World aquatic championships offered some moments to remember

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MONTREAL (CP) - Some memories from the world aquatic championships, which end Sunday:

Canadian men’s 4×100 relay team: They won the crowd over by wearing Montreal Canadiens jerseys onto the pool deck, then Yannick Lupien, Mike Mintenko, Rick Say and Brent Hayden swam their way to a silver medal. Canadian swimmers rode a wave of emotion for the rest of the meet. You wonder if a bad performance would have affected the Canadian team and attendance for the rest of the week.

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Despatie does it: No one came into the world championships under more pressure than Alexandre Despatie, Canada’s top medal hope. The diver from suburban Laval, Que., came through with gold in the one-metre and three-metre springboard events, performing before packed grandstands. His wins also created a huge leap in interest for the previously neglected championships.

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Water polo bronze: In the wake of Canada’s bronze medal victory over Russia in women’s water polo, veteran players Jana Salat and Ann Dow held up a Canadian flag while celebrating in the pool with teammates and coaches. Then Dow, the co-captain who is retiring after the championships, led the team in a march around the pool deck not only to thank the crowd of about 4,000, but the thousands who supported them.

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Brittany Reimer wins two medals: The Surrey, B.C., teenager finally began to fulfil the potential she showed at the 2003 world championships. After struggling in the spotlight of the Olympics, Reimer stepped forward as a team leader and an Olympic medal threat.

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Michael Phelps sinks in 400 freestyle: The marquee event of the world championships was over before it started when American superstar Michael Phelps failed to qualify for the 400-freestyle final. That spoiled the anticipated matchup with Australia’s Grant Hackett, who easily won the race. Phelps would go on to win six medals at the championships, but it was the swim he didn’t do that people talked about.

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Meaghan Benfeito and Roseline Filion - A surprise bronze on the 10-metre synchronized platform from the diminutive divers was Canada’s first medal and a sign the Canadian team was ready to exceed expectations.

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Bloody nose - Fans cringed as U.S. diver Chelsea Davis was helped from the pool with blood streaming from her nose after hitting the board face-first in the women’s three-metre springboard event. She wasn’t seriously injured, but the gory sight underlined the danger of an otherwise graceful sport.

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All in a day’s work: South African Roland Schoeman broke the world record in the 50-metre butterfly twice in 24 hours. “Not bad for an African,” the 25-year-old said afterwards. He then pleaded for an end to racism. “I think Africa has a race problem and I think we should void that. So, l like I said, not bad for an African, not bad for a South African. Not bad for a human.”

Heyman’s coach sorry: When Canada’s Emilie Heymans finished fourth in the 10-metre platform event her coach Michel Larouche told reporters she had lacked intensity in training and needed to put her personal life in order. The next day Larouche made a public apology to Heymans. “The comments I made were clearly unacceptable,” he said. “I’m an experienced coach, and coming from me, it’s intolerable.”

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Media swim competition: Some competitors stood on the starting block with stomachs hanging over baggy swim trucks. Others had rippling muscles squeezed into racing suits. The media swim competition pitted the want-a-bes against those who had done it. Former Olympic champions like Britain’s Nick Gillingham, a member of the British press contingent, raced reporters who usually move fastest on a big story. Not always a pretty sight but entertaining.