Cobras Don't Faze the Aussies!

Steve Moneghetti, the former Australian marathon runner who now serves as his country's Chef de Mission at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, lived up to his tough guy persona today when asked for his reaction to the news that a snake was found in one of the rooms in the athlete's village belonging to a South African competitor.

Now Moneghetti is a three time Commonwealth medallist in the marathon, collecting all three colours culminating with gold in Victoria in 1994. He is renowned for his no-nonsense approach and it is this manner which puts some of our stay away athletes to shame.

As an Aussie he is used to Brown snakes, one of the deadliest and venomous in the world. I, too, nearly came across one when living in the North-Western Australian outback for three days with an aboriginal called Neville who referred to the snake as a "Three Stepper" because "after you've been bitten you take three steps before falling down dead."

Anyway, when Moneghetti was told what kind of snake it was in the Delhi village he shook his head and snorted: "It's only a cobra." Only a cobra! Say what you like about the Aussies, but cobras at least will not put them off competing in Delhi. As for me, the only cobra I like is the cold one you have in a large glass to wash down your curry!