Australian swimmers shine at the 2012 EnergyAustralia Swimming Championships – Part 8
The continuous efforts of Australian swimmers at the Olympic Selection Trials played a crucial role in elevating hopes of their fans, who were delighted to see their favourites dominating the swimming events.
After the tremendous efforts of James Magnussen and Mitch Larkin in the Men’s 50m freestyle and 200m backstroke, respectively, the expectations of Australian crowd escalated to new heights.
After gold winning effort of Larkin, Belinda Hocking went full throttle in the Women’s 200m backstroke semi-final and ensured her top place in the final round. The 21-year-old Hocking showed no leniency to her competitors and sprinted her way towards the
finishing end for gold medal by clocking a time of 2 minutes and 07.79 seconds.
Her scintillating effort remained almost three seconds slower from the world record of 2 minutes and 04.81 seconds, owned by Kristy Coventry of Zimbabwe in 2009. Nevertheless, she remained just 1.73 seconds behind her own Australian and Commonwealth record
of 2 minutes and 06.06 seconds, made by Hocking in 2011.
The champion failed no trouble in defending her title as she remained comfortably ahead of her following swimmer, Meagen Nay. The 23-year-old Nay stayed almost one body length slower from her strongest challenger and reached the victory stand for silver
medal by hitting the wall with an effort of 2 minutes and 09.30 seconds.
The second position holder also enjoyed an advantage of almost two seconds over Mikka Sheridan, who proved her eligibility for bronze medal of the discipline by completing her swim in a time of 2 minutes and 11.12 seconds.
In the meantime, Daniel Tranter dictated terms to his challengers in the Men’s 200m Individual Medley (IM). The 20-year-old Tranter earned his spot in the Australian team to the London Games by ending his swim in a time of 1 minute and 58.19 seconds.
His gold winning mark was 4.19 seconds away from the world record of 1 minute and 54.00 seconds, set by Ryan Lochte of USA at the 2011 World Championships in July. He was also 1.50 seconds away from the Australian mark of 1 minute and 56.69 seconds, set
by Leith Brodie during 2009.
Most importantly, the 20-year-old easily overpowered the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur’s (FINA) A-Time Qualification Standard of 2 minutes and 00.17 seconds.
His scintillating effort remained almost full body length ahead his strongest challenger, Jayden Hadler, who stepped on the medal rostrum for silver medal by completing his swim in a time of 1 minute and 58.99 seconds.
The 18-year-old Hadler faced tough battle from his following competitor, Thomas Fraser-Holmes, but with his magnificent, he succeeded in out-performing him on the finishing blockade for second position and subsequently, booked his spot in the Australian
team to London Olympics.
The 20-year-old Fraser-Holmes remained just an inch slower from his preceding finisher and missed his berth to London by producing an effort of 1 minute and 59.02 seconds. He was contented with his bronze finish in the four-lap discipline and expressed that
he would try to swim hard for the next Olympic Games.
In addition, the session ended after the completion of all planned events while the audience acknowledged immaculate efforts of their beloved national stars, which secured top spot on the podium and earned their place to 2012 London Games.
To be continued in Part 9.
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