ATHLETICS - Mrs. Blankers-Koen from the Netherlands took her third gold medal. On a sodden track nobody came close to the Dutchwoman in the 200 metres final. And this is not the end, a fourth title is possible...
The 200m final (starts at 3'00", from the official movie)
The 200 metres for women made its debut as on Olympic event and the conditions for the final were bizarre. Torrential rain had transformed the track in something that more resembled a pool.
Blankers-Koen kept focused. She was drawn in lane one with all other athletes in front of her at the start. On entering the straight, she had a clear margin on her opponents and wasn't about to weaken. Miss Williamson from Great Britain had to settle for silver and bronze went to Patterson from the USA.
A fourth gold medal is still possible for Blankers-Koen. Tomorrow she will run the heats and possibly the final of the 4x100 metres relay. Just before five o'clock we'll know if she gets a fourth crown.
