Omar Andres Pinzon wins Men’s 200m back-stroke heats: Day seven – Pan American Games, Guadalajara
Omar Andres Pinzon of Columbia won the qualifying rounds of Men’s 200m back-stroke to obtain fastest qualification spot in the playoff on seventh day of the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico on Friday, October 21.
Just like the Olympic Games, Pan American Games are organised every fourth year and is among the biggest sports events.
Pinzon showered his expertise in the prelims of four-lap back-stroke event as he wanted to enter the final with a fastest qualification time. He was confronted by Brazil’s Thiago Pereira and USA’s Rexford Tullius, who were eyeing to take him down in the
200m event.
Pereira remained the most dominant swimmer of the event in the first-lap as he clocked a time of 28.40 seconds. With his fastest effort, he was 0.11 seconds faster than Pinzon, who covered the equivalent distance in 28.51 seconds.
The Brazilian continued his ascendancy over Columbian in the next lap, where he completed first half of the race in 59.16 seconds to overcome Pinzon’s 59.38 seconds effort. Nevertheless, Pinzon geared up his swim in the third lap and surpassed his competitor
by finishing his lap in a time of 1 minute and 30.26 seconds.
He was 0.25 seconds ahead of Brazilian athlete, who reported a time of 1 minute and 30.51 seconds for the same distance. With his splendid efforts and overwhelming strength, Pinzon shattered hopes of his challengers in the final lap. He completed his last
lap in a wonderful time of 30.88 seconds to post 2 minutes and 01.14 seconds on the board.
Pereira failed to answer Pinzon’s scintillating effort and remained almost two seconds slower from him, clocking a time of 2 minutes and 03.53 seconds for second best qualification.
The third qualifying position was secured by Tullius, who stayed 0.29 seconds slower than Pereira and submitted a time of 2 minutes and 03.82 seconds.
The session ended after the completion of preliminary rounds, while the arena acknowledged breath-taking efforts of all participants, who tried to make their way to the final round.
Furthermore, these finalists will compete with each other in a neck-to-neck race to secure podium finishes.
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