Anderson fails to win but finishes with four medals in pool

Published on Monday 15 September 2008 23:02

SWIMMER Jim Anderson was unsuccessful in defending the four titles he won at the Paralympic Games in Athens.

The 45-year-old from Broxburn, who was competing in his fifth Paralympics in Beijing, won his fourth medal at the National Aquatics Centre with silver in the men's S2 50m backstroke in 1min 04.33secs as Dmitry Kokarev triumphed in a world record of 1:03.17.

The 17-year-old Russian proved to be the Scot's nemesis after adding the backstroke to his 100m and 200m freestyle titles. The duo were joined on the podium in each of the four finals by Greece's Georgios Kapellakis, who won the 50m freestyle.

Anderson finished the Games with two silvers and two bronze.

Robert Welbourn, from Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, won silver in the men's S10 400m freestyle before Fran Williamson was second in the women's S3 50m freestyle for Britain's third silver in the final evening session at the Water Cube, while Natalie Jones added bronze in the women's S6 50m freestyle.

Fittingly, David Roberts, who won three golds in Sydney and four in Athens, was involved in Britain's final event in the pool.

The 28-year-old from Pontypridd successfully defended the men's S7 50m, 100m, 400m and 4x100m freestyle titles he won in Greece – four of 16 golds won in the pool four years ago – to draw level with Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson on 11 Paralympic golds.

But Roberts will have to wait four years to bid for a 12th after the men's 4x100m medley relay team finished fifth. The quartet of Sean Fraser, Sam Hynd, Welbourn and Roberts finished 16.55secs behind winners Australia in a time of 4:28.45.

But Roberts, who has cerebral palsy, was happy to have reached his target. "I came here with four titles to defend – I've defended them all," he said.

The three-time Paralympian paid tribute to the British swimming team's performance, which yielded 11 golds, 18 silvers and 12 bronze in nine days of competition.

"As a team we can hold our heads up high and say 'we gave it some welly', all of us," added Roberts. "It was unbelievable. We did not get as many golds as Athens but the world has moved on and there are fewer events. But we certainly hit the medal target here. I think people will rightly be proud of us."