Goddard loses out in final

JAMES Goddard just missed out on a medal for the second successive Olympic Games earlier today.

The 25-year-old finished sixth in the final of the 200m individual medley behind swimming superstar Michael Phelps, who was claiming his sixth gold medal in Beijing.

And after finishing fourth in the final of the 200m backstroke in Athens four years earlier, it was another disappointment for nearly-man Goddard, whose mother Elizabeth taught at Hathershaw School until recently.

Goddard, who finished more five seconds behind wonder-boy Phelps, said: “It was a tough race as I was up against three of the best all-round swimmers in history.

“I am happy to have made the final, but I will know go away to assess my weaknesses.

“That has to be my aim in the next cycle of training so I can get close to these guys.”

Goddard’s time of 1 minutes 59.24 seconds was 1.52s slower than in qualifying for Beijing when he clocked a Commonwealth Games record.

On Phelps, Goddard said: “In my opinion he is the greatest sportsman ever to walk the planet because nobody can do the things he does.

“t is an inspiration simply to be in the same race as him.”