DOHA: Gold, two silver and bronze as Sam crowned World Champ

IT was a night bookended by silvers and sprinkled with gold and bronze.

In all, the Dolphins collected a medal – four in total – from every final they contested on Day 4 of the World Aquatic World Championships in Doha with Sam Williamson breaking through for the first Aussie gold of this meet.

Less than 20 minutes after Williamson’s lane rope celebration, the 26-year-old was back in the call room as part of the mixed medley relay team which also stood on the podium in a night that featured:

• Gold for Williamson in the men’s 50m breaststroke in a national record of 26.32
• Silver for Elijah Winnington in the men’s 800m freestyle in a personal best of 7:42.95
• Silver for the mixed 4x100m medley relay team of Williamson, Brad Woodward, Brianna Throssell and Shayna Jack in 3:43.12
• Bronze for Throssell in the women’s 200m freestyle in a personal best time of 1:56.00.

Williamson said: “It hasn’t sunk in yet. Someone else someone actually said it before, and I had to pause and ask them … am I really world champion? What does it mean?”

“It’s an incredible experience. I just wish everyone back home was here to celebrate it. Two years ago, I was sitting at home watching the swimming and just thought you know what that could be me one day.

“So I just put my head down and worked my ass off to get here. This isn’t an Olympic event … I have to do two laps and my next goal is to get back in the pool and train and give myself the best chance of Paris.”

Williamson out-touched Nicolo Martinenghi by seven-hundredths while Nic Fink, the new 100 breaststroke world champion, won bronze.

It was Winnington who hand-cranked medal celebrations for the Dolphins with an unexpected silver and a personal best in the men’s 800m freestyle from lane eight.

Winnington, silver medallist in the 400m, led for the first 10 laps before being reeled in by Italian Gregorio Paltrinieri and then Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen, he faded to third at the last turn before a late surge netted silver, and a big PB. Wiffen (7:40.94) won the gold with Paltrinieri (7:42.98) the bronze.

Winnington said: “I looked across and saw his (Paltrinieri’s) feet and thought I have to lift. I was actually having a lot of fun because I usually don’t race these guys and I think that was a benefit to me as I didn’t really have pressure on myself. I’m not in Olympic shape yet and I’m stoked.”

For Dolphin stalwart Throssell, her bronze in the 200m freestyle was the long service gift she so richly deserved. Throssell now has 15 world championship medals – from six world championship campaigns – but this was her first individual medal.

“I’m just really proud. Being 28 … I want to give hope to the people who are a little bit older, and this shows perseverance pays off. I’m really overwhelmed to be honest and … freestyle is never something I thought I’d be racing internationally and to be on the podium, is incredible.”

Jack, who has one of the busiest programs of all Australian swimmers at this meet, finished 7^th in 1:57.24. The rest of the podium featured Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, gold (1:54.89) and Erika Fairweather, from New Zealand, silver (1:55.77).

In other results:
Men’s 100m Freestyle Semi-Final
Kai Taylor: Improved on his heat swim to clock 48.50 but missed the final.
Women’s 50m Backstroke Semi-Final
Iona Anderson and Jaclyn Barclay: Anderson, silver medallist in the 100m the previous night, qualified fastest in 27.51 with Barclay missing the final in 28.17.