Ryo Tateishi conquers Men's 100m breast-stroke gold: Day two – 2011 Swimming World Cup, Tokyo
Ryo Tateishi of Japan conquered the title of Men's 100m breast-stroke on the last day of 2011 Swimming World Cup in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday, November 13.
Tokyo is the final stop of the 2011 World Cup series, which is a two day event, organised by Federation Internationale De Natation (FINA).
The 22-year-old Tateishi qualified as the finest swimmer into the final round by overwhelming efforts of his team-member, Kosuke Kitajima. The Japanese met expectations of his fans by sustaining his top spot in the breast-stroke playoff.
Tateishi had a wonderful start that placed him slightly ahead of his competitors from the beginning of the race. With his outstanding efforts and magnificent strokes, he completed his first round in a fastest time of 27.15 seconds.
He remained 0.22 seconds ahead of his Australian rival, Christian Sprenger, who completed his initial round with a second fastest effort of 27.37 seconds. Kitajima remained third fastest swimmer in the first half by producing an effort of 27.63 seconds.
Sprenger elevated his efforts in the second half but his comparatively stronger effort in last round failed to place him on the podium for gold medal. Tateishi ended his second round with a timing of 30.37 seconds to post 57.52 seconds on the board for gold medal.
The gold medallist remained 0.91 seconds away from the World Record of 55.61 seconds, owned by Cameron Van Den Burgh of South Africa from November 2009. With his incredible efforts, he remained 0.05 seconds ahead of Sprenger, who finished his final half in a time of 30.20 seconds to submit 57.57 seconds for silver medal.
The third spot of the race was secured by Kitajima, who remained nearly one second behind his former finisher, clocking a time of 58.36 seconds for bronze medal. Kitajima was trailed by Australia Brenton Rickard, who was just 0.19 seconds slower than him and ended fourth with a timing of 58.57 seconds.
The crowd appreciated wonderful efforts of all participants, who engaged each other in a neck-to-neck battle. In addition, the winners of Men's discipline were called upon the medal rostrum for their scintillating efforts after the conclusion of the session.
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