Bell Vows To Ring Loudly
The Age
Tuesday August 12, 2008
ROBIN BELL is still one knockout round away from getting into the medal hunt of the C1 slalom in the Olympic whitewater competition.
But after making today's semi-final, Bell felt he has what it will take to improve on his fourth at the Athens Games in 2004.Today, the West Australian must first finish in the top eight in the semi-finals to qualify for this afternoon's final.Bell, the 2005 world champion and bronze medallist last year, yesterday placed seventh in his heat. He needed a top-12 finish. Australia's other entry Warwick Draper also qualified, while the fastest time of the heats went to Slovakian world champion and 1996 Atlanta Games champion Michal Martikan. Jan Benzien of Germany was the second fastest. Bell's form and performance yesterday was solid confirmation that the injury woes that plagued his Olympic preparation were finally over.He tore an abductor muscle while running sand dunes as part of his training, but yesterday said: "I haven't felt it for a few weeks, really. I haven't been held back from my training for the last month." Today, Bell, known for his slower qualifying times, will throw everything into his effort after holding back in yesterday's heats. "It was a tough race," he said. "I will come out firing [today]." Rupert Guinness
© 2008 The Age