Student bags 100m final tickets against the odds

A STUDENT from Sidford will be the envy of more than a million Olympics fans across the globe after beating the odds to land elusive seats at the London Games’ showpiece race.

Lucky Rob Pfeiffer, 28, only applied to attend three events at the last minute- then scooped a pair of tickets to the men’s 100 metres final.

The track and field showdown of the world’s fastest men was the only athletics event he hoped to see.

“I couldn’t believe,” said Rob after learning of the good news last Wednesday. “I only applied two hours before the deadline.”

The Harcombe Lane East resident has since received a flurry of texts from pals desperate to join him on August 5 next year.

But Rob, who insists he won’t sell the tickets, has vowed to take girlfriend Penny, also 28.

“It will be the highlight of my year,” he told the Herald.

“I’m a student so only applied for the cheapest tickets for three things- and the 100 metres was the only athletics one.

“To get the prime event is pretty good.

“Penny and I filled out the application form together. I was never going to go with anyone else.”

More than a million people applied for tickets to the 100 metres final- which current Olympic champion Usain Bolt is favourite to win.

Rob is looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, east London, as well as the chance to witness the likes of Bolt run.

“I wasn’t expecting this at all,” he added.

London 2012 organisers received more than a million requests for tickets for the final.

Rob nabbed two of the cheapest tickets available - which work out at just under �5 a second for the 100 metre dash.

Prices for tickets ranged from �50 to �725.

Around 40,000 tickets were made available for the event.

Mature student Rob, who studies sports coaching at Hartpury College in Gloucester, also hopes to volunteer at the Games.