Samantha Bennett and Atte Liimatanien capture gold medals: 2011 Australian University Games - Recap
Samantha Bennett and Atte Liimatanien made themselves prominent by clinching the gold medals of 200m back-stroke in Women’s and Men’s category respectively, on the third day of the 2011 Australian University Games. The session took place on September 29,
at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in Queensland.
Monash University’s Bennett was the second favourite swimmer of the event as she qualified into the final behind QLD University of Technology’s Rebecca Harry. Harry dominated the qualifying rounds of the event and entered the final as the top fastest swimmer.
However, the 20-year-old Bennett showed her thirst for the title of the event and dismantled Harry’s hopes for gold medal in the playoff. With her epic 2 minutes and 23.05 seconds performance, Bennett pocketed the title and remained 2.24 seconds ahead of
her strongest competitor, Harry.
Harry took charge of the four-lap event in the first lap, but she failed to overcome the spark of Bennett, who flew away from her after the first tumble. Bennett remained half a stroke away from Harry throughout her back-stroke swim, while she expedited
in the final lap, leaving her competitor a body length away for the gold crown.
Subsequently, the 19-year-old Harry followed her on the podium for silver medal of the event as she produced a time of 2 minutes and 25.29 seconds. Harry was threatened by University of Melbourne’s Emily Selig, who was trying to beat her over the finishing
wall for second spot. Selig geared up her swim in the second-half of the race, but the 18-year-old swimmer fell short of 1.27 seconds and secured the podium for bronze medal, with a 2 minutes and 26.56 seconds effort.
In the meantime, Macquarie University’s Liimatanien acquired the title of equivalent event in Men’s corner. His astonishing strength and speedy strokes enabled him to leave his competitors prominently away and placed him on the podium for gold finish with
a timing of 2 minutes and 11.77 seconds.
With his laudable efforts, he remained 0.63 seconds ahead of his closest rival, Mark O’Donnell of Monash University, who faced no difficulty in securing the silver medal as he clocked a time of 2 minutes and 12.40 seconds.
O’Donnell was trailed by Liimatanien’s team-member, Donald Cameron, who remained in a comfortable lead over his following swimmers and reached the podium for bronze medal, posting a time of 2 minutes and 15.16 seconds.
Bennett and Liimatanien were contented with their gold winning efforts at the Australian University Games and expressed their desire of doing the same at superior levels of swimming. Furthermore, the winners were awarded accolades for their magnificent efforts
after the session.
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