CAS to judge photo-finish in Olympic women’s triathlon as Sweden appeals for joint gold medal: http://bit.ly/O8AYbN
9:52 AM - 10 Aug 12 via Tweetbot for iOS · Details
Sweden appeals to CAS to award Lisa Norden a gold medal for the women’s Olympic triathlon
By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, August 10, 10:54 AM
LONDON — Sweden’s Olympic team is looking to get another Olympic gold medal, from the courts.
The Swedes appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Friday to award Lisa Norden a gold medal in the women’s triathlon after she finished second in a photo finish with Nicola Spirig of Switzerland.
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Later Friday, a CAS panel is expected to hear the Swedish case challenging how the International Triathlon Union judged the photo finish.
Norden and Spirig were both timed in 1 hour, 59 minutes, 48 seconds at the end of a 1,500-meter swim, a 43-kilometer bike ride and 10-kilometer run in Hyde Park last Saturday.
An initial Swedish appeal to triathlon’s governing body was rejected Wednesday.
CAS said the latest Swedish case argues that the “ITU did not comply with its own rules.”
The governing body “may not have taken into account the position of the athletes’ torsos when establishing the medal positions,” the court said in summarizing Sweden’s position.
CAS said Sweden claims “it is not possible to distinguish precisely on the photo finish the position of Spirig’s torso, which is slightly back from her belly and which is hidden by the torso of the Swedish athlete.”
Both athletes, their team leaders and representatives of the ITU, International Olympic Committee and London Games organizing committee have been invited to attend the court session.
CAS said it aims to give a verdict by noon on Saturday.
Sport’s highest court can alter results if legal process has not been followed, but cannot interfere in “field of play” decisions made by race or match officials.
Norden was awarded a silver medal after making a late sprint to the line as Spirig hung on to a fast-diminishing lead.
“At least I can say I pushed it all the way to the finish line and I’m pretty happy with that,” Norden said.
Sweden has won only one gold medal at the London Olympics. Frederik Loof and Max Salminen won the men’s star class in sailing last Sunday.
