Rebecca Soni Wins Olympic Gold
Rebecca Soni faced incredible odds and won. - Rebecca Soni has won the 200 meter breaststroke and has set a world record in doing so. Her time was 2 minutes 20.22 seconds.
To place this achievement into perspective, Rebecca Soni had cardiac surgery in 2006. She had had a heart condition that limited her training and impacted upon what she could do physically. She made that recovery only to face a world record holder in the pool. Australia’s Leisel Jones was a world record holder at this distance and had a proven record of mastery. By swimming standards, the breaststroke record for this distance had withstood many challenges. It had been established in February of 2006. Further, Leisel Jones had beaten Rebecca Soni earlier, in the 100 meter breaststroke.
It did not matter. Rebecca Soni overcame both with a remarkable swim.
No matter how well conditioned the athlete, at that pace, the lactic acid building in the muscles would have sent a pain message to the brain. It seems like it was a physiological message that Rebecca Soni ignored. She put more distance between herself and the world record holder in the final fifty meters. It was simply a stellar athletic achievement.
It was an upset victory for Rebecca Soni. It was a memorable Olympic moment and it embodied why this gathering of the athletes of the world is so special. To Rebecca Soni, it is Olympic glory.
Catherine Forsythe
Tags: Beijing Olympics, breaststroke, Leisel Jones, Rebecca Soni, Surgery, swimming, world record
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