China's domination ends as Canadian wins medal
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-19 08:54

DREAM START

Hartley's gold added to a dream start for the hosts, coming on the heels of a bronze from Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion in the 10-metre platform synchronised event on Sunday.

With Canada's swimmers shut out of the medals in Athens, the country's medal expectations for these two-week championships have rested squarely with the divers.

Their early success has also provided a huge morale boost for the beleaguered organisers, who earlier this year were stripped of the championships by FINA, world swimming's governing body, after failing to meet financial obligations.

A few days later the championships were rocked by the apparent suicide of chief organiser Yvon DesRochers, who was found dead in his car from a gun shot wound.

After some intense lobbying and guarantees, FINA voted to return the championships to Montreal, forcing a disbanded organising committee back into action and a race against the clock to get the event ready on time.

The world championships are also the biggest sporting event to be staged in the mostly French-speaking city since the 1976 Olympics when Canada suffered the indignity of becoming the only host nation to stage a Summer Games and not win a gold medal.

"We're off to a really good start, bronze yesterday and gold today, so hopefully we'll keep going," said Hartley, whose father was a member of the Canadian Olympic bobsleigh team at the 1972 Games in Sapporo.

"I know all the Canadian athletes are really excited the world championships are in Montreal because it gives them a boost," added the gold medal winner.

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