Belated victory for Australia

Press, 26 July 1980, Page 20

Belated victory for Australia

NZPA-Reuter Australia swam to a sensational upset victory over the heavily favoured Soviet squad to capture the gold media in the men’s 4 x 100 medal in the men’s 4 x 100 .Olympic pool on Thursday evening. In a nail-biting finish, Neil Brooks swept past the Soviet Olympic champion, Sergei Koplyakov, to give Australia its first Olympic gold 'medal since the 1972 Munich : Games. I The Russians, six Olympic swimming titles already in (their pockets, had looked certain winners after building up a commanding lead in the backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly legs. But Brooks drew on 'exceptional reserves on the final freestyle leg to pass Koplyakov, who won the individual 200 m freestyle title earlier this week.. The Australian quartet of Mark Kerry, Peter Evans, Mark Tonelli, and Brooks clocked 3 rpinutes 45.70. sec-

ends. Britain won the bronze medal.

The Soviet swimming star, (Vladimir Salnikov, had earljier surged to a golden treble (when he won the 400 m Ifreestyle final, While East (Germany’s all-conquering (women’s squad swept to two more titles and one world record. The East German golds were won by ‘ Barbara Krause, the 100 m freestyle winner, who completed a double in the 200 m event, and-Caren Metschuck', in the 100 m butterfly. Another East German, Ute Gewehiger, beat her own world 100 m breaststroke mark in the qualifying heats with a new time of 1:10.11. Salnokov led throughout to capture the 400 m title, and make it three golds in’ three days after triumphs in the 1500 m freestyle and 4 x 200 freestyle relay. , . He finished three metres clear of his teammates, An- ■ drei Krylov and Ivar StukoIkin, in a Soviet, medals sweep.