Sullivan Claims WA’s First Medal of the Games

Eamon Sullivan has claimed Western Australia’s first medal of the 2008 Olympic Games after he led the Australian men’s 4x100m freestyle relay team to bronze this morning.

In a stunning swim from the WAIS swimmer the individual 100m world record was broken by 0.26 of second as he led out the Aussie quartet but the other three swimmers couldn’t hold on for the remainder of the race as the most exciting event of the Games so far panned out.

All three of the medal winning teams went under the old world record as the United States just edged out Frances for the gold medal. The USA finished in a time of 3:08.24, with France second in 3:08.32 and the Sullivan led Australia’s third in 3:09.91.

22-year old Sullivan took the first leg and left the Water Cube breathless with a magnificent swim. The West Coast club member now holds both the world record for the 50m and 100m freestyle, with individual swims in both events still to come.

With his team in first place the pressure was on the more fancied French and American combinations and they responded. The Americans grabbed the lead from Australia’s second swimmer Andrew Lauterstein while the French snared second to push the green and gold crew back to third.

The third leg saw the French take the lead from the Americans while Ashley Callus held onto third for Australia, before an incredible final 100m saw American Jason Lezak haul in former world record holder Alain Bernard on the wall to claim the gold for the USA.

Matt Targett swam Australia’s second fastest leg in the final 100m to ensure that the Aussie’s secured their third bronze in the pool.

Sullivan’s next event is tomorrow with the heats of the individual 100m freestyle.