Davies earns gutsy silver

Davies: Wins silver

"It's going to take a while for it to sink in. At the last bit I didn't know what was going on. I need to learn to swim straight, I know that sounds silly."

David Davies
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British swimmer David Davies won silver in the 10km marathon event after he was denied gold by Maarten van der Weijden of Holand.

The Welshman produced a spirited and gutsy performance in the open waters and led for most of the gruelling race at the Shunyi Rowing Park.

But despite opening up a significant advantage in the closing stages, a combination of exhaustion and delirium saw him veer off course slightly and this proved costly as van der Weijden and Germany's Thomas Lurz wiped out the deficit in a thrilling finish.

The Dutchman had the stronger finishing power to claim victory in one hour, 51 minutes and 51.6 seconds while Davies was just behind in 1:51:53.1 with Lurz taking bronze.

Swimming straight

Davies admitted his failure to keep a straight course cost his bid for gold but he was still delighted to have something to show for his efforts.

He said: "It's only my third race so I knew I was going to be an open-water novice in terms of the tactics and going straight.

"It's really hard to go straight, especially when your head's all over the place.

"My body had given everything, I was having a real sugar low and I was swimming in zigzags and not knowing what was going on.

"That's where, if I continue in the sport, I'll have to make improvements, in my tactics and in my lines and having the patience to swim with people on top of you.

"I like to swim at the front in clear water and that's obviously the hardest way to do it because you're in the lead the whole way.

"This was the hardest two hours of my life. It's one thing to get to the top of an Olympic sport or to get to the podium.

"But to stay focused for another four years and try to stay at the top of your sport - especially in the endurance events that I do - it's really tough and that's probably what I'm most proud of at the moment, that I kept at it for the last four years.

"I had some ups and downs along the way but this medal was completely unexpected this time last year.

"I was adamant I didn't want to do the sport, I wanted to concentrate on swimming in the pool. I've only done three races so it's a bit of surprise and it's a different feeling to the first one in Athens.

"I feel more proud and more humble knowing how hard it is to get on the podium and the fact I've done it twice, at two different Olympic Games now and in two different sports.

"I never thought I'd do it to be honest. I'm very, very proud."

Davies was attended to by medics after the race, but he played that down.

"I just wanted to lie down and have a sleep, but before I knew it I was on a stretcher."

Dutch tribute

Davies also hailed van der Weijden, who overcame leukaemia before returning to swimming.

"Maarten's had a cancer battle in the past and almost had to give up the sport," added Davies.

"It's almost like a Lance Armstrong story. He's a complete gentleman and a great ambassador for the sport and he's Olympic champion now.

"I said to him at the end that I was really proud of him. He's a really tough competitor, his story's amazing and one that can inspire people. What he has achieved is phenomenal."

Van der Weijden, who only hauled himself into contention late in the race, was emotional after his triumph.

The 27-year-old said: "I think the leukaemia taught me to think step-by-step.

"When you are lying in a hospital bed and feeling tired, you don't want to think about next month or next week, you only think about the next hour.

"You have to be patient, you lie in your bed and just wait. I think that's almost the same strategy as I used here, you stay in the pack, be patient, stay easy and wait for your chance."