Sport 25-09-2000 Lewis Wins Gold Despite Agonising Injury who: British Olympic heptathlete Denise Lewis what: Wins gold medal where: Sydney when: Yesterday snippet: "Denise Lewis became the world`s greatest all-round woman athlete as she claimed Olympic gold in the heptathlon," says The Sun today. "Lewis`s victory confirms her status as one of the world`s finest all-round athletes and spells a future of sporting superstardom and lucrative sponsorship deals," writes Barbie Dutter in The Telegraph. "She is only the sixth British woman to win an Olympic track and field gold". "Let`s hope this is the start of a track and field medal rush for us," said Lewis yesterday after completing the seven events, 100 metres hurdles, high jump, shot, 200 metres, long jump, javelin and 800 metres. "My win can be the inspiration the whole team need." With her foot heavily bandaged, she revealed that she had almost pulled out of the event at the last minute and said that ran the 800 metres in agony. "I have had achilles problems for the past six weeks or so," she said, "and I was very concerned. I had a fear that I would have to pull out but I just decided to battle on." It was Britian`s third Olympic gold medal in 48 hours. "Denise`s victory followed a gold for Britain`s men`s rowing eight and a silver in the women`s quadruple sculls," says Shekhar Bhatia in The Express. "The wonder weekend had begun with Steve Redgrave`s fifth consecutive gold, this time in the coxless fours." [... more]

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