Cate Campbell collects Women’s 50m freestyle title: Day one – 2011 Swimming World Cup, Tokyo
Olympic bronze medallist and Australian veteran, Cate Campbell showered her expertise in the final of Women’s 50m freestyle on opening day of the 2011 Swimming World Cup in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, November 12.
Tokyo is the final stop of seven-stage World Cup series, supervised by the international aquatics sport governing body, Federation Internationale de Federation (FINA).
Campbell, who qualified as the fastest swimmer into the final round, faced strong resistance from her team-member, Olivia Halicek and Sweden’s Therese Alshammar in the playoff.
She posted a spectacular time of 24.10 seconds to occupy fastest qualification spot in the final round. With her immaculate stroke and outstanding determination, Campbell made her way to the top of podium for gold medal.
The 19-year-old Campbell had a considerable start, which played a significant role in placing her ahead of her competitors. She demonstrated her exhausting efforts in the initial-lap and was the first swimmer to make the tumble turn. She was followed by
Halicek and Alshammar, who tried their best to cross Campbell but failed to achieve so.
With her continued efforts, she cruised her way towards the finishing wall and ended her second-lap with a fastest timing of 23.93 seconds. Her gold winning effort was just 0.66 seconds behind the world cup mark of 23.27 seconds, made by Alshammar in 2009.
She also remained 0.68 seconds slower than the world record of 23.25 seconds made by Marleen Veldhuis of Netherlands during 2008.
Nevertheless, Halicek proved her eligibility for the second finest spot of the race by out-touching Alshammar on the finishing end. She remained just 0.24 seconds slower than the gold medallist and reached the podium for silver medal with an effort of 24.17
seconds.
In the meantime, Alshammar, who stayed just 0.13 seconds slower than her former finisher, emerged on the concluding end and hit the wall with a third finest time of 24.30 seconds for bronze medal.
The session ended after the phenomenal efforts of all participants, who engaged each other in a neck-to-neck battle. Furthermore, the position holders of the 50m event were called upon the medal rostrum for their thrilling efforts after the completion of
session.
Tags: