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Photo ©: Bettini

29th Olympic Games - JO

Beijing, China, August 9-23, 2008

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Event 21 - August 17: Women's 3000m Individual Pursuit Final

Romero continues British stranglehold on track Games

By Rob Jones in Beijing

Rebecca Romero celebrates her gold medal
Photo ©: Casey Gibson
(Click for larger image)
Rebecca Romero won the all British pursuit finale. Romero beat her compatriot from Great Britain, Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain), by two seconds. Romero's winning time was 3'28"321.

In the third-place race Lesya Kalitovska (Ukraine) beat Alison Shanks (New Zealand). Kalitovska scored a 3'31"413.

The third day of track competition saw the Brits continue their dominance on the boards. In the one medal final event - the women's individual pursuit - Great Britain finished one - two, with world champion Rebecca Romero taking the gold and Wendy Houvenaghel the silver. Lesya Kalitovska of the Ukraine won the bronze medal over Alison Shanks of New Zealand.

Romero started fast in the 3,000 metre race, and then cruised home to win in 3:28.321, well off Sarah Ulmer's record of 3:24.537, set at the Athens Games four years ago. Her winning margin was just over two seconds, but initially, she didn't realize that she had won, gesturing the question to support staff. Once she realized that she had, indeed, taken the gold medal, Romero pumped her fist and then headed to the rail to be mobbed by her family

"Right now, I'm trying to hold it together; what an immense achievement. I had to search deep inside, and fight for this, and to do what I knew I was capable of," said Romero. "Wendy gave me a challenge all the way. We did it together, we filled the top two spots. Two years ago, we said it would be us two."

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Casey Gibson/www.cbgphoto.com

Images by Rob Jones/www.canadiancyclist.com

Results

Final
1 Rebecca Romero (Great Britain)       3.28.321 (51.843 km/h)
2 Wendy Houvenaghel (Great Britain)    3.30.395
 
Third place ride
1 Lesya Kalitovska (Ukraine)           3.31.413
2 Alison Shanks (New Zealand)          3.34.156

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