{"id":110243,"date":"2014-09-21T11:56:07","date_gmt":"2014-09-21T18:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=110243"},"modified":"2014-09-21T11:56:07","modified_gmt":"2014-09-21T18:56:07","slug":"aussies-continue-to-close-in-on-new-zealand-at-world-lifesaving-championships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/aussies-continue-to-close-in-on-new-zealand-at-world-lifesaving-championships\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussies Continue To Close In on New Zealand at World Lifesaving Championships"},"content":{"rendered":"

MONTPELLIER, France, September 21. TOMORROW’S final day of the National Teams competition at the World Lifesaving Championships in France will go right down to the wire on the back of Australia\u2019s four-gold medal haul on the opening day of beach competition.<\/p>\n

The Australians left the pool and arrived at the beach 74 points behind defending champions New Zealand and have clawed their way back and will arrive at Couchant Beach, La Grande Motte, Sunday with the Black Fins still 48 points ahead.<\/p>\n

\u2018If we do catch the Kiwis it will be true testament to the character and spirit of this team \u2013 they showed today they are never, ever beaten,\u201d said National Head Coach Danny Short.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had some setbacks today but they fought back to win the \u2018double-double\u2019 which has kept us in the fight.<\/p>\n

\u201cFive-time team veteran Kristyl Smith was the stand out after racing in every women\u2019s event including the beach sprint.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter finishing second in the board, Kristyl combined with Miranda Bell to win the Rescue Tube Rescue and then with Olympian Naomi Flood to win the rescue board.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot finished with that, Kristyl then backed up to finish fourth in the B final of the beach sprint to earn us valuable points and then claim a bronze in the women\u2019s beach relay \u2013 she earned her ice bath tonight.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are still 48 points behind New Zealand with our favourite day ahead of us including the iron, surf races and Oceanman and Oceanwoman (Taplin) Relays\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDanny\u2019s double-double gold\u201d came in the Rescue Board and the Rescue Tube Rescue events where the Australians were too fast and too strong with the green and gold caps winning four gold medals back-to-back.<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s rescue tube rescue saw an awesome swim by patient Kristyl Smith who was then rescued by Miranda Bell who streeted the field to win comfortably and kick start the Aussie comeback.<\/p>\n

Australian captain Shannon Eckstein then put on a fine display of wading to set the race up for Tim Schofield to again win in a close finish with France. Australia proved far too strong for the Kiwis and completed a fine Rescue Tube.<\/p>\n

The masterful combination of Smith and Flood then combined again to comprehensively win the board rescue from France and Spain before Eckstein on the board and swimmer Tim Schofield put on a great display to win the board rescue by 100m with daylight second.<\/p>\n

This victory completed the rare rescue \u201cdouble double\u201d for Australia which hasn’t been done since the 2006 World Championships.<\/p>\n

Here is a run down of Australia\u2019s results:<\/h1>\n