Isakovic Wins Silver in the 200 Metres Freestyle

Beijing, 13 August

Sara Isakovic steamed to second place in the women's 200 metres freestyle to win to win Slovenia's first medal at the Beijing Games and its first ever in swimming at the Olympics.

Swimming a new national record of 1:54.97, Isakovic finished only behind Italy's Federica Pellegrini, who set a new world record of 1:54.82. Pang Jiaying of China was third at 1:55.05.
"This is fantastic. My dreams have come true," said Isakovic, who just could not believe her amazing result: "I wouldn't even dare to predict 1:54. I had not expected we would swim this fast."
The 20-year-old Slovenian swam true to her style, touching as only the sixth after the first 50 metres and then slowly progressing towards the top places.
She was fourth at the 100m-mark and second on the final turn.
Isakovic chased Pellegrini stroke for stroke over the last 10 metres, but could not catch the Italian on the wall.
Isakovic's coach Miha Potocnik has always believed in his protegee, who started the season at 1:58.19 only to add further achievements.
In March she swam 1:57.4 to become the European champion in her discipline, and then went on to improve her personal best in all major competitions until she made it as fast as under 1:56 in Dubrovnik.
Potocnik forecast then that Isakovic could swim a world record, which then stood at 1:55.52. "I knew Sara can swim faster than that, which she proved in the preliminaries here. I think though that she could have been even faster."
"I'm glad she proved she is a mature athlete, swimming as we had agreed. I knew she was well prepared, still I'm overwhelmed," the coach said after one of his biggest wishes ever have come true.
He and Isakovic will now part ways because Isakovic is heading for California where she will study at Berkeley University, joining Slovenian swimmers Jernej Godec and Damir Dugonjic.
"I'm a bit sad, but happy for her nevertheless...she'll have excellent conditions for work there too, considering Olympic champion Nathalie Coughlin trains there...Sara has still much reserve we haven't worked on so we can all expect a lot from her yet."
Potocnik made the statements at a press conference where Isakovic commented in detail on her historic swim and the preparations for it. "The important thing was that I came to the Games confident and relaxed. This is what I'd recommend to everyone, because this is the way to win a medal."
The swimmer also underscored the importance of positive thinking, saying that she had seen a documentary called "The Secret", which showed that "if you really desire something and make the maximum effort, it will come".
She was so confident before the heat that she had had her make-up and a fresh T-shirt ready so that she would look good on the podium.
"I certainly felt the pressure from the public because of the good results. From now on you can ask me about my goals in major competitions and they'll obviously be a medal," Isakovic told reporters.
The silver medal has earned her EUR 30,400 from the Slovenian Olympic Committee and the state. Gold would have carried her EUR 39,350 and bronze EUR 21,450. Isakovic's coach will meanwhile get EUR 20,450.

Isakovic Wins Silver in the 200 Metres Freestyle

More articles from this issue:

Archive