The only entrant from the United States, 16-year-old Chloe Sutton, was in the lead pack for the first third of the race but faded to 22nd. Afterward, through her tears of disappointment, she delivered praise for Du Toit, saying: "She's incredible. I was swimming next to her and she beat me and she has one leg."
BEIJING: For years, the swimmer Larisa Ilchenko of Russia has been as dominant in her races as Michael Phelps has been. The difference was that until 2008, Ilchenko's specialty, the 10 kilometer, was not an official Olympic event.
The race was a day at the beach compared with the 2007 world championships, when the competitors had to contend with three-meter, or 10-foot, waves and jellyfish in addition to the normal jockeying that makes open-water swimming as physical as water polo.
Ilchenko swam a smart race. She drafted off the pacesetters, Keri-Anne Payne and Cassandra Patten of Britain, from the time the waves settled after the frenetic maneuvering at the start until the penultimate minute, nearly two hours later.
Arguably none of the competitors had it as tough as Natalie du Toit of South Africa, who must keep her stroke balanced using just one leg. |
clipped from www.iht.com
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