Trickett Saved By Pang DQ
2008-08-14
Craig Lord
A false-start by Pang Jiaying (CHN)l, the 200m bronze medallist yesterday, saved Libby Trickett (AUS), world record holder but on 54.10 this morning, from elimination in the 100m free

A false-start by Pang Jiaying (CHN)l, the 200m bronze medallist yesterday, saved Libby Trickett (AUS), world record holder, from elimination from the final of the 100m freestyle. Trickett swam a sluggish 54.10 in the first semi-final to find herself fourth behind Natalie Coughlin (USA), on 53.70, Zhu Yingwen (CHN) on 53.84 and Britta Steffen (GER) on 53.96.

In the second semi, Marleen Veldhuis (NED), Pang - out in 25.72, Hanna-Maria Seppala (FIN) and Fran Halsall (GBR) all raced inside 54sec, while Jeannette Ottesen (DEN) clocked 54.05. Trickett was out! The scoreboard flickered, the result changed: Pang - DSQ. Trickett's bacon saved. From what we saw this morning, however, it would be hard to image a sub 53sec from any of the women in the final tomorrow.