In the record books with bronze

“It’s such a relief, I tell you. I’m ecstatic,” Bell told Central after the race.

“It’s awesome isn’t it.

“I was sitting down the bottom sweating it like Athens [where he finished fourth] and I was thinking ‘oh I don’t think I’m going to get this one’.”

The only Australian in the white-water team that makes his living out of the sport told Central from Beijing that some weeks he struggles to pay the rent for his inner city home, but that will all change now.

“It’s been tough because there is not a huge amount of funding in the sport.

“I have sacrificed a fair bit to get here to Beijing, but it is all worth the rewards when I do well.

“I had to scrape through the pay the rent a couple of times, because if you’re not medaling on the world stage it’s really tough.”

A world of sponsorship opportunities is expected to open up for the three-time Olympian but for now, it’s all about having fun.

“My flatmates up in the stands, hopefully they’ll have the night planned for me ...I don’t want to make any decisions.”

Source: http://sydney-central.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/in-the-record-books-with-bronze/