News for December 30, 1996


O'Grady has heart problem again

Australia's former world track champion Stuart O'Grady suffered a recurrence of an unusual heart condition on his way to winning the International Trophy at the Superdrome in Adelaide on Saturday night.

O'Grady was treated by doctors half way through his four-race programme after his heart rate increased to a remarkable 240 beats per minute.

After 20 minutes under medical supervision, O'Grady returned to his bike and completed victories in all four races. Brad McGee finished second overall and Patrick Jonker was third.

It was the sixth time in the past two years that O'Grady had suffered from a condition called ventricular tachtycardia, which doctors described as "a short-circuit of the heart's electrical system". It is not considered to be life-threatening.