Search: Olympics: Singapore swimmer Tao Li 5th in 100m butterfly finals
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Olympic swimming medal hopeful Tao Li on Monday finished in fifth place in the women’s 100—metre butterfly finals.
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The 18—year—old, who advanced to the finals on Sunday with an Asian record of 57.54 seconds in her heat, failed to top the record with a timing of 57.99 seconds in the finals.
Australia’s Lisbeth Trickett won the gold with a timing of 56.73 seconds, the second fastest timing in the history of the sport.
American Christine Magnuson took silver, while another Australian, Jessicah Schipper came in third.
Although Tao Li did not win a medal, her spirited effort won praise from the sports fraternity in Singapore on Monday.
Amanda Lim, swimmer at the Singapore Sports School, said: "There is a little disappointment, but as I said, final A for Olympics is not easy and she is ranked 5th. Although she did not meet her target of getting a bronze medal, I still think she did very well."
Tao Li’s achievement was also applauded by those gathered at the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to catch the live telecast of the women’s 100—metre butterfly finals on MediaCorp’s Channel 5.
Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said: "It has been an incredible performance. She is the first Singaporean to make it to an Olympic finals. To emerge 5th in this field — a very strong field — is a great result."
Over at the Singapore Sports Council, about a hundred staff had also gathered to cheer the teen on in her quest and to pay tribute to the whole team behind her rise to the Olympic stage.
Oon Jin Teik, CEO of the Singapore Sports Council, said: "I want to thank the people who made this possible... The Singapore Sports School gave a conducive environment for her to excel."
Tao Li is also competing in the 200—metre butterfly event, but the Singapore Swimming Association said she is not expected to perform well in that race.
The good news is, at 18 years of age, Tao Li has another ten years to perform on the international stage.
— CNA/yb/so
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