Stars shine at FINA/Arena Swimming World Cup: Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Part 14
The phenomenal efforts of Rachel Goh in the Women’s 100m backstroke cheered the crowd and they became more excited about the remaining events on second of the 2012 FINA/Arena Swimming World Cup in Dubai.
Shortly after the nerve-wrecking form of Goh in backstroke discipline, finalists of the Men’s 50m backstroke reached the starting blocks. Stanislav Donets of Russia was expected to dominate the final round as he ranked first in the preliminary rounds.
Donets spoiled the party of his challengers by dominating the playoff of the 50m event. He stayed just an inch ahead of his following swimmer and tapped the wall for gold medal by clocking a time of 23.47 seconds.
Donets remained nearly 0.80 seconds away from the world record of 22.61 seconds, made by Peter Marshall of USA during 2009.
Donets was followed by Robert Hurley of Australia, who proved his eligibility for silver medal of the event by producing an effort of 23.61 seconds.
Hurley stayed marginally ahead of Ashley Delaney of Australia, who seized third spot of the race by reporting an effort of 23.77 seconds.
After that, Women’s 200m butterfly attracted the attention of the aquatic fans. The event included Katinka Hosszu and Zsuzsanna Jakabos of Hungary, who were pretty close to each other in the qualifying rounds.
Hosszu showered her expertise in the eight-lap butterfly discipline and surfaced on the finishing end for gold medal by clocking an effort of 2 minutes and 10.43 seconds.
Her gold securing effort was almost 10 seconds slower from Zige Liu of China, who clocked a time of 2 minutes and 00.78 seconds in 2009.
Her astonishing pace was followed by Jakabos, who accomplished silver medal of the event by producing a time of 2 minutes and 11.57 seconds.
Jakabos was followed by Spela Bohinc of Slovenia, who stayed nearly six seconds slower from her foregoing finisher and tapped the wall with an effort of 2 minutes and 17.74 seconds.
Meanwhile, the winner of the Men’s 200m freestyle, South Africa’s Darian Townsend once again came to the starting blocks for the playoff of the Men’s 200m Individual Medley (IM).
The South African swimmer remained in a prominent lead over his opponents and secured gold medal by touching the wall with an effort of 1 minute and 53.25 seconds.
His furious effort remained considerably slower from his own championship record of 1 minute and 51.55 seconds, made by Townsend in 2009. Subsequently, he stayed 3.17 seconds slower from the world record of Ryan Lochte, who captured gold medal of the event
in a time of 1 minute and 50.08 seconds at the 2010 World Short Course Championships in Dubai.
After clinching his second gold medal of the day, Townsend said, “I’m a little tired now but two wins, I can’t complain at all. Yesterday I got a third but the 200 is more my thing so I’m happy with two golds.”
He was followed by Daiya Seto of Japan, who earned his way to the medal rostrum for silver medal by producing a time of 1 minute and 53.90 seconds.
Third finest spot of the race was obtained by Kenneth To of Australia, who made his way to the finishing wall by completing his swim in a time of 1 minute and 54.86 seconds.
To be continued in Part 15.
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