Stars shine at FINA/Arena Swimming World Cup: Dubai, United Arab Emirates – Part 2
After the commendable efforts of swimmers in Women’s 800m freestyle at the 2012 FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the focus of the audience shifted towards the Men’s 100m freestyle.
Subsequently, the finalists of the 100m discipline reached the starting blocks. Tommaso D’Orsogna qualified into the playoff as top contender for gold medal and looked pretty strong on the pool deck.
His fastest qualification effort was shortly ahead of South Africa’s Darian Townsend and Roland Schoeman, who entered the playoff as second and third best finishers.
Shortly after the start of the race, an Australian swimmer, Kenneth To, who was swimming in lane 7, caught the attention of the crowd with his invincible efforts. To, who transpired into the final round as fifth best finisher, elevated his efforts in the
playoff and showed his urgency towards the wall for gold medal.
With his stupendous efforts, he remained marginally ahead of his closest competitor and ensured his place on top of the medal rostrum for gold medal. Not only that, D’Orsogna failed to live up to the expectations of his followers as he was unable to sustain
his fastest qualification spot and finished fourth.
To remained slightly ahead of his challengers on the finishing blockade and made his way to the finishing wall by clocking an effort of 46.89 seconds.
His gold winning effort remained almost two seconds slower from the world record of 44.94 seconds, owned by Amaury Leveaux of France in 2008. He was also 1.43 seconds away from the world cup mark of 45.46 seconds, set by Matthew Abood of Australia during
2009.
The gold medallist was followed by Ervin, who stepped on the podium for silver medal by producing an effort of 47.04 seconds. Third best spot of the race was obtained by Schoeman, who managed to prove his eligibility for bronze medal by clocking a time of
47.24 seconds.
Afterwards, Hosszu once again emerged on the starting blocks for the 200m freestyle playoff. With her astonishing win in the 800m freestyle event, Katinka Hosszu was inevitably strong over her challengers.
With her quickest response to the start, she gained a comfortable lead over her opponents and paved her way to the finishing wall for gold medal with a timing of 1 minute and 55.97 seconds.
Her gold finish was almost five seconds slower from world mark of Italy’s Federica Pellegrini, who clocked an effort of 1 minute and 51.17 seconds in 2008. Furthermore, she was also nearly four seconds slower from the championship mark of 1 minute and 52.08
seconds, made by Allison Schmitt of USA during 2011.
The world champion of the 400m Individual Medley (IM), Hosszu was contented with her second victory on first day of the tournament. Hosszu also said that she is looking forward to continue the same on second day of the championship.
She was followed by Hong Kong’s Hang Yu Sze, who remained prominently slower from her and finished second in the event by producing a time of 1 minute and 57.12 seconds.
Third best spot of the race was obtained by Ukrainian swimmer, Darya Zevina, who stayed half a body length slower from her former finisher and transpired on the finishing end by touching the wall with an effort of 1 minute and 57.75 seconds.
To be continued in Part 3.
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