Magnuson wins Olympic silver

Photo by Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo

Christine Magnuson of United States reacts after finishing second in the women's 100-meter butterfly semifinals during the swimming competitions in the National Aquatics Center at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008.

BEIJING — Capping a stunning ascent into the elite ranks of international swimming, former University of Tennessee star Christine Magnuson won an Olympic silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly Monday at the National Aquatics Center.

Magnuson’s time of 57.10 trailed only Australia’s Libby Trickett, who took the gold in 56.73. Australian Jessicah Schipper won the bronze in 57.25.

Two years ago Magnuson had never competed in an international event. Monday she stood on the medal podium as one of the best in the world.

“It’s been a very amazing ride,” she said, moments after the race. “At the beginning of my college career, I thought just to make an impact at the NCAA level and here I am making an impact on the world level.”

With her parents and sister cheering her on, Magnuson was third at the halfway mark, thanks to a slightly flawed turn.

“I was a little bit long coming into it,” she said. “I had to throw in an extra kick there. It was one of those things where you kind of question yourself whether to take that extra stroke or not. Yesterday I took the extra stoke and today I didn’t. I’ll have to look at the tape and see if I made the right decision. But no matter what it was, I did recover from it well, and it almost pushed me to be better the second half.”

Magnuson roared back down the stretch, posting the fastest split in the field and nearly catching Trickett.

“I needed it be 125 (meters),” she said, laughing.

Magnuson’s turnaround began last year when she placed 3rd in the U.S. nationals and was ranked 12th internationally. This year she stormed through the NCAA season, winning SEC swimmer of the year honors. Then she surprised many by winning the 100 fly at the Olympic trials. Now she’s proven herself as one of the best butterfly racers in the world.

All this from a swimmer who two years ago finished 15th — in the U.S. summer nationals.

“It’s really exciting,” she said “It’s been quite a ride and it will keep going.”

It will keep going later this week in the 4 x 100 medley relay. U.S. team coaches will decide later whether she swims in the preliminaries on Friday, the finals on Saturday or both.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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