Interview: Daniel Sliwinski (Commonwealth Games 2010)

Bronze medallist Daniel Sliwinski talks about his frustration at his first Commonwealth accolade, “Delhi belly” and how he once contemplated quitting swimming altogether.

As Sliwinski strides out to the blocks at the Commonwealth Games the first thing that strikes you is his sheer size, not forgetting he his among other swimmers who aren’t exactly tarnished with the reputation of being small and fragile. But for someone that towers 6ft5ins over the pool it is refreshing how firmly his feet are secured on the ground.

The 20-year-old from Penwortham lined up alongside Liam Tancock, Antony James and Simon Burnett to claim bronze in the 4x100m medlay relay. But winning bronzeat his first international senior meet wasn't good enough for a young man who at just 18-years-old beat Duncan Goodhew’s Olympic gold medal winning time at Moscow in 1980 to smash the British youth and World youth record.

On his first senior podium triumph Sliwinski blamed an incredibly unlucky injury plagued season, he said: "It was good but frustrating because I had an injury corrupted season and I reckon we could have pushed for gold.

“For me that medal wasn't a medal for the race but a medal for getting through the season. To get through one broken wrist is one thing but to have two within six months is mentallypretty challenging.

Photo (right) by TVPAV.com [All Rights Reserved]

"I would have liked to have gone a little bit faster but that's always going to be the case. I'm happy I came away with the experience; I suppose it's quite rare that you go to your first senior meet and come back with a medal. I've got a few extra points in the bag ahead of the Worlds next year and the Olympics in 2012."

Individually Sliwinski was slightly off the pace in the 50m and 100m breaststroke finishing sixth and eighth respectively. But once again was forced to battle against the elements after the curry-lover was struck down with Delhi belly.

With others moaning about the conditions in Delhi Sliwinski just got on with it and while admitting it 'wasn't a painful' experience he can't honestly say how much it affected his performance.

He said: "I don't think you can go to India and say you've got a way that's 100% bullet proof to not get Delhi belly, you either get it or you don't. Ironically I got it when I stopped eating curry. It's draining but everyone is in the same boat so you just get on with it. It's just an inconvenience really.

“You could add in how much did it affect me in terms of would I have gone quicker if I was 100% - I don't know. I couldn't possibly answer that question.”

For many young athletes the prospect of heading out to a developing country to compete in a multi-stage sports event for the first time would be a daunting one. But the former Bolton high school student seemed to take it in his stride with ease, just as it seems he approaches life in general.

He said that the whole Commonwealth experience 'wasn't like a shock or bewildering but obviously really enjoyable.'

“It is one of the few multi-stage sports events you can go to, other than the Olympics, so you’ve just got to try and enjoy every moment."

As well as preparing himself for competition there was the added danger of the reported conditions out in Delhi. The Athletes Village was rumoured to be unsatisfactory and even snakes were found in some rooms but once again that was something that didn't trouble the 20-year-old.

"Before every event there is always some form of negative headlines. I'm pretty sure there will be some for the Olympics, where something won't be ready and then miraculously it is. I think it was something out of nothing and a third world country was an easy pick for the media."

But Sliwinski could have been watching someone else pick up his medal after nearly deciding to quit the sport that had played such a major role in his life since he was five-years-old.

Approaching 16-years-old and ready to enter adulthood Sliwinski took time out to assess his options. No-one can question how demanding a sport swimming is and not many people would blame a teenager for not wanting to wake up before sunrise to head down to West View Leisure centre to begin training.

Sliwinski had lost his love for the sport, he said: “I took a couple of months out just because I just got frustrated and didn't know whether I wanted to continue. I was stuck between two Islands.

“I had just got bored and realised it was a part of my life where I had gone through school sacrificing friends. I didn’t know whether to try and catch up with all my school friends or just carry on with all my friends from Swimming and I chose swimming.”

And once he made that choice he threw everything into his swimming seemingly adopting the saying ‘if you’re going to do something you may as well do it properly.’

He said: “Hand on heart I didn’t start putting everything into training until about four-years ago. I moved back home and started to train a bit more seriously. I got some British records and that is when I really started to knuckle down.”

With a bronze medal already under his belt at his first senior meet you would think his decision to continue swimming was justified but for Sliwinski it has not fully paid off just yet.

He said: “It's slowly paying off, I wouldn’t say it's fully paid off yet. It will pay off when I’m in my forties and I can lie in bed past four o’clock in the morning.”

CWG England Hockey: England 1 - 1 Canada

Mantell brothers angry at no video referall system in Delhi

England Hockey star siblings Richard and Simon Mantell were left ruing the absence of video technology at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi after only drawing 1-1 with Canada.

The video referall system has been used at all major tournaments since 2006 but due to a mix up with organisers and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) it has been unable to be sorted out in another embarrassing mess up for Delhi 2010 organisers. And now the Mantell brothers feel Canada’s goal, accredited to Canadian forward Ian Smythe, would have been chalked off.

A fuming Richard, who confronted umpire William Drury as soon as the goal was allowed, said: “It was particularly frustrating with some of the decisions out there. To be honest it’s a shame we haven’t got the video umpire. It came right of my stick into the goal, it didn’t touch the Canadian player in the D. They also didn’t travel 5 yards when they passed it so we could have had either decision so it shouldn’t have counted.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve played with a video umpire and it’s proved very successful. A lot of the decisions we appeal tend to be right. Hockey is a better game with the video umpire at this level it’s very fast and we would have appealed a couple of those decisions,” added the full back.

England dominated the second half proceedings but could only find the back of the net once with a reverse stick strike from Simon Mantell. They could and should have won the game but for some fine goalkeeping from Philip Wright in the Canada goal.

Simon, who plays alongside his older brother Richard for club side Reading, was also disappointed that the system is not in place and admitted it is even more frustrating when you know the system works but it is not on offer.

He said: “It’s crushing but umpires make mistakes, they’re humans and we accept that but the problem is when we do have the technology. We are use to it now, it works so well and it’s just gutting when it goes against you.

“There has been so much discussion about it over the last two years and I think Hockey as got it right compared to others sports like Football. But the fact we are at such a massive tournament and we haven’t got it just means goals like that are scored.”

But despite the absence of video technology the Berkshire based pair conceded they had enough chances to win the game with goal-scorer Simon admitting it was ‘incredibly disappointing’ to not come away with a win.

He said: “It’s nice to score, I was lucky because I didn’t get hold of the shot if I did I don’t think it would have gone in but that’s completely overshadowed by not winning the game. I think we had a lot of possession - the stats will talk for themselves in terms of possession and how much circle entry we had."

Richard added: “We had a lot of the play, a lot of ball, a lot of chances - enough corners and open play chances to win the game. Overall it’s very disappointing. We would always want to go out and beat them.”

"We had loads of corners, it’s no where near the conversion rate we expect from any of us. It's equally disappointing not to score some more goals from open play. The conditions are tough and I'd like to think we are one of the fittest team here. I think that should in the end we kept the pressure up. It just wasn’t going in,” concluded the 29-year-old.

England Men's Hockey CWG: Mantell happy to be playing again

Richard Mantell was glad to be back and playing competitve international Hockey on his return to the Major Dhayan Chand national Stadium in Delhi at the Commonwealth Games.

The England star defender horrifically broke his leg back in March at the World Cup and was forced to return home for emergency treatment but after a swift recovery he is enjoying playing on the global stage again.

He said: “It’s nice to be back out here. It’s a fantastic stadium to play in and obviously seven months after being injured it’s nice to be back so quickly, its good fun.”

Mantell, whose brother Simon scored two goals to set England on their way to victory against Trinidad and Tobago before Ashley Jackson and Alastair Brogdon rounded off a 4-0 win, was pleased with the overall performance.

He said: “It’s good to start with a win. We kind of feel we have a few more gears to go into as we go through the tournament. We would have liked to have scored a few more corners and popped a few more goals in opening play. But all in all a reasonable start.”

Both male and female members of the England team have found the hot conditions in the Indian capital hard to deal with and Mantell admits it does affect the team’s performance, he added: “It’s hot out there - we knew it would be and it’s definitely a factor.

“It’s a lot hotter than we play in back home, a lot hotter than some of the international tournaments. We’ve been out here for quite a while now so we’re getting more and more used to it. Our first couple of games when we got out here were hard work they’re getting a bit easier now but there is no doubt the heat will have an affect on the way the game is played.”

Crista Cullen scores hat-trick to beat Wales in CWG

Cullen 'gutted' at Wales consolation goal

England womens hat-trick hero Crista Cullen was gutted to concede a last minute goal after giving the top seeds a three nil lead against Wales in their opening Commonwealth Games fixture in Group B.

The full-back unleashed three short corner drag flicks to steer England to victory but from a defensive point of view admitted she was ‘really gutted’ to concede late on.

Cullen said: “We worked so hard to make sure we didn’t let them in the circle. Credit to Sarah Thomas she’s a great player and she cut us open at times when we were a little bit exposed. We’ve just got take those bits out of our game and keep converting at the top.”

But apart from allowing Wales to snatch a consolation goal Cullen, left, was pleased with the overall performance even though she accepted they should have scored more goals.

She said: “It was a brilliant performance. It’s always difficult going out first game on at 8.30 in the morning to get ourselves going. I thought we started really well, we could have converted more but that’s me being harsh.


“We had the opportunities and if we are going to push for the top spot in our pool then we have to make sure we start converting but it’s the start of the tournament and we have a performance to build on. To come away with a win is what we are here to do and we need to just keep churning them over,” added the Leicester defender.

Next up for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games bronze medalists is Canada and Cullen is aware how stern a test it will be but is confident they can get a positive result.

She said: “It’s always a tough game against Canada they’re athletic and fight for eveything. It’s an 11 o’clock match so it will be hot and humid. We’ve just got to take our game to them and I think they might struggle a bit.”


photo accreditation: chelmsfordblue (flickr)

CWG England Women's Hockey: England 4-1 Wales

Cullen rescues poor forward finishing

Hat-trick hero Crista Cullen single-handlingly saw off neighbours Wales in England’s opening match of the Commonwealth Games in Group B.

The Leicester full-back swept home three penalty corner drag flicks past Welsh stopper Margaret Rees before Charlotte Craddock capitalised on a loose ball to give the top ranked side in Delhi a four goal advantage.

But Wales, who had rarely threatened the England defence, pulled a goal back late on when forward Sarah Thomas drifted easily past four defenders before beating Beth Storry in the England goal.

Cullen made up for some poor finishing from the England forwards and head coach Danny Kerry admitted that his side must improve in front of goal if they are going to win gold.

He said: “We need to set high standards and we expect high standards from out teammates if we had done that that today it could have been double figures.

“I am happy with the performance just really disappointed with our play in the attacking circle. If we don’t have that application in the circle we won’t win Gold,” added a downbeat Kerry.

Captain Kate Walsh was also concerned that England could only score four goals considering the high percentage of play they had in Wales’ half, she added: “We’ve got to be ruthless in these games, as the goal difference might count at the end of the tournament. We have to put in a gold medal winning performance every game.”

2010 World Cup in Berlin

Celebrating the German victory over Australia Berlin style

While I was travelling around Europe I experienced how the Germans celebrated winning during World Cup - not an experience many people back home in England had the joy of doing.

The Videos were taken outside the 1936 Berlin Olympic Stadium on a big screen with thousands of Germany fans watching. I managed to find a small number of Aussies among the jubilant Germans and after miserably failing to convince them I was from the land down under myself, I proceeded to join in with their chants - a particular favourite being: "Aussie Aussie Aussie ...OI OI OI."

The Australian National Anthem:



Germans during the game:


Crazy Germans making a fair old racket in the Olympic train station before rocking what felt a very unstable train.

Crystal Palace protest at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace Fans protest at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace fans launched a protest against its current financial turmoil at their home ground, Selhurst Park, as it becomes clear the South London club are on the brink of extinction.

The demonstration, which took place at 3pm on bank holiday Monday and lasted for just over an hour, saw fans protest against the club being placed in administration with some supporters blaming former chairman Simon Jordan.

It appeared the takeover by CPFC 2010 looked to be gathering pace when a deal was struck with Agilo, a hedge fund that placed Palace into administration in January, but it has stalled. The main problem, which had looked to be resolved surrounds the ownership of Selhurst Park, which is owned by PricewaterhouseCoopers who are selling the ground on behalf of Bank of Scotland.

The Bank of Scotland, which is owned by Lloyds TSB, had looked to have struck an agreement but in a statement released by the CPFC 2010 consortium the contract is ‘unworkable’.

The CPFC 2010 consortium which is fronted by wealthy fans Martin Long and Steve Parish have been given until 3pm June 1^st to come to an agreement or Agilo will begin to liquidate the club and its assets.

After a member of the supporters trust announced this on a megaphone to the protesting fans he assured them that this did not mean the club was ‘dead’. The certain member of the supporters trust also confirmed that "it is nothing to do with money" and that "there are just a few technical clauses that don’t need to be there".

But the creditors want guarantees that Selhurst Park will not be sold on to a property developer and therefore cause them any embarrassment which is why CPFC 2010 have agreed to an ‘anti embarrassment’ clause that will allow the bank to receive a further return if Selhurst Park creates greater value.

The Protest

Photos of supporters protesting outside Selhurst Park and in the Holmesdale end taken by myself. Click on fullscreen to view.

Fans continued to protest with banners reading: “Save our club,” “105 years of history - don’t die without a fight” and aimed most of their anger at creditors Agilo, Lloyds TSB and the Bank of Scotland.

While the protest was free from violence fans did break into the ground and took up residence in the Holmesdale end – the loudest stand in the ground – and continued to chant.

There was a mixture of opinions from the fans with some blaming Simon Jordan while others criticised previous owner Ron Noades.

But regardless of who is to blame it is clear that all Palace supporters should be very worried about the direction the club may take if an agreement cannot be reached by 3pm tomorrow.

However, the supporters trust member does feel confident that an agreement will get sorted out as the CPFC 2010 are determined to see the deal through but admits the longer it goes on the worse the situation becomes.

He said: “The further it goes on the more harder it becomes for whoever buys the club to pick up the pieces. The worst-case scenario is the club being liquidated but the money contributed by the fans would go towards a new club set up like AFC Palace."

Tuesday will be a massive day for Crystal Palace football club but hopefully it will be one that Eagles fans can look back on with happiness and I dearly hope that an agreement can be made.

Video, taken by myself, of some Palace fans that managed to get to the Holmesdale end and continue their protest.

Audio of fans singing to follow...