Stars shine at FINA/Arena Swimming World Cup: Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Part 10
After the completion of initial day of the FINA/Arena Swimming World Cup in Dubai, the second day of the tournament kicked off with the splendid performances of swimmers in the Men’s 1500m freestyle.
Just like the opening day of the tournament, the spectators expected forceful competition among competitors. The opening event of the session was Men’s 1500m freestyle, where Gergo Kis demonstrated his astonishing efforts and secured gold medal.
Kis stayed prominently ahead of his following swimmer and surfaced on the finishing end for gold medal by producing an effort of 15 minutes and 00.65 seconds.
His astonishing pace remained almost half a minute slower from the championship record of 14 minutes and 28.35 seconds, set by Federico Colbertaldo of Italy in 2009.
Subsequently, he stayed almost 50 seconds slower from lowering the world record of 14 minutes and 10.10 seconds, held by Grant Hackett of Australia in 2001.
The gold medallist was traced by David Brandl of Austria, who remained a body length behind and earned his way to the finishing wall for silver medal by producing an effort of 15 minutes and 01.70 seconds.
Brandl stayed comfortably ahead of his following swimmer, Sergii Frolov of Ukraine, who completed the podium by winning bronze medal with an effort of 15 minutes and 02.98 seconds.
Kis was delighted with his top finish in the event and stressed that he would try hard to sustain his spot at the subsequent stops of World Cup Series.
Moments later, Britta Steffen of Germany appeared on the pool deck for the playoff of Women’s 100m freestyle. The German swimmer entered the final round as top qualifying swimmer and continued her efforts in the playoff to secure gold medal.
She stayed in a comfortable lead over her toughest challenger and made her way to the finishing wall for gold medal by producing a time of 53.39 seconds.
Her stupendous pace remained 2.20 seconds slower from the World Cup record of 51.19 seconds, made by Francesca Halsall of Great Britain in November 2009. She stayed 2.38 seconds away from the world mark of 51.01 seconds, owned by Lisbeth Trickett of Australia
during August 2009.
The champion enjoyed a lead of half body length over her strongest competitor, Michelle Coleman of Sweden, who stepped on the medal rostrum for silver medal by producing a time of 54.00 seconds.
Third spot of the race was secured by Hang Yu Sze of Hong Kong, who stayed almost half a second behind and posted an effort of 54.48 seconds.
Sze was chased by Iris Brand of Netherlands, who was considerably slower from her and ended her race in fourth place by producing a time of 57.29 seconds.
The German swimmer, who dominated her events on foremost day of the tournament, was delighted with her victory on second day. Steffen stressed that this victory is the payoff of her month’s hard work and she believed that she could have done much better,
if had a little more time to train.
Nevertheless, while expressing happiness over her victory, Steffen said, “I am satisfied with that swim on four weeks training so that’s a good result.”
In addition, the audience appreciated noteworthy efforts of all participants in their respective events while the winners raked medals after the event.
To be continued in Part 11.
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