Fabio Scozzoli and Amy Smith impress in semi-finals: Day one – European Swimming Championships
Fabio Scozzoli of Italy and Amy Smith of Great Britain impressed in the semi-finals of Men’s 100m breast-stroke and Women’s 100m freestyle respectively on opening day of the 2011 European Short Course Swimming Championships in Szczecin, Poland on Thursday, December 8.
The 23-year-old Scozzoli occupied the fastest qualification spot of breast-stroke discipline by submitting a time of 57.93 seconds. He remained almost 1.50 seconds slower than the European record of 56.29 seconds, made by Robin Aggele of Netherlands during 2009.
The second fastest qualification spot was secured by Martti Aljand of Estonia, who was 0.04 seconds slower from Scozzoli and completed his swim in a time 57.97 seconds. Daniel Gyurta of Hungary remained 0.20 seconds away from Aljand and earned third fastest spot of the race by reporting a time of 58.17 seconds.
Gyurta remained just a touch ahead of his following swimmer, Damir Dugonjic, who occupied fourth fastest spot of the race by ending his swim in a time of 58.22 seconds. Alexander Dale Oen of Norway transpired as fifth qualifying swimmer by producing a time of 58.28 seconds.
Moments later, the crowd experienced a scintillating effort of Smith in the 100m freestyle semi-final, where she clocked a time of 52.75 seconds for top qualification spot. She was chased by Aliaksandra Herasimenia, who remained 0.16 seconds behind and posted a time of 52.91 seconds for second fastest spot.
Herasimenia was traced by Jeanette Ottesen of Denmark, who seized third fastest spot of the race by concluding her swim in a time of 52.97 seconds. She stayed 0.05 seconds faster from Britta Steffen of Germany, who reached the final round as fourth fastest swimmer by posting a time of 53.02 seconds.
The 28-year-old Steffen remained 0.31 seconds ahead of her closest competitor, Hanna Maria Seppala of Finland, who qualified into the playoff as fifth fastest swimmer by submitting a time of 53.33 seconds.
The arena enjoyed outstanding efforts of all participants in their respective semi-finals while these swimmers are only just one step away from securing the podium. In addition, these finalists will race each other in the final round to win awards and accolades.
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