Anastasia Zueva captures Women’s 200m back-stroke gold medal - 2011 Canet En Roussillon
Anastasia Zueva of Russia has seized the gold medal of the Women’s 200m back-stroke on the second day of the 2011 Canet En Roussillon.
The championship is the third stop of the 2011 Mare Nostrum Series, which provides a platform to international swimmers to warm themselves up for the upcoming 2011 Shanghai World Championships in July.
Zueva displayed a splendid swim in front of the arena to conquer the title of the distant back-stroke swim. She edged out her closest competitor, Shiho Sakai of Japan, with a difference of only 0.17 seconds, capturing the gold medal in a time of 2 minutes
and 08.74 seconds. Sakai appeared on the wall for the silver medal behind Zueva, clocking a time of 2 minutes and 08.91 seconds. They were followed by Dolphins Swim Club’s Sinead Russel, who occupied the podium for the bronze medal in 2 minutes and 10.84 seconds.
The 21-year-old Russian won two silver medals in the 100m and 200m back-stroke categories at the 2009 Rome World Long Course Championships. She also pocketed two gold medals in the 50m back-stroke and 100m backstroke, along with two silvers of the 200m back-stroke
and the 4*100m medley relay at the 2008 Eindhoven European Long Course Championships.
Zueva completed her initial lap in a fastest time of 30.57 seconds, staying ahead of Sakai and Russel, who completed their laps in 30.60 and 30.69 seconds, respectively.
In the next round, Sakai stunned the arena by passing Zueva to become the top contender for the gold medal. She completed her lap in a fastest time of 1:03.48 minutes, against Zueva’s 1:03.49 minutes effort.
Moments later, the champion lifted her swim in the third lap and once again became the fastest swimmer, posting a time of 1:36.46 minutes, as compared to Sakai’s 1:36.60 minutes. The Russian champion managed to out-touch Sakai in the final lap to claim the
title of the event, producing a time of 2:08.74 minutes.
Zueva was happy with her performance and expressed firm belief in making her country proud at the upcoming world titles.
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