Silver medallist

OLYMPIC silver medallist Gary Honey helped Dandenong’s Ramada Encore Hotel celebrate its third birthday last Friday.
Mr Honey, who won silver for Australia as a long jumper in Los Angeles in 1984, gave birthday revellers an insight into what it was like to compete at an Olympic Games.
Mr Honey won silver with a jump of 8.24 metres, falling behind the expected Gold medallist Carl Lewis, who jumped over 8.50 metres.
Mr Honey said Mr Lewis had approached him before the event to psyche him out.
“He said, ‘I don’t mean any disrespect, but I am only going to take two jumps’,” Mr Honey said.
“I said, how is that not disrespectful?”
Mr Honey said Mr Lewis had wanted to conserve his energy for other track and field events.
Meanwhile, Ramada Encore Dandenong sales manager Nicole Ellen said the hotel had enjoyed three successful years since opening in the city.
Ramada staff cut a giant birthday cake as invited guests – supporters of the Ramada – continued to party later into the night.