Rebecca Soni wins Women’s 200m breast-stroke semi-finals: Day five – 2011 FINA World Championships
American swimmer, Rebecca Soni, earned the top qualification spot in the final of Women’s 200m breast-stroke by dominating the semi-finals on day five of the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA) organised 2011 World Championships on Thursday, July
28, in Shanghai, China.
Soni demonstrated her astounding skills in the semi-finals to capture the fastest spot in the final, by submitting a time of 2 minutes and 21.03 seconds. Her time was just 0.91 seconds away from the championship and world record of 2 minutes and 20.12 seconds,
made by Annamay Pierse of Canada during the 2009 World Championships in Rome.
She was in a considerable lead of 2.63 seconds over her following swimmer, Yuliya Efimova of Russia, who qualified as the second fastest swimmer, by reporting in a wonderful time of 2 minutes and 23.66 seconds. Efimova was followed by Sun Ye of China, who
stayed nearly one second behind her and posted a fastest time of 2 minutes and 24.59 seconds for third finest qualification.
Moments later, the arena witnessed a sluggish swim of world record holder, Pierse, who failed to qualify as the top swimmer and occupied the fourth fastest qualification spot of the breast-stroke swim, with a timing of 2 minutes and 24.73 seconds. She was
followed by Rikke Pedersen of Denmark, who transpired as the fifth best swimmer, by producing a time of 2 minutes and 24.80 seconds.
Martha Mccabe of Canada and Rie Kaneto emerged as the sixth and seventh position holders of the four-lap breast-stroke swim, as they completed their swims in a time of 2:24.86 and 2:25.41 minutes, respectively. They were followed by Nadja Higl of Serbia,
who stayed only 0.55 seconds behind Kaneto and secured the eighth qualification spot into the finals, after she touched the finishing wall and posted a time of 2 minutes and 25.41 seconds.
Soni expressed happiness after overpowering the world record holder’s effort and occupying the top qualification seat, whereas, she also said that she will try to sustain her position in the final round.
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