Timely Thoughts

The 2008 World Indoor Champs in Valencia, Spain, delivered a numerous amount of fantastic performances and displays of why this sport is great.

It also delivered its fair share of surprises and upsets from Tamsyn Lewis over 800m to Sudan's stunning win over the Men's 800m by Abubaker Kaki Khamis.

Also worth mentioning was the gutsy and determined performance of Belgium's Tia Hellebaut in the Women's Pentathlon .

In some instances it was business as usual for the likes of Russia's Yelena Isinbaeva in the polevault and the affirmation that New Zealand's Valerie Vili is the real deal in the Women's shotput.

The new World Record established by Yelena Soboleva for Women over 1500m confirmed Yelena is a good name to have.

There was also the winning of Ethiopia's Tariku Bakele in the Men's 3000m where the brother to the more famous and successful Kenisisa Bekele emerging slightly from the daunting shadow of the King of Track Distance running. This performance augers well for the future attacks on the world 5 and 10000m records as this success should surely boost Tariku to higher levels. The younger Bekele has assisted his brother in his attacks on records and now with an extra boost shall surely be able to take him further down the line in those attempts.

One of the grand specatacles at the end of every games is the 4x400m relay finals and boy is it normally a bun fight, well indoors its an accident waiting to happen. Great entertainment again but not so for Russian Men's 400m team.

A great championship and a spectacle of the highest order

Tamsyn Lewis does it for Australia.

A year ago I wrote about being happy that Lewis may finally realise her ability and that maybe she was becoming a true professional athlete. Well today in Valencia, Spain, she delivered. Lewis ran a tactically sound race to win the Women's 800m title, an outcome that would finally provide her with a medal on the World stage and Gold to boot.

There has never ever been any doubt about this Aussie's talent however there were always questions about her commitment to the sport. Yesterday we wrote about the human spirit on display through the performances in the Women's pentathlon 800m and yet again we have a celebration of the human spirit, all thanks to Tamsyn Lewis.

The race itself was tactical and it was almost as though the field was overawed by the legendary presence of Maria Mutola. The Mozambique athlete dominated affairs at the head of the field at a pace that suited her and it was not until the home country's representative Mayte Martínez (winner of Osaka 2007 800m bronze) attempted to go round the athletes on the backstraight with 350 to go, that Lewis shot through the inside past Mutola in the process sparking race favourite Ukraine's Tetiana Petlyuk to bolt off; immediately gapping the field with Lewis chasing and the Spaniard in 3rd approaching the bell.

Down the back straight the powerful Mutola went past Martinez into 3rd and looked to be making the quickest progress round the last bend. Coming into the home straight Lewis switched to attack down the straight and incredibly with great gusto (provided by way of "Come on Tamsyn" from my side) she took the race. Much to her dismay, shock, bewilderment and add your own words for totally unexpected, the Aussie grabbed Gold.

Her delight carried her all the way through the medal ceremony and who doubts late into the night, Valencia is a nice place to Tamsyn afterall.

Lewis said that she couldn't believe that she had won.

Oh my God, I'm just waking up. This is such a good surprise, I was wondering what I was doing out there. Then I realised that I could win the race. This is amazing, I still can't believe it," said Lewis.

And why my enthusiasm, well yet again this was an example of what can be achieved by sticking to the task at hand through out one's life. Too often we give up along the way, not realising that perseverance if also rewarded quite often

Life may be about the journey however the rewards along the way do make it sweeter