Swimming: Slow times, good times

By PETER JESSUP

The Games have ended for Equatorial Guinean swimmer Paula Barila Bolopa, who yesterday set an all-time record for the slowest 50m Olympic freestyle ever swum.

"I'm just going to find out where I stand in the world and improve on it for next time," she said beforehand.

Her time, 1m 03.97s, will not get her within a planeflight of world rankings.

But Barila Bolopa, who featured in the Herald on September 13, received similar support to that for countryman Eric "The Eel" Moussambani, who was a similarly spectacular failure in the men's 100m.

Barila Bolopa dove in with a pseudo-belly flop and was on her way, her head never venturing below the surface. Her strokes showed some knack for competitive swimming in the early stages, but degenerated into a dog paddle by the end.

The 18-year-old was second in the last race-off amongst the slowest competitors, having borrowed a pair of goggles before the start. Moe Thu Aung of Myanmar won in 26.8s. The only other competitor, Fatima Gerashi, was disqualified for breaking the start.

Dutchwoman Inge De Bruijn's time for the fastest heat was 24.46s.

Eric, meanwhile, is becoming a celebrity here, courted by media and taken on tourist trips including a walk to the top of the Sydney Harbour bridge.

The 22-year-old's fame has his girlfriend back home worried.

"She asked me if I had another girl here and I said 'no, not yet'."