DEAFLYMPICS: Bronze surprise leaves Jimmy in tears

From: New Straits Times, Malaysia - Jan 13, 2005

From Tony Mariadass in Melbourne

Jan 13:

SWIMMER Jimmy Wong Tee Meng proved if one believes hard enough, he can do whatever he wants.

The 22-year-old Jimmy was in tears each time his mother, team-mates and officials congratulated him for winning the bronze medal in the 400m individual medley at the Melbourne Sports & Acquatic Centre yesterday.

The Sabahan was awarded the medal after third placed American Jonathan Tikhonoff was disqualified for failing to make contact during one of his turns in the eight-lap race.

The good news was relayed to Jimmy by South Africa's seven-gold hero Terence Parkin.

Jimmy, who won the 200m individual medley B final but was not awarded a medal despite having a time better than the second placed swimmer in the A final, lived up to his vow to win a medal yesterday.

He qualified for the A final with the fourth best time of 4:55.41s.

Jimmy battled neck-and-neck battle in the final lap with Tikhonoff for third place and the American clocked 4:46.42s to Jimmy's 4:47.53s.

Parkin finished in 4:40.62s while Germany's Nicky Lange won the silver in 4:42.18s.

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