Ath: Thompson finds new passion for athletics

AAP General News (Australia)
08-28-2004
Ath: Thompson finds new passion for athletics

By Sharon Mathieson

ATHENS, Aug 28 AAP - Six months ago, Bronwyn Thompson was ready to give away athletics.

Her injured knee was causing her grief, she wasn't enjoying the sport and it hardly
seemed worthwhile to carry on in pain.

She cut back on training but figured she'd stick around for the Athens Olympics and
then call it quits.

How things change.

After finishing fourth at the Olympics and coming within grasp of a medal, Thompson
is looking ahead to Beijing in 2008.

She set a season best 6.96 metres in Athens and came within nine centimetres of a medal.

She also beat Marion Jones, the triple Olympic gold medallist at the Sydney Games.

Most athletes say finishing fourth at the Olympics is the worst possible placing but
the 26-year-old from Brisbane wept tears of joy.

"I came here to jump a season best and come in the top five and I've achieved that
so I can't be disappointed," she said.

"I would have loved a medal but it wasn't to be tonight, so next time."

Thompson said Beijing was likely and the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games were a certainty.

She has come full circle from six months ago when she readily admits she lost all passion
for athletics.

"About six months ago I can tell you I wasn't going to stay around because my knee
was really giving me a lot of stick," Thompson said.

"But now, I won't be surprised if I do stay on for another four years.

"And there's the Commonwealth Games, I'm gonna get that medal this time.

"I've found my passion for athletics again.

"I wanted that Olympic title so much."

The Russians completed a clean sweep of the medals in the long jump, with Tatyana Lebedeva
winning gold with 7.07m to add to the bronze medal she collected in the triple jump.

Irina Simagina was second with 7.05m, the same length record by third-placed Tatyana Kotova.

Jones was fifth behind Thompson with 6.85m.

Thompson, a paediatric physiotherapist, now hopes to stay in Europe to continue competition
and is hoping her boss will agree to give her more time off work to allow her do to so.

Thompson was the highlight for Australia on last night while world cross country champion
Benita Johnson was a huge disappointment in the 10,000m.

She was expected to be a chance to challenge for a medal but instead finished way back
in 24th place, more than two minutes behind gold medallist Huina Xing of China.

"I came into this race expecting to do really well," Johnson said.

"I beat all those girls at world cross.

"I just don't know what went wrong."

Sydney City to Surf winner Haley McGregor was 25th in the 10,000m.

Paul Burgess was 11th in the pole vault final, clearing 5.55m.

American Timothy Mack won gold when he cleared 5.95m.

AAP sm/sp

KEYWORD: OLY ATH AUST NIGHTLEAD

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