Rivera Track Meet
Stunning performances were put in by Louise Sauvage from Australia at the Rivera track meet in Switzerland on the 28 / 29th August, breaking the 400m and 1500m world record just off the back of winning the bronze medal at the Olympic Demonstration race in Athens the week previously. The 400m world record has gone back and forth between Sauvage and Chantal Peticlerc (the winner of the demonstration race) for the last couple of years. Peticlerc broke it at the Swiss Nationals last year in less than perfect conditions, Sauvage broke it in July in Atlanta, and then Peticlerc took it back again a matter of weeks later in Edmonton.
Sauvage's time of 53.9 for the 400m and 3.28.59 show that she is in sparkling form leading in Athens and it should provide some interesting races. The rivalry between the two athletes goes back a long way.... Sauvage won the 800m demonstration races in Atlanta and Syndey, and then at the Paralympics in Sydney Peticlerc took the 800m title with a brave move going to the front and holding it. It was a similar tactic that won Peticlerc the Commonwealth Games title in 2002 and the Demonstration title this year. Sauvage goes in to Athens defending the 1500m and 5000 title and has won 9 Paralympic Gold medals as well as numerous accoldes including Young Australian of the Year, Australian Paralympian of the Year, and the Order of Australia Medal.