Interruption costs Melanie Schlanger bronze medal, says Australian head coach Leigh Nugent
The Australian swimming Head Coach, Leigh Nugent has expressed his concern that the only reason, Melanie Schlanger of Australia failed to secure a bronze medal in the 100m freestyle, was interruption from the crowd at the start.
When the finalists of 100m event reached the starting blocks, the home crowd warmly appreciated their national star, Francesca Halsall. The swimming decorum allows the audience to cheer their favourite stars as they come towards the pool deck but the spectators
are required to be pin drop silent when swimmers stand on the starting blocks.
The reason for this is to make sure every swimmer is trouble free and has full attention towards the start. Unfortunately, at the 2012 London Olympic Games, when players were standing on the starting blocks, a supporter shouted ‘Go Fran.’
On the other hand, the starter did not call swimmers off the starting block and let them on their marks and gave a start longer than usual, where many of the finalists were not focused completely.
Consequently, Schlanger had a comparatively slower first 50 but she caught the pace in second lap. Regrettably, she remained only 0.03 seconds slower from overpowering her former finisher and finished on the wall for fourth position.
“It certainly at that time affected her start and a number of others. I went and complained about it with [US coach] Frank Busch, but there is nothing you can do. If there had of been a false start you could [get action]. That's how the rules are written.
Anyhow you've got to take it and we'll move on,” said Nugent.
While talking about her race, Schlanger said, “I probably mucked a up few things in the first 50 metres and paid for it in the second 50 metres. It [the start] didn't put me off. Yeah, I did feel that. Normally we get away quite a bit quicker but sometimes
it's a bit longer. You get used to that.”
Nevertheless, Schlanger did not blame the crowd for finishing fourth in the event, expressing that things like these keep on happening at one competition or another.
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