Robinson bathed in bronze glory (From Stroud News and Journal)

Robinson bathed in bronze glory

DAN ROBINSON shocked the athletics world with a remarkable piece of marathon running to gain Commonwealth Games bronze in Melbourne on Sunday.

The 31-year-old from Nailsworth ran the race of his life to become the first Briton for 12 years to win an international men's championship marathon medal.

Confusion surrounded Robinson's big moment as the Stroud and District AC athlete ran into the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of a crowd of 76,500. The winner, Samson Nyonyi, from Tanzania, and runner-up, Fred Tumbo, had finished, but another figure appeared before Robinson.

It proved to be a slow finisher in the women's race, which had started 45 minutes before the men's. Robinson knew, though, from coaches on the course, that he was in third place.

Unassuming star

After finishing 24th in the Athens Olympics and then 12th in last year's World Championships in Helsinki, Melbourne's testing 26 miles and 385 yards proved the icing on the cake for the unassuming marathon man.

Robinson said: "The race went pretty much to plan. I got into good group with three Aussies and a couple of South Africans so was able to get to half way in good shape, although we did go off a bit hard."

Robinson adopted his usual race plan of picking athletes off one by one. He was unfazed by the early surge from Tanzanian Christopher Njunguda.

Robinson reached the halfway mark in 66.13, which saw him to fourth. His strength grew and as he entered the MCG he knew the bronze medal was in the bag.

Robinson added: "I knew I had bronze at around 33k, so still had nearly 10k to run. There were a couple of out and back bits at 37k and 39k so I could see there how far the others were behind me. At 39k I knew that I wasn't going to be caught.

" It was absolutely incredible entering the stadium. Relief that it was nearly over, but amazing that I was in third place too."

A kiss from Jess

Jess couldn't speak to Dan for at least 30 minutes after the race as he was given a mandatory drugs test, but when she did, she told him to do one special thing.

"I told Dan to give the medal a kiss from me- however, when I saw him on the podium the kiss was a little bit too long for my liking," chuckled Jess.

Even Dan's Stroud and District Athletic Club coach Chris Frapwell was swept away with the emotion of the day.

He added: "Dan was brilliant. Everything we talked about before the race went like a dream.

"He is a hero to the youngsters at our club. The quality of the man is that he dosen't think he is different to anyone else."

Chris Bourne, vice chairman of Stroud and District Athletic Club added:'It was a great personal achievement and a great result for Stroud. Dan will get a great reception when he comes down to the club."

Commonwealth Games Men's Marathon result:

1. Samson Ramadhani (Tanzania) 2hr 11min 29sec, 2. Fred Mogaka (Kenya) 2:12:03, 3. Daniel Robinson (England) 2:14:50, 4. Scott Westcott (Australia) 2:16:32, 5. Andrew Letherby (Australia) 2:17:10, 6. Jacob Yator (Kenya) 2:17:31, 7. Shane Nankervis (Australia) 2:19:15, 8. Francis Robert Naali (Tanzania) 2:19:39, 9. Lebenya Nkoka (Lesotho) 2:19:40, 10. Teboho Sello (Lesotho) 2:19:57, 11. Neo Molema (South Africa) 2:29:04, 12. Mohamed Turay (Sierra Leone) 2:50:19, 13. Andrew Gutzmore (Jamaica) 2:51:55, 14. Errol Duncan (St. Helena) 3:11.21, Christopher Njunguda (Tanzania) DNF, Tsotang Maine (Lesotho) DNF,Tseko Mpolokeng (South Africa) DNF.