Eighth All-Africa Games in Abuja, Nigeria

Shrone Austin grabs second silver medal

FEMALE swimmer Shrone Austin has often time won the heart of the locals and her recent performances in the aquatics centre in Abuja, Nigeria, the host of the ongoing Eighth All-Africa Games, has won her more praises.

After winning Seychelles' first medal at the Games – a silver in the 400-metre individual medley on Sunday October 5, behind 14-year-old South African Bianca Meyer –  Austin wrote a new chapter in the country's sporting history on Tuesday October 7.

The 14-year-old, winner of eight medals – four gold, three silver and a bronze – at the Sixth Indian Ocean Islands Games (IOIG) in Mauritius, won her second silver medal of the Games in the 800-metre freestyle.

South Africa-born Austin, who was given the green light to swim for Seychelles last year, posted a time of 9 minutes 13.03 seconds (9:13.03) to improve her month-old 800-metre freestyle record of 9:17.16 set at the IOIG in Mauritius.

It is to note that the 9:17.16 time earned Austin one of her four gold medals at the IOIG.

International School student Austin is now in a league of her own for she is until now the only Seychellois athlete to have won more than one silver medal in any edition of the quadrennial Games.

The other Seychelles silver medallists in the continent's biggest sporting event are former triple jumper Paul Nioze in 1991 in Egypt, former boxer Rival Cadeau (now Payet) in 1995 in Zimbabwe, former female weightlifter Sophia Vandagne and male swimmer Benjamin Lo-Pinto in 1999 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

It is also worth noting that Austin won her first medal – a bronze in the 5-km open water race – for her adopted country during the sixth edition of the African Swimming Championship in Cairo, Egypt, last year.

She closed her 2002 swimming season with eight gold medals in the Commission de la Jeunesse et des Sports de l'Océan indien (CJSOI) swimming competition hosted by Seychelles.

The gold medal of the 800-metre freestyle race of the Eighth All-Africa Games was won by one-legged South African Nathalie du Toit.

The indomitable Du Toit turned in a stellar performance, leading from the gun to win in 9:09.66.

Third place went to Egyptian Helba Saliem who clocked 9:17.15.

Interestingly, South African Nathalie du Toit, winner of the gold medal of the 5-km open water race of the sixth edition of the African Swimming Championship in Cairo, Egypt, last year, has just received a special award from the Commonwealth Games Association.

Nineteen-year-old Du Toit, who lost her left leg at the knee in a motorbike accident in February 2001, was the most outstanding athlete of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England, after winning gold medals in the 50-metre and 100-metre disabled freestyle events in world record times and qualifying for the final of the able-bodied 800-metre freestyle final with a then personal best of 9 minutes 13.57 seconds.

Du Toit also claimed two silver medals in the 400-metre individual medley and 200-metre butterfly events of the Seventh All-Africa Games in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1999.

It is to be noted that Seychelles, being represented by 53 sportsmen and women in eight of the 22 sporting events in Abuja, is making its sixth consecutive participation at these Games.

Seychelles finished 22nd in the medals standings at the seventh edition of the Games in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1999 with eight medals – two silver and six bronze.

The medallists were female weightlifter Sophia Vandagne (a silver and two bronze in the 58-kg category), male swimmers Benjamin Lo-Pinto (a silver in the 100-metre backstroke and two bronze in the 200-metre backstroke and 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay), Kenny Roberts (three bronze in the 200-metre individual medley, 400-metre individual medley and 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay), Jean-Paul Adam (a bronze in the 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay) and Barnsley Albert (a bronze in the 4 x 200-metre freestyle relay).

Only 35 out of the then record 51 participating countries won medals in Johannesburg.

A record-breaking 53 participating countries and 6,000 athletes are to compete in Abuja in  this year's Games which will run from October 4 to 18.

G. G.