Melissa Franklin seizes Women’s 100m freestyle title: Day two – 2011 Swimming World Cup, Moscow
Melissa Franklin of USA continued her nerve-wrecking performance as she seized gold medal of Women’s 100m freestyle on second day of the 2011 Swimming World Cup in Moscow, Russia on Wednesday, October 19.
Moscow is third leg of the seven-stage World Cup series organised by the international aquatics sport governing body, Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA).
Franklin, who qualified as the fastest swimmer in the final met the expectations of her fans by smothering the efforts of her challengers in 100m freestyle playoff. With her persistent efforts in the four-lap freestyle swim, she remained top contender for
gold medal throughout the event.
Franklin was the quickest among her competitors to jump off the starting blocks, but her strongest competitor, Daniela Schreiber of Germany joined her in a neck-to-neck race in the first-lap.
The 22-year-old Schreiber dictated terms to the arena’s favourite in the first half, where she overwhelmed’ Franklin’s effort by posting a time of 25.57 seconds. Franklin shrouded the equivalent distance in 25.80 seconds and remained second fastest swimmer.
With her powerful dolphin kicks and long reach of her arm, Franklin shattered hopes of her competitors in the next half and ended reign of German swimmer. The American remained 0.51 seconds faster than Schreiber in the second half as she clocked a time of
27.00 seconds to post 52.80 seconds for gold medal.
Meanwhile, Schreiber experienced stiff rivalry from Franklin’s team-mate, Allison Schmitt, who pounced on her shoulder in the final lap.
Nevertheless, Schreiber out-touched Schmitt on the finishing wall and remained just 0.28 seconds slower from gold medallist, submitting a time of 53.08 seconds for silver medal.
In the meantime, 21-year-old Schmitt remained just a nail away from her former finisher and settled on the finishing end for third position. She was only 0.05 seconds behind Schreiber and clocked a time of 53.13 seconds for bronze medal.
Franklin, who won the crown of 200m freestyle event, was overjoyed with her second gold medal of the competition while the winners were awarded podium after the completion of session.
In addition, the third leg of the World Cup series concluded after the completion of its final session.
Tags: