Silver for Houvenaghel in Beijing
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Wendy Houvenaghel with the silver medal she won in Beijing.
MAGHERAFELT born Wendy Houvenaghel had to settle for an Olympic silver medal after losing to Rebecca Romero in Sunday's 3000m Cycling individual pursuit final.
The 34-year-old who attended the Rainey Endowed school had been hoping to become Northern Ireland's first gold medallist since Mary Peters won the Pentathlon in 1972, but could not overcome the history-making Romero, who proved too strong and led all the way to claim a convincing victory by almost 2 seconds.
The victory means that Romero becomes the first British woman to win two medals in two summer Olympic sports, having won a silver in rowing in Athens four years ago.
Houvenaghel's achievement at the Laoshan Velodrome ended a 16-year wait since the Northern Ireland's last Olympic medal in an individual sport, the last coming when boxer Wayne McCullough won silver for Ireland in Barcelona in 1992.
Houvenaghel was delighted after claiming the silver, an achievement made all the more impressive due to the fact that Cornwall-based Wendy, who quit working as a dentist just two years ago when she became a full-time cyclist, only made her first international appearance at the age of 31
“I started out about two years ago with this final in mind so it has worked out perfectly from that perspective," she said.
“We had the top two medals to gain today and it was just a matter of who was better on the day and Rebecca managed to get the gold and that is great.
“I have come away with the silver and I am really proud of myself for getting that medal."
Wendy is now planning to take a well-earned rest before setting her sights on 2012.
“I will probably have a few weeks off and go from there, put a plan together for perhaps the next four years towards the London Olympics," she said.
“I am not too sure just how things are working at the moment but I have proved over the last few years that I can get to this standard within two years."
In the twelve lap race, Romero never looked like throwing away the chance to forever etch her name in the history books, taking victory in 3 minutes 28.3 seconds, while Houvenaghel crossed the line in 3 minutes 30 seconds.
Praise has flooded through for Wendy since her achievement with Ulster Unionist councillor Jacky Crawford and Mid Ulster MLA Billy Armstrong leading the cheers.
Councillor Crawford said: "This is a tremendous personal achievement for Wendy and a unique achievement of which the people of Upperlands and Magherafelt District can be proud. It is sixteen years since anyone from Northern Ireland won an Olympic medal and now the Upperlands girl has done it with Silver."
Councillor Crawford hopes that Magherafelt District Council will mark Wendy's achievement in some way. He said, "The amount of effort that Wendy has put into the preparation for these games has been tremendous, and I hope her achievement will be marked by the council. I will certainly be calling for a Civic reception in her honour at the first opportunity."
