Natalie Coughlin seizes Women’s 100m backstroke gold: Day two – 2012 Columbus Grand Prix
Natalie Coughlin of California Aquatics seized the title of Women’s 100m backstroke on day two of the 2012 Columbus Grand Prix at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion on Saturday, March 10.
The Columbus meet is a three-day swimming event and fourth stop of the 2011-12 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series.
The 29-year-old Coughlin stayed dominant over his challengers throughout the double lap event. With his fantastic efforts, he clocked a time of 1 minute and 00.81 seconds and confirmed his spot on the victory stand for gold medal. With his sterling performance,
he remained almost two seconds slower from the world mark of 58.12 seconds, owned by Gemma Spofforth of Great Britain.
The champion remained in a lead of just 0.15 seconds over Ramirez Gonzalez of MEX, who followed Coughlin on the medal rostrum for silver medal by clocking a time of 1 minute and 00.96 seconds.
The third position of the discipline was secured by Therese Svendsen, who stayed 0.56 seconds away from his former finisher and hit the finishing end for third position by concluding his race in a time of 1 minute and 01.52 seconds.
In the meantime, the arena witnessed breath-taking performance of Minnetonka Swim’s David Plummer in the Men’s 100m backstroke. The 26-year-old Plummer displayed his phenomenal efforts in the double lap backstroke event and occupied top finishing spot of
the race in a time of 53.73 seconds.
He was followed by Matthew Grevers of Tucson Ford Deal, who was only 0.06 seconds away from Plummer and finished his race in a time of 53.79 seconds for silver medal. With his impressive feat in the backstroke discipline, he remained 2.41 seconds ahead of
Guilherme Guido of Pinheiros, who snatched bronze medal of the event with the timing of 56.20 seconds.
Guido was chased by Darian Townsend of Tucson Ford Deal, who was 0.49 seconds away and settled on the wall for fourth fastest spot with the timing of 56.69 seconds.
The session ended after the conclusion of all scheduled events whereas the winners received a huge round of applause from audience for their astounding efforts in the backstroke discipline.
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