This routine took one's breath away
BEIJING - Russia's third straight golden sweep in synchronized swimming was expected. Lifeguards in the Water Cube were not.
Russia's victory in the team event yesterday was overshadowed by a Japanese team member passing out on the pool deck - after being escorted out of the water by two men who jumped in to offer assistance.
Hiromi Kobayashi, a 23-year-old from Osaka competing in her first Olympics, was taken off the deck on a stretcher as Japan's free routine ended.
Top challenger Spain was up next, and the Spaniards began their routine while Kobayashi was still being attended to on the pool deck.
Whether it was the distraction or simply Russia's superiority is open for debate, but the final results read gold for Russia and silver for Spain.
Japan received a two-point penalty for touching the bottom of the pool and finished in a tie for fifth with the United States. It's the first time Japan hasn't won a medal since the team event began in 1996.
"It was a painful experience for coach and athlete, but this is a good lesson and it taught them that winning a medal is not easy on the Olympic stage," Japan coach Masako Kaneko said.
With Kobayashi struggling to remain afloat, two men in swimsuits jumped into the pool to offer assistance, and she clung on to the pool's edge as the other team members climbed out to await their scores.
When she was finally lifted out, Kobayashi buckled to her knees and was carried away onto a stretcher.
"What happened to her was too much breathing, apparently," said team spokesman Hiroshi Takeuchi.
"This kind of thing has happened before. She is a nervous athlete. She is back to consciousness. She is sitting up on the bed." (AP) 