For Australia's golden girl Libby Trickett, Beijing's futuristic Water Cube might be a place of fortune. With one gold in hand, she is very likely to pocket another three.
In Monday's women's 100-meter butterfly, Trickett defeated teammate Jessicah Schipper, Australia's "Madam butterfly", with a personal best, pocketing her first individual Olympic gold.
Lisbeth Trickett of Australia waves on the podium during the awarding ceremony of women's 100m butterfly at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube in Beijing, China, August 11, 2008. Lisbeth Trickett won the gold medal with 56.73 seconds.
Trickett was emotional after touching the wall first. She slapped the water and raised her arm in triumph. After the medal ceremony, Trickett wrapped an Australian national flag, waved excitedly to spectators while trying to hold back tears.
To Trickett, an Olympic individual gold means a lot.
"No matter what happens now I can walk away from the most successful Olympics I've ever had," she said after the race.
Trickett made her Olympic debut in Athens four years ago. Despite high expectations, she ended up with a relay gold and an individual bronze.
After the Athens Games, Trickett quickly emerged as the world's top women sprinter. But her unusual pysque also arouse speculations that she might have taken performance enhancing drugs.
Trickett once said that she was deeply hurt by the accusation. "Ultimately, the people who are important to me know what I do and they know the work that goes into what I do, and their opinions mean more to me than whatever can be said."
"I pride myself on being a good person and having high morals and values."
Before coming to Beijing, Trickett said a relatively unsuccessful Olympic debut in Athens has left her well prepared for her 2008 Olympic assault.
"I didn't enjoy being on the Olympic team (in 2004), and my main goal is that I want to enjoy it. I want to enjoy the Olympics," she said.
Trickett's performance proved her words.
Trickett started her Beijing races on Saturday with a 12th in the women's 100m butterfly heats. Her slow qualifying time arouse concerns, but Trickett brushed off such worries, saying that everything was going well as she planed.
On Sunday's semifinals, Trickett qualified for the final as the fastest and her fast speed continued to the final.
Trickett said the win has greatly relieved her. "Before the race I felt like I was going to vomit, I was so nervous. Then, as I walked out, I felt this amazing sense of calm come over me. I am so relieved. "
"To come away with not only a gold medal, but a personal best in these circumstances is really more than I could have dreamed of. (It's) More than anything, I wanted to walk away with no regrets."
What remain in Trickett's plan in Beijing are another individual lraces, women's 50m and 100m freestyles, which she holds the world record, and women's 4X100m freestyle relay. For Trickett, so far the plan has been implemented well. It might continue to be so.
(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2008)