Australian swimmers shine at the 2012 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships – Part 11
After the nerve-wrecking form of James Magnussen and Eamon Sullivan in the 50m freestyle at the 2012 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships, the Australian crowd has their eyes affixed to the next event of the session, Women’s 200m backstroke.
The event included Australia’s phenomenal swimmer, Belinda Hocking, who was the top contender for gold medal. The 21-year-old Hocking, who qualified into the playoff as fastest swimmer, devastated hopes of her fans by finishing first in the playoff.
With her commendable struggle in the four-lap backstroke discipline, Hocking faced no trouble in acquiring gold medal of the event as she touched the wall with the timing of 2 minutes and 06.68 seconds.
Her scintillating struggle remained nearly two seconds away from the world record of 2 minutes and 04.81 seconds, set by Kristy Coventry of Zimbabwe at the 2009 Rome World Championships. Her immaculate effort remained just 0.62 seconds slower from her own
Australian and Commonwealth Games mark of 2 minutes and 06.06 seconds, set by Hocking in 2011.
In addition, the Australian veteran faced no trouble in securing her place in the national team to the 2012 London Olympic Games as her effort was comfortably under the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) A-Time Qualification Standard of 2 minutes
and 10.84 seconds.
She was followed by her closest competitor, Meagen Nay, who remained almost one body length slower from her and transpired on the podium for silver medal by producing a time of 2 minutes and 07.83 seconds.
The third position of the discipline was obtained by Mikka Sheridan, who failed to confirm her spot to London as she finished third in the event, but won bronze medal by clocking 2 minutes and 10.33 seconds.
Next was the Women’s 800m freestyle final, where Kylie Palmer destroyed hopes of her competitors and proved her audacity for gold medal of the event with an effort of 8 minutes and 26.60 seconds.
Her gold winning effort remained almost twelve seconds slower from the world record of 8 minutes and 14.10 seconds, made by Rebecca Adlington of Great Britain at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
She also failed to improve her own national record of 8 minutes and 22.81 seconds, which she made in 2008. Nevertheless, the Australian swimmer also remained comfortable under the FINA A-Time Qualification Standard of 8 minutes and 33.84 seconds and earned
her qualification in the Australian team to Olympic Games.
The 22-year-old Palmer was chased by Jessica Ashwood of NSW, who stayed nearly one body length behind her former finisher and acquired silver medal of the discipline by posting an effort of 8 minutes and 27.97 seconds. With her laudable effort, the 18-year-old
Ashwood also booked her spot to London, where she will have her second chance to compete with Palmer.
The silver medallist was followed by Melissa Gorman, who remained nearly two body lengths slower from her preceding swimmer and failed to ensure her participation at the London Olympics.
The 26-year-old Gorman remained almost two seconds slower from her former finisher and settled on the victory stand for bronze medal by ending her race in a time of 8 minutes and 29.73 seconds. She was followed by Remy Fairweather, who remained just microseconds
slower from overpowering the efforts of her foregoing competitor and posted a time of 8 minutes and 29.93 seconds.
To be continued in Part 12.
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