion (Team)
@AUSlifesaving
@SLS_Online
@royallifesaving
@Ausport
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Australian-Life-Saving-Team/370689553031410
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/AusLifeSavingTeam
www.rescue2014.fr (official website and location of results)
http://www.royallifesaving.com.au/
Issued on behalf of Surf Life Saving Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia
Media Manager, 2014 Australian Commonwealth Games Team
Deputy Media Manager 2016 Australian Olympic Team
Media Manager 2014 Pan Pacs
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
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