Canadas best hope in the pool delivered Wednesday and brought home the countrys first ever medal in the mens 100 metre freestyle.
Brent Hayden won bronze in the thrilling sprint that was over in less than a minute.
Its just unbelievable right now, he told a CTV broadcast crew immediately after the race. I couldnt hold anything back in this. Im never relaxed going into a race like this. I might look calm, but looks can be deceiving.
Bad luck in Athens eight years ago followed heartbreak in Beijing in 2008. He vowed London would be different.
Still dripping, his breathing finally slowing down, the 2007 world champion said, At the last 25 metre when it started to hurt, I thought: Brent, this could be your last 100m free ever. Just go for it, man.
At the wall, Hayden, 28, trailed the leader by only 0.01 seconds. At the final touch, however, the American swimmer Nathan Adrian won gold in 47.52, instantly followed by Australias James Magnussen in 47.53.
Hayden, who trains in Vancouver at the University of B.C., came in third, finishing 0.28 seconds out of first with a time of 47.80.
His best time, 47.27, a Canadian record he set in July 2009 at the World Aquatics Championships in Italy, would have won Olympic gold at these London Summer Games.
The swimmer from Mission thanked his home-town supporters and Marlins swim club as well as his fiancée, who he called my lucky charm. They will marry Aug. 19.
The medal is Canadas fourth bronze of the London Summer Games and fifth overall medal.
Twitter: @MHStewart
