Swimmers impress at the European SC Swimming Championships 2012 – Part 8
After the commendable pace of Gregorio Paltrinieri in the Men’s 1500m freestyle, the finalists of the Women’s 400m freestyle were escorted to the starting blocks.
As the events passed by, the expectations of the audience elevated as they could not wait to see their favourite swimmers perform in their main events.
Camille Muffat of France and Lotte Friis of Denmark were among the most prominent swimmers to dominate the playoff.
With their impeccable performances in the past events, both swimmers were expected to engage each other in a neck-to-neck race for the title.
Nevertheless, with her immaculate efforts in the first half, Muffat managed to prove dominance over Friis and became prominent for top spot of the race.
With her persistent efforts, Muffat succeeded in strengthening her lead and captured the title with an effort of 3 minutes and 54.85 seconds.
Muffat’s alluring effort was comfortably under the world record of 2 minutes and 54.92 seconds, previously owned by Joanne Jackson of Great Britain in 2009.
The champion was followed by Friis, who stayed almost four body lengths apart and surfaced on the wall for silver medal with an effort of 3 minutes and 58.85 seconds.
The Danish swimmer was followed by French veteran, Coralie Balmy, who stayed marginally behind and tapped the wall for third position with an effort of 3 minutes and 59.80 seconds.
Following that, the audience witnessed commendable form of Slovenia’s Peter Mankoc in the semi-final of Men’s 100m Individual Medley (IM).
The Slovenian swimmer remained prominently ahead of his following swimmer and proved his eligibility for the fastest qualification spot with the timing of 52.84 seconds.
His notable pace remained prominently slower from his own European record of 50.76 seconds, made by Mankoc in 2009.
Mankoc remained slightly ahead of his closest competitor, Martti Aljand of Estonia, who snared second best qualification spot of the discipline by reporting a time of 53.16 seconds.
Similarly, Aljand enjoyed an advantage of one arm stroke over his following swimmer, Gal Nevo, who earned his way into the playoff as third fastest swimmer by producing an effort of 53.24 seconds.
Nevo was chased by Vladimir Morozov of Russia, who remained only an inch slower from him and concluded his race in fourth best place by touching the wall with the timing of 53.27 seconds.
Mankoc received massive appreciation from the audience while it would be interesting to see who dominates the playoff.
To be continued in Part 9.
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