Joyce adds 2nd silver to collection

By Maribel Villalva

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - Kara Lynn Joyce of Rochester, N.Y., arrived in Athens an Olympic rookie.

She will return home a two-time silver medalist.

Not bad for the 19-year-old graduate of Webster High School, who won her second medal Saturday with a silver in the women's 4x100-meter medley relay. She secured her first silver medal a week ago in the women's 4x100 freestyle relay.

Joyce was unable to win an individual medal, placing fifth in Saturday's 50-meter freestyle. The top three finishers were Inge de Bruijn of the Netherlands, Malia Metella of France and Lisbeth Lenton of Australia.

Joyce said she knew Saturday's relay competition would take a lot of focus.

``Being the anchor in the relay was a big responsibility,'' Joyce said. ``I knew going in that it would be a close race.''

It was, but Joyce was unable to make up any ground on world-record holder Jodie Henry on the freestyle leg, and the United States settled for second with a time of 3:59.12. Australia's winning time was a world record 3:57.32.

Joyce's teammate, 31-year-old Jenny Thompson, ended her Olympic career Saturday with a 12th medal but departed with some advice for the young Joyce.

``She's a great swimmer and she already brings a love to the sport,'' Thompson said. ``If there was anything I could tell her from my experience, it would be to appreciate what you have while you have it.''