Swimmers impress at FINA Swimming World Cup, Beijing – Part 5
After the notable forms of Tommaso D’Orsogna, Kenneth To and Britta Steffen in their respective events at the third last stage of FINA/Arena World Cup in Beijing, the two-time Olympic champion, Ye Shiwen caught the attention of the crowd.
The teenager Shiwen, who proved her mettle for the title of Women’s 200m Individual Medley (IM) on the opening day of the tournament, looked quite confident when she came on the starting blocks for the 400m IM.
The Chinese star faced severe competition from Hungarian veteran, Katinka Hosszu, but her strong determination to defend her title played a pivotal role in her victory.
Shiwen followed Hosszu’s lead in the first half of the race but then she started to catch her up and gradually gained lead from the Hungarian swimmer and secured the crown. With her relentless efforts in the second half, Shiwen gained a lead of almost full
body length over Hosszu and occupied the crown with a timing of 4 minutes and 26.93 seconds.
Her title claiming effort remained 4.05 seconds slower from the meet record of 4 minutes and 22.88 seconds, owned by Kathryn Meaklim of South Africa from 2009. Subsequently, her pace was 5.89 seconds apart from the world record of 4 minutes and 21.04 seconds,
made by Julia Smit of USA in December 2009.
When asked to comment on her race, the gold medallist had a lot in mind. “Actually I am not going to celebrate. I am not satisfied with the result. I still have a lot of problems in my turns. I still have a lot to improve,” said Shiwen.
“I felt tired after yesterday's 200m IM. I was not nervous during the 400m IM final, even though I was behind in the first 200m, I knew that I could catch up. I am used to come from behind,” she added.
Shiwen was traced by Hosszu, who stayed full body length behind and transpired on the finishing end for silver medal by touching the wall with an effort of 4 minutes and 27.80 seconds.
Hosszu was traced by Zsuzsanna Jakabos of Hungary, who was prominently slower from the silver medallist and surfaced on the wall as third best finisher by clocking a time of 4 minutes and 31.28 seconds.
Moments later, Darian Townsend of South Africa accomplished gold medal of the Men’s 200m IM. Townsend demonstrated his astonishing efforts and tapped the wall for gold medal with a timing of 1 minute and 54.25 seconds.
His struggle remained three body lengths slower from his own championship record of 1 minute and 51.55 seconds, made by Townsend in 2009. Consequently, he stayed 4.17 seconds slower from the world record of 1 minute and 50.08 seconds, owned by Ryan Lochte
of USA at the 2010 Dubai World Short Course Championships.
The South African swimmer was traced by Shun Wang of China, who was slightly slower from his former finisher and tapped the wall with a timing of 1 minute and 54.36 seconds.
Wang remained nearly two strokes ahead of Australian swimmer, Kenneth To, who was lucky enough to secure third position of the race by posting an effort of 1 minute and 54.65 seconds.
To was prominently ahead of Feilian Mao, who ended fourth in the event with a timing of 1 minute and 56.01 seconds.
To be continued in Part 6.
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