Kangaroo enters cycling race
Kangaroo enters cycling race
Also In The News
|
Gordon Brown presented his tenth Budget to MPs this lunchtime setting out his determination to build |  |
Thursday, 23, Mar 2006 08:19
Competitors were startled in the Commonwealth Games mountain biking as a kangaroo bounded onto the course.
The iconic marsupial hopped onto the track just metres in front of Canadian rider Marie-Helene Premont who was leading the race for the gold medal.
Remarkably Premont barely flinched as the animal charged into her path midway through the 40km race and she went on to win gold.
Premont was a massive pre-event favourite and proved the pundits right by overcoming even the most unexpected of obstacles to claim the title.
The race was held in the Dandenong Ranges. The foothills are 35km to the south east of Melbourne.
The 28-year-old Canadian said: "I was surprised to see a kangaroo run in front of me, I was smiling.
"After that I was a little bit insecure, but it's okay. I hope someone got a good picture of it."
Premont was even more excited because her team mate Kiara Bisaro won bronze. She explained: "I'm delighted with the gold and the bronze. It was a team effort."
Premont is the reigning Olympic champion and has won three of the blue ribbon World Cup races.