Monday, July 06, 2009

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Smétanine earns France first gold in the pool

Sunday 07 September 2008

After Alain Bernard's heroics in the 100m freestyle race in August, David Smétanine earned the French squad its first gold of the Paralympics by winning the same race in the Beijing 'Water Cube' on Sunday.

Special Report   The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Sunday 07 September 2008

By France 24 with wires

 

French swimmer David Smétanine brought his country its first gold medal at the Beijing Paralympics with an impressive win in the men’s 100m freestyle race.

 

“You dream about it night and day, and when it finally happens, it’s just amazing!”, said the quadriplegic Grenoble-born swimmer, thrilled to take gold “like my buddy Alain Bernard,” winner of the same race back in August.

 

Holder of four European records, Smétanine will be lining up for further medals this week in the 200m and 50m freestyle races, as well as the 50m backstroke.

 

Meanwhile, fellow French athlete Sandrine Aurrières won the silver medal in the women’s 52kg judo contest.


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