'Grand' result for medal winner Jess
- 12th August 2008
Jessica Schipper's grandparents, Del and Bill Payne, watch the final of the 100m butterfly with friends and relatives at their Currimundi home.
Jess's parents, Jennifer and Wolfgang, are over in Beijing to support their 21-year-old daughter, but her cousins, uncles and aunts found space among the media in the Paynes' sitting room to watch the event on television.
The tension built as the race neared – flags were flying and specially made "Go Jess" pennants, T-shits and caps were in abundance.
The big talk was Jess's weekend cold and her asthma condition in the polluted environment of China's capital.
"They said she would be okay (despite her cold)," Bill said.
Del added: "When leaving the (Olympic) village, and when she comes back, the doctor tests her."
And in what may be seen as a prescient move when she was born, Jessicah's name was given an extra "h" on the end as all the family had eight-letter names – and eight is considered a lucky number by the Chinese.
There was nervousness in the room as the competitors took position, even though the family has been glued to the TV many times in the past.
"You never quite get used to it," Del said.
Jessicah was in lane three, with Libby Trickett next door in four.
"Libby's the main competition," Del said.
And off they went, with Libby gaining gold and Jessicah taking home the bronze, amid mass cheers from the hometown audience.
She may have been pipped for second in the last 20 metres, but there was no sense of loss or defeat among her proud family members.
"We're happy (with the result)," Del said. "Jenny should be ringing us any time now."
And it will all happen again on Thursday.
"Jessicah will be defending her world record (in the 200m)," Del said.
"And she has said she wants to beat her personal best."
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