Swimmers excel at FINA Swimming World Cup, Tokyo – Part 4
After the stupendous efforts of Michael Klueh in Men’s 400m freestyle, the focus of the audience shifted towards German swimming star, Britta Steffen, who emerged on the starting blocks for the playoff of Women’s 50m freestyle.
Steffen, who has remained quite successful in excelling in the 50m freestyle at the earlier stages of the World Cup, was evidently strong over her challengers for the crown.
Steffen crushed hopes of her opponents in the shortest freestyle discipline and occupied gold medal of the event by producing a time of 24.01 seconds.
Her gold winning effort stayed almost 0.75 seconds slower from the World Cup mark of 23.27 seconds, made by Therese Alshammar of Singapore in 2009. Similarly, her effort remained 0.76 seconds away from the world record of 23.25 seconds, owned by Marleen
Veldhuis of Netherlands in 2008.
She was followed by Inge Dekker of Netherlands, who stayed one stroke behind and paved her way towards the finishing wall for silver medal by submitting a time of 24.40 seconds.
Third spot of the race was obtained by Jessica Hardy of USA, who completed the podium by winning bronze medal with an effort of 24.60 seconds.
Moments later, Japan’s Akihiro Yamaguchi transpired on the starting blocks for the playoff of Men’s 200m breaststroke. The Japanese star remained prominently away from his challenger and surfaced on the finishing end for gold medal with an effort of 2 minutes
and 04.64 seconds.
Yamaguchi’s effort remained two body lengths away from the championship record of 2 minutes and 02.56 seconds, set by Neil Versfeld 2009. He also stayed nearly four seconds slower from the world record of 2 minutes and 00.67 seconds, owned by Daniel Gyurta
of Hungary from 2009.
Yamaguchi enjoyed a comfortable lead over compatriot, Kazuki Kohinata, who occupied silver medal of the race by producing a time of 2 minutes and 05.62 seconds.
Kohinata was traced by his teammate, Yukihiro Takahashi, who stayed only an inch behind and earned third position of the race by producing a time of 2 minutes and 05.77 seconds.
Takahashi was trailed by USA’s Sean Mahoney, who stayed just an inch slower from him and concluded his race in fourth place by submitting a time of 2 minutes and 05.93 seconds.
Next was the Men’s 100m Individual Medley (IM), where George Bovell exceeded expectations of his supporters by claiming the title. With his persistent efforts, Bovell managed to outperform his toughest contender by producing a time of 51.80 seconds.
Bovell’s gold winning effort remained almost a second slower from the world cup record of 50.95 seconds, set by Sergey Fesikov of Russia in 2009. He also remained 1.04 seconds away from the world record of 50.76 seconds, Peter Mankoc of Slovenia during 2009.
The gold medallist was chased by Kenneth To of Australia, who stayed marginally slower from him over the finishing end and occupied third position with an effort of 51.83 seconds.
Third position of the event was obtained by Kyle Richardson of Australia, who was just a stroke behind and posted an effort of 53.13 seconds.
Richardson was engaged in a tough combat with Takurou Fuji of Japan, who barely missed his third spot on the podium and settled as fourth best finisher with a timing of 53.24 seconds.
To be continued in part 5.
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