Taxi for Wiggins as Beijing 'high-jinks' get out of hand
Britain's Thomas Geraint, Bradley Wiggins and Edward Clancy celebrate after taking the gold during the final of the Men's team pursuit at the Track Cycling World Championships in Palma de Mallorca, 30 March 2007. Photo: Franck Fife, Getty Images
Chinese police acted as peacemakers after high-jinks by double gold medal winner Bradley Wiggins saw the Olympic champion roll over the bonnet of a parked taxi.
Wiggins had been celebrating his two gold medals at London House, the venue in Beijing set up to promote the city ahead of the 2012 Games. He then went outside the venue and rolled on the bonnet of a taxi, causing some unhappiness to the driver. Police officers, who were on duty outside London House, stepped in to calm the situation.
The British Olympic Association said there was no question of any action against Wiggins, who is from London.
A BOA spokeswoman said: "He was at London House celebrating his achievements and rolled over the bonnet of a parked taxi that was waiting outside.
"The driver was not very happy and got out and there were some police officers already there who spoke to the driver. It ended up very good-natured with photos being taken of him, the driver and his medals."
Wiggins flew back to Britain yesterday morning as planned -- and was upgraded to first class by the airline in recognition of his gold medal success. The track cycling programme in Beijing brought unprecedented success for the British team. Seven of 10 events were won by British riders -- with three gold medals going to Chris Hoy and two to Wiggins.
Champers and cereal for Sotherton
British heptathlete Kelly Sotherton must be pouring champagne on her corn flakes this morning after Lyudmila Blonska's positive drugs test for steroids in Beijing.
When Blonska came back from a previous two-year drugs ban and won silver ahead of her at last year's World Championships, Sotherton (right) was circumspect.
"It's hard to trust someone who has failed a test. When they come back and are still improving, it's even harder," she said.
What television viewers don't always see is the lovely post-competition tradition at the end of all multi-event competitions, when all the entrants collect to do a joint lap of honour together. It was patently clear in Beijing last weekend that an awful lot of the heptathletes were giving Blonksa, who had just won the silver medal, a very wide berth indeed.
But Sotherton will ultimately be disappointed, because she finished fifth and it is Russia's Tatiana Chernova who will take bronze if Blonksa's positive test is confirmed by the B sample.
The number of anti-doping tests done in Beijing so far. Since July 27 these tests included 3,292 urine and 841 blood. Urine tests included 657 for EPO and blood tests included 455 for Human Growth Hormone.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"It's more about getting your manhood out and showing the other guys you're bigger than them." -- Australia's Kamakazi, the single-monikered BMX biker uses a very macho analogy for the time-trial seeding system in his event.
DON'T MISS THIS TODAY
The show-jumping finals at 2.15pm and 3.10pm where Denis Lynch and Lantinus carry Ireland's big non-boxing medal hope.
IRISH IN ACTION TODAY
ATHLETICS -- Olive Loughnane (20km Walk), 2am.
EQUESTRIAN -- Denis Lynch (Individual Showjumping), final. Round A at 2.15pm. Round B at 3.10pm.
IRISH IN ACTION TOMORROW
BOXING -- Darren Sutherland (Middleweight) v James DeGale (GBR), semi-final, 8.01am.
Paddy Barnes (Light Fly) v Zou Shiming (CHN), semi-final, 12 noon.
Kenny Egan (Light Heavy) v Tony Jeffries (GBR), semi-final, 2.01pm.
ATHLETICS -- Jamie Costin and Colin Griffin (50km Walk), 0.30am.
HOW THE IRISH FARED YESTERDAY
BOXING -- Darren Sutherland (Middleweight) beat Alfonso Blanco Parra (VEN) 11-1 to secure a last-four spot and bronze.
ATHLETICS -- Alistair Cragg (5,000m), Heat 1, 6th in 13:38.57. Qualified for Saturday's final.
Thomas Chamney (800m), Heat 1, 5th in 1:47.66. 35th of 58.
SAILING -- Peter O'Leary and Stephen Milne (Star Class) 8th in Race 8, 11th in Race 9 and 12th in Race 10. Finished 13th overall.
