Swimmers shine at the 2012 London Olympics – Part 5
After the gruelling forms of Rita Meilutyte and Rebecca Soni in the semi-finals of 100m breaststroke, the intensity of the competition elevated. The crowd admired scintillating efforts of all elite players and was eager to see the exhausting efforts of swimmers
in the next event, Men’s 100m backstroke semi-finals.
The double lap backstroke event was fourth event of the session, where great competition was expected between USA’s Matthew Grevers, France’s Camille Lacourt, Great Britain’s Liam Tancock, Japan’s Irie Ryosuke, and Nick Thoman of USA.
Being the fastest swimmer in the preliminary rounds, Grevers was evidently strong to serve notice of his talent in the semi-finals. The 27-year-old Grevers made no mistake in the second round of the race and dominated his way from the start.
With his quickest dive and powerful stroke, Grevers gained a slight lead over his opponents in the first lap. He continued his dominance in the second lap, where he rushed his way towards the finishing end in a fastest qualification time of 52.66 seconds.
His exhausting efforts remained 0.72 seconds slower from the world record of 51.94 seconds, made by Aaron Peirsol of USA in 2009.
Similarly, Grevers was followed by French rival, Lacourt, who stayed half body length behind and cruised his way towards the finishing blockade for second position with an effort of 53.03 seconds.
Third finest qualification spot of the race was obtained by host nation’s swimmer, Tancock, who suffered a loss of 0.22 seconds from his former finisher and hit the finishing blockade with the timing of 53.25 seconds.
The British swimmer remained just 0.04 seconds ahead of Irie, who earned his way into the final round as fourth fastest swimmer by producing an effort of 53.29 seconds.
Subsequently, Grevers’ teammate, Thoman remained marginally slower from his preceding swimmer as he tapped the finishing wall with an effort of 53.47 seconds for fifth position.
Afterwards, the playoff of Women’s 400m freestyle got attention of the audience, where superior efforts were expected from France’s Camille Muffat, USA’s Allison Schmitt, Great Britain’s Rebecca Adlington, and Denmark’s Lotte Friis.
With her impressive effort in the earlier round, Muffat was undoubtedly strong for top position. The 22-year-old Muffat faced tough competition from Schmitt throughout the race but managed to edge her out on the finishing end for gold medal in a newly improved
Olympic mark of 4 minutes and 01.45 seconds effort.
Her undisputed effort remained two strokes ahead of Schmitt, who followed Muffat on the victory stand for silver medal by posting a time of 4 minutes and 01.77 seconds.
Following that, Adlington geared up her efforts in the final lap and clinched bronze medal of the race by producing an effort of 4 minutes and 03.01 seconds.
With her commendable pace, Adlington enjoyed a full body length lead over her following swimmer, Friis, who appeared on the finishing blockade as fourth best finisher by touching the wall with an effort of 4 minutes and 03.98 seconds.
The Danish swimmer was trailed by Federica Pellegrini of Italy, who won the title of the same at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, but failed to secure any spot on the podium.
Pellegrini remained almost half a second slower from her preceding swimmer and finished fifth in the race with the timing of 4 minutes and 04.50 seconds.
To be continued in Part 6.
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