A golden moment, a new pool prospect who looks like the old and some kiwi grit against the odds were all in evidence on day two of the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. The gold came early in the day when Southland teenager Aaron Barclay dominated the mens triathlon in a superb display of front-running at East Coast Park. Former Waikato swimmer Matt Stanley, with an uncanny look and links to the great Danyon Loader, cracked a New Zealand record on the way to fifth place in the final of the mens 200m freestyle at the Singapore Sports School. The womens hockey side ran in a remarkable three goals in five minutes with a player off the field to come back from 2-0 down to beat Korea in their courageous opening match at the Sengkeng Hockey Stadium late tonight. Barclay nabbed New Zealands first medal of the Youth Olympics in stunning fashion, first on to the bike and the run before clearing out from American Kevin McDowell to win in 54:41. It is pretty incredible. I am very proud to do this for New Zealand because I really love my country, Barclay said. He said his front-running tactics were a key. I was trying not to give the other guys an inch. They were all unknown to me before the race so I had to be aggressive. Barclay will race in the unique team event on Thursday where he and fellow kiwi Maddie Dillon team up with Australia in an Oceania team with each triathlete completing a super-short 300m swim, 3km bike, 1km run course twice. Stanley, 18, from Matamata, won his heat of the 200m freestyle in 1:51.21, which was nearly two seconds inside his previous best and establishes a new national age group record, as well as quicker than Loaders best age group time. The kiwi, who now swims in the Swimming New Zealand squad at the Millennium Institute, finished fifth in his final in virtually an identical time. Last night I was really nervous but tonight it was so much fun out there. To come away with fifth place at the Youth Olympics is amazing, Stanley said. Stanley has a resemblance to Loader with his effortless style, perhaps not surprising in that he was nurtured in his recent years by Graham Laing, son of the late Duncan Laing who guided Loader to greatness. Graham and I worked so long getting my technique so perfect. I think that is why I am the swimmer I am today because I have had that platform to work off. To be compared with Danyon a double Olympic gold medallist and the best swimmer New Zealand has ever had, to be put in the same book but not on the same page yet - is pretty amazing. The evening was completed with the remarkable come-front-behind victory for the hockey side. They found the big and strong Koreans more than a handful in their late night game. Korea made the most of six first half penalty corners to lead 1-0 at the break. It looked difficult for the Kiwis when Korea again converted from a penalty corner 12 minutes into the second half, compounded when Jessica Chisholm was yellow carded. Dramatically it sparked some telling attacking play from the New Zealand side with three field goals in five minutes while short-handed to Michaela Curtis and two to Samara Dalziel to give them the unlikely lead which they held to the finish. To come back like that it just epitomises the kiwi nature and the attitude that this group of girls has got, said coach Greg Nicol. Theres a lot of teams that would have rolled over at 2-nil down and a player off the pitch. Credit to the girls, they picked their moments to attack better in the second half and fortunately put it in the back and that is exciting. Fitness will be a key in these hot and humid conditions. You have to pick the times to attack and the fittest teams at the end of the week will probably be in the final. In other action today rowers Hayden Cohen and the womens pair of Beatrix Heaphy-Hall and Eve MacFarlane progressed to tomorrows semifinals. The world champion womens pair dominated their repechage, winning by more than 10 seconds from India to move into the semis. Cohen eased through comfortably in the single sculls in second place behind Ukraines Lunti Ivanov. It was tougher in the wrestling where Tayla Ford (Christchurch) managed to win one of her four bouts in the 60kg class today. After losing her first three bouts she bounced back with a 4-0 win over Aminata Souare (GUI). Asher Richardson (Christchurch) lost his second round match in the mens badminton singles losing to Sai Praneeth Bhamidopati (IND) while Victoria Cheng (Manukau) lost her final match in three games. Final New Zealand Results, Day 2: Mens Triathlon (750m swim 20km bike 5km run): Aaron Barclay (NZL) 54:41, 1; Kevin McDowell (USA) 54:55, 2; Alois Knabl (AUT) 55:04, 3. Swimming, 200m freestyle, heats Matt Stanley 1:51.21, 3rd fastest (NZ Age Record). Final: Andrey Ushakov (RUS) 1:49.81, 1; Cristian Quintero (VEN) 1:49.98, 2; Jeremy Bagshaw (CAN) 1:50.67. Also: Matt Stanley 1:51.59, 5. 100m freestyle heats: Chloe Francis 58.84, 23. Wrestling, 60kg: Tayla Ford lost to Battsetseg Baatarzorig (MGL) 0-3, list to Svetlana Lipatova (RUS) 0-3, lost to Christiana Victor (NGR) 0-3, beat Chao Huang (SIN) 4-0. Rowing, repechage, mens singles (1000m): Lunti Ivanov (UKR) 3:33.14, 1; Hayden Cohen (NZL) 3:36.95, 2. Womens pair: NZL (Beatrix Heaphy-Hall, Eve MacFarlane) 3:49.63, 1; India 4:00.27, 2; South Africa 4:03.86, 3. Badminton, men singles: Asher Richardson (NZL) lost to Sai Praneeth Bhamidipato (IND) 0-3 (12-21, 12-21). Womens singles: Victoria Cheng (NZL) lost to Katherine Winder 1-2 (16-21, 21-19, 10-21) Womens Hockey, round 1: New Zealand 3 (Michaela Curtis 56m, Samara Dalziel 59, 61) Korea 2. Halftime: 0-1.
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