Danvers wins bronze in women's 400m hurdles
Wednesday, 20 Aug 2008 22:47
Tasha Danvers wins surprise bronze in women's 400m hurdles
Great Britain's Tasha Danvers has won a surprise bronze medal in the women's 400m hurdles.
The 30-year-old, whose mere presence in the Olympic team was questioned by several pundits, ran the race of her life - setting a personal best time of 53.84secs in the process.
She finished behind Jamaica's Melanie Walker, who set a new Olympic record of 52.64secs on her way to gold, and silver medallist Sheena Tosta of the United States (53.70secs).
Earlier this season, Danvers was forced to undergo treatment for an Achilles problem and then suffered a torn hamstring in her next full training session afterwards.
But she put all her setbacks behind her to seal third place in the final race of the evening inside the Bird's Nest Stadium.
"I am just pleased beyond measure," Danvers told the BBC afterwards.
"I am so thrilled. It has been probably the worst year, and now the best year, in my life.
"I didn't even know what time I had run, I just knew I had got a medal."
She added: "The first half of the year was just horrendous but to finish it like this is unbelievable."