Swim: Unusual reward awaits Thomas

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Swim: Unusual reward awaits Thomas

By Laine Clark

MANCHESTER, Aug 5 AAP - An unusual reward awaited Petria Thomas after she entered CommonwealthGames legend status by ending a week that more resembled an ironwoman event than a swimmingprogram.

Thomas completed her unprecedented eight-race program with five golds, ending witha convincing 200 metres butterfly victory and Australia's 4x100m medley win.

Afterwards Thomas had one thing on her mind - doing it all again at the Pan Pacificchampionships in Japan in three weeks.

Lismore-born Thomas, 26, brought her total gold tally from three Games to nine, alongsidefellow Australian Michael Wenden and English fencer Bill Hoskyns, and just under the leadingall-time winning group of Susie O'Neill and Ian Thorpe with 10.

The gruelling campaign also featured Thomas's historic third straight 100m butterflygold, with which she became the first female swimmer to seal a "three-peat" in the sameCommonwealth Games event.

Her marathon Games stint ended with medley relay gold, capping off a party in the Australianwomen's camp on the final night of competition that also featured self proclaimed "karaokequeen" Jennifer Reilly, who fittingly sang to Aretha Franklin's "Respect" after collecting400m individual medley gold.

But Thomas admitted she didn't have time to reflect on her 2002 Games haul of fivegold, a silver and a bronze thanks to the looming, and equally challenging, six-day PanPacs program starting in Yokohama on August 24.

"My Pan Pacs program is very similar to here. I have not done eight events before andI am very sore and tired but in about two weeks I have to do it all again," said Thomas,who won 200m butterfly gold in 2 minutes 8.40 seconds ahead of England duo Georgina Lee(2:10.73) and Margaretha Pedder (2:11.60).

"I am tired but I enjoyed it. I am glad to have been able to achieve what I have. Idon't know how long it will take for it all to sink in but I know I will take back somefond memories.

"I hope I can go faster at the Pan Pacs, learn from what I did wrong here. The US aregoing to be hard to beat but I am looking forward to the challenge."

The gravity of her achievements started to sink in thanks to a call from Wenden, theonly other swimmer to have won three straight Commonwealth golds in one event.

"I received a message from Michael who is overseas. He said I was in a very specialgroup of people," said Thomas, the 100m and 200m butterfly world champion.

"To come from someone like that is very special."

Another special moment came for Thomas when she helped team mates Leisel Jones, JodieHenry and Dyana Calub take medley relay gold in a Games record time of 4:03.70, aheadof South Africans Sarah Poewe, Mandy Loots, Helene Muller and Charlene Wittstock (4:05.06).

Reilly did her best to steal the show first by snatching 400m IM gold in 4:43.59 aheadof Kiwi Elizabeth van Welie (4:44.56) and fellow Australian Jessica Abbott (4:47.11),then with her post-victory celebrations.

As "Respect" blared in the background, Reilly sang, danced and generally had a goodtime leaving the pool deck, celebrating a rollercoaster week with her first gold medalat an international meet.

It was a different story earlier in the week when Reilly finished second in the 200mIM and was disqualified for an incorrect turn, only to be reinstated with the silver aftera successful protest.

"Winning gold topped off a big week. I had a few distractions during the week. I haven'tthought about it much but pulled it together in the end," said Geraldton-born Reilly,19.

"I certainly made sure I turned properly today. Singing the song (Respect), I was justtrying to have some fun - I'm the karaoke queen but need the back-up tunes so it can drownme out."

AAP lc/sp/md/ws

KEYWORD: GAMES SWIM WOMEN