Taekwondo's Lauren Burns not only gave Australia its greatest gold medal haul since the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, she also added another Gold Medal to the Foster's Sports Foundation tally taking it to Four Gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
The 26 year old student from Melbourne defended Cuban, Urbia Melendez Rodriguez late in the night on day 12 of the Olympic Games.
Lauren ranked three in the world in 1997 claimed elite status over night with her brilliant win in front of Australian Prime Minister John Howard and games boss Juan Antinio Samaranch.
The victory by Lauren now gives the Foster's Sport Foundation grant athletes, 4 Gold, 4 Silver, and 2 Bronze - a record some countries would indeed be proud of.
Australia's latest golden girl is one of 183 Australian athletes selected for the Games who are original recipients of the Foster's Sports Foundation.
Other Foundation winners have been Andrew Hoy, Phillip Dutton, Matt Ryan and Stuart Tinney, Gold in the Three Day Equestrian, Russell Mark, Silver in the Double Trap Shoot, Annemarie Forder, Bronze in the Women's 10m Air Pistol Shoot, Bronze to 200m Butterfly champion Justin Norris and Gold to Bill Kirby a member of the victorious Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay team, Ji Wallace, Silver in Trampolining and Jamie Fernandez and Nicholas Porzig, Men's Rowing Eights.
Established in 1997 the Foster's Sports Foundation has provided $2.275 million toward recognising and promoting excellence in Olympic sport across Australia.
The Foundation specifically targeted up and coming athletes with grants being given to a total of 338 individual recipients.
In the first wave of grants, $1,175,000 was provided to aspiring Olympic athletes.
The Foundation has also provided grants of $3,000 to athletes selected for the Australian Olympic team who are not recipients of medal incentive scheme funding or other significants grants.
In total more than 365 individual Olympic competitors have received one of these grants.
Further information:
David Argus
Manager, Media Relations & Public Affairs
Carlton & United Breweries
Tel: +61 7 3212 0268
Mob: 0418 523 343
