Monday, 18 August 2008

Olympic Games: no miracles for the Cambodian swimmers

Cambodge Soir
18-08-2008

Despite their decent performances, the two Khmer representatives didn’t go beyond the 50 metres freestyle swimming qualification series.

It makes no doubt that Hemthon Vitiny’s heart must have beaten very fast on Thursday 15th of August at precisely 6.38pm, at the start of the 50 metres women’s freestyle swimming competition. On the day she turned 16 - she was born on the 15th of August 1992 - Vitiny took part in her first Olympic Games. She competed in lane 1. The swimmer has ended seventh on eight participants, 1.99 seconds from the Ugandan, Aya Nakitang who won the series.

Even thought this performance doesn’t qualify her for the semi-finals, the Khmer swimmer has covered the distance in 31.48 seconds. She broke her qualification time of 32’14’’. The world record is held by the Australian, Lisbeth Trickett with 23.97 seconds.

The day before, her uncle, Hemthon Ponloeu, who is two years older than her, reached a satisfying 5th place with 27’39’’. This wasn’t enough to qualify either. The Australian, Eamon Sullivan, silver medal in the 100 metres freestyle swimming behind the Frenchman, Alain Bernard, holds the world record with 21’28’’.

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