Stanthorpe swimmer Ben Armbruster has won the first major international medal of his career with bronze in the 100m butterfly at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 27.
He went into the final as fourth fastest qualifier and fourth fastest in the semi-final but rose to the occasion when it mattered most to swim a personal best of 50.58 seconds in the final for bronze.
The event was won by Canadian Joshua Liendo with 50.42 from Australian swimmer Matthew Temple on 50.43.
Armbruster was equal first at the halfway mark and led with 20 metres to go before tiring a touch to finish third.
In his semi-final on Sunday morning, Australian time, he was second in his semi in a time of 51.32 behind the winner of his semi who swam 51.30.
In the other semi, Temple recorded a new Commonwealth record of 50.63.
Armbruster started his 100m butterfly campaign at Glasgow when he led his heat in a 50m split of 23.71. He went on to win the heat.
During commentary, it was highlighted he came from Stanthorpe, a town where the pool was only open six months of the year.
“He had to drive 50 kilometres to train in winter,” one commentator said and the other added that would be Warwick.
While he is now coached by Chris Mooney at Bond club on the Gold Coast, a lot of the credit for Armbruster’s success has to go to his long time Stanthorpe coach Gail Smail and his family who have been with him all the way, including the many trips to training as a schoolboy
After his bronze medal win, Armbruster told commentary team member Arianne Titmus that it was “very special to record a podium finish”.
“I have been chasing Matt (Temple) and we are slowly getting a bit closer,” he said.
And that is true - he was .69 of a second behind Temple on Sunday morning but only .15 behind on Monday morning in the final.
He now has the 50m butterfly during the week and is almost certain to swim the heats of the medley relay this week which opens the chance to win a relay gold medal.
His mother Shannon Armbruster said Ben was happy, relieved and excited after the final.
“That great PB puts him currently fourth in the world and only 0.16 between first and third in the Glasgow final is incredible. We couldn’t be prouder,” she said.
“To see the placegetters all go under the Commonwealth Games record that Matt Temple set in the final was just extraordinary. “
The swimming at the games ends on July 30.
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