Friday, August 15, 2008

SMU Alum Nordenstam Wins Bronze Medal

BEIJING, CHINA (August 15, 2008) SMU alumna Sara Nordenstam claimed the bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics on Friday morning, swimming the 200m breaststroke in 2:23.02. The time also establishes a new European record.

"This is really great. I've swum better and better at every attempt and that I was good enough to win a medal is incredible," said a radiant Nordenstam to Swedish Broadcasting SVT. "I can't explain it. I kept thinking that I had to keep the pressure on and I closed my eyes during the turns so as not to see how the other competitors were doing."

The powerful finish by Nordenstam gave Norway just its second Olympic swimming medal and made Nordenstam the first Norwegian woman with an Olympic swimming medal.

The U.S.'s Rebecca Soni won the Gold, setting a new world record in the process.

"This places Sara among the elite in the sport," said SMU Head Coach Steve Collins. "Congratulations to Sara. Her reaction on the display board was awesome. This is huge for SMU."

No comments: