Patricia Bezzoubenko wins 6th medal at Commonwealth Games

Canadian rhythmic gymnast Patricia Bezzoubenko has won her sixth medal of the Commonwealth Games, adding a bronze to her five gold in Glasgow on Saturday.

The 17-year-old started the day by winning the individual hoop, ball and clubs events, adding to her individual all-around title and her gold in the team event from earlier in the Games.

"Nobody's perfect. . . I am proud," Bezzoubenko said. "This is my life and my accomplishments. I feel amazing, here at my first Commonwealth Games. I am happy for my country and my coaches. So happy to compete for Canada."

She had a chance to match the single-Games record with a sixth gold medal in the closing ribbon event, but had to settle for bronze.

"I did my work and didn't think about medals; this was a good performance for me," she said.

Canadian rhythmic gymnast Alexandra Orlando won six gold medals at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, sweeping the five individual competitions and adding gold in the team event.

Canadian swimmer Graham Smith won six gold medals at the 1978 Games in Edmonton. The feat was matched by Australian swimmer Susie O'Neill (1998) and Ian Thorpe (2001).

Bezzoubenko was born in Vancouver but has lived in Moscow since she was four. She lists Thornhill, Ont., as her hometown.

Relay silver in the pool

Canada earned a surprising silver medal in the women’s 4x200-metre freestyle relay, putting forth a fierce challenge to the favourite Australians for the gold. 

The Canadian team consisting of Samantha Cheverton, Brittany MacLean, Alyson Ackman, and Emily Overholt matched the heavily-favoured Aussies stroke-for-stroke for most of the race, and were only 0.05 seconds behind the Australians at the final exchange. 

But Aussie anchor Bronte Barratt gave her team a strong finishing kick, winning the race by 1.77 seconds over Canada, who survived a strong English charge for the silver medal.

Shooters Des Vamplew and Jim Paton gave Canada another silver medal by finishing second in the full bore rifle pairs event. Ana Laura Portuondo picked up a bronze medal in women’s judo.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/commonwealthgames