Leisel Jones has finally won the individual gold medal that was her destiny when she made her debut as a wide eyed 15-year-old at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Jones obliterated the field in the 100 metres breaststroke at the National Aquatics Centre, hitting the wall in 1:05.17 – the second fastest swim in history behind her own world record of 1:05.09 – and 1.56 seconds ahead of runner- up Rebecca Soni of the USA. Austrian Mirna Jukic was third in 1:07.34.
Finishing behind Jones in sixth place with a time of 1:07.63 was compatriot Tarnee White. White finished seventh in the Sydney Games final.
Jones, who is coached by Rohan Taylor, said she had tried to enjoy the experience and admitted to a feeling of relief when it was all over.
“It was just nice to get out there and I just really soaked up the atmosphere,”
Jones said.
“I really tried to look at the crowd and actually take it all in. I was almost skipping out there I was so excited.
“It actually didn’t matter about outcomes, I knew I did everything possible and if someone was faster then that was going to be the case.
“At the end I guess there was a little bit of shock and probably more relief. It has been a long journey, it’s been a long eight years and I think a lot of relief that the training was definitely worth it.”
It was Jones’ sixth Olympic medal, the 22-year-old joining fellow swimming greats Frank Beaurepaire, Murray Rose and Michael Klim in sixth place on the list of Australia’s top Olympic medal winners.
When Jones won the silver at the Sydney Games it seemed only a matter of time before she climbed to the top of the breaststroke pile. She began breaking records and winning some of the smaller international meets, all the while building to what seemed like her birth right.
But she stumbled in Athens four years later, winning silver in the 200m and bronze in the 100m to go with relay gold. It was an emotional time.
Sceptics said she couldn’t make it to the top. Many saw her as weak of mind, if not strong of spirit. In truth she was a normal teenager struggling with normal insecurities. The problem being she was doing it in front of a fawning Australian public.
Jones thought of quitting many times, battled depression and equated her self worth to medals won in the pool
Now she is secure in the fact she has grown into a mature woman with great perspective, a young lady who doesn’t need to win gold to justify her being. It’s no small coincidence that now she has the gold too, a more balanced life coming with the benefits of better performances in the pool.
“The swimming part is only a very small margin in my life and I just enjoy it,”
Jones said of her change in attitude.
After the medal ceremony Jones climbed into the stands to steal a hug and a kiss from her mother Rosemary and fiancée Marty Pask.
Asked whether she would swim on now that she has won the elusive Olympic gold, Jones offered hope that she would be at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
“I think I’ve enjoyed it so much, I would hate to finish and know that there’s still a flame burning inside and like [rugby league coach] Wayne Bennett said ‘don’t die with the music in you’,” Jones said.
“I think I’ve still got so much more growing to do and so much more learning.
“[long time 200m rival] Amanda Beard is on her fourth Olympics so it’s not out of the question.”
Source: Australian Olympic Committee
Jones obliterated the field in the 100 metres breaststroke at the National Aquatics Centre, hitting the wall in 1:05.17 – the second fastest swim in history behind her own world record of 1:05.09 – and 1.56 seconds ahead of runner- up Rebecca Soni of the USA. Austrian Mirna Jukic was third in 1:07.34.
Finishing behind Jones in sixth place with a time of 1:07.63 was compatriot Tarnee White. White finished seventh in the Sydney Games final.
Jones, who is coached by Rohan Taylor, said she had tried to enjoy the experience and admitted to a feeling of relief when it was all over.
“It was just nice to get out there and I just really soaked up the atmosphere,”
Jones said.
“I really tried to look at the crowd and actually take it all in. I was almost skipping out there I was so excited.
“It actually didn’t matter about outcomes, I knew I did everything possible and if someone was faster then that was going to be the case.
“At the end I guess there was a little bit of shock and probably more relief. It has been a long journey, it’s been a long eight years and I think a lot of relief that the training was definitely worth it.”
It was Jones’ sixth Olympic medal, the 22-year-old joining fellow swimming greats Frank Beaurepaire, Murray Rose and Michael Klim in sixth place on the list of Australia’s top Olympic medal winners.
When Jones won the silver at the Sydney Games it seemed only a matter of time before she climbed to the top of the breaststroke pile. She began breaking records and winning some of the smaller international meets, all the while building to what seemed like her birth right.
But she stumbled in Athens four years later, winning silver in the 200m and bronze in the 100m to go with relay gold. It was an emotional time.
Sceptics said she couldn’t make it to the top. Many saw her as weak of mind, if not strong of spirit. In truth she was a normal teenager struggling with normal insecurities. The problem being she was doing it in front of a fawning Australian public.
Jones thought of quitting many times, battled depression and equated her self worth to medals won in the pool
Now she is secure in the fact she has grown into a mature woman with great perspective, a young lady who doesn’t need to win gold to justify her being. It’s no small coincidence that now she has the gold too, a more balanced life coming with the benefits of better performances in the pool.
“The swimming part is only a very small margin in my life and I just enjoy it,”
Jones said of her change in attitude.
After the medal ceremony Jones climbed into the stands to steal a hug and a kiss from her mother Rosemary and fiancée Marty Pask.
Asked whether she would swim on now that she has won the elusive Olympic gold, Jones offered hope that she would be at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
“I think I’ve enjoyed it so much, I would hate to finish and know that there’s still a flame burning inside and like [rugby league coach] Wayne Bennett said ‘don’t die with the music in you’,” Jones said.
“I think I’ve still got so much more growing to do and so much more learning.
“[long time 200m rival] Amanda Beard is on her fourth Olympics so it’s not out of the question.”
Source: Australian Olympic Committee
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