Yannick Agnel acquires Men's 400m freestyle gold: Day one – USA Swimming Winter Nationals
Yannick Agnel of France acquired gold medal of Men's 400m freestyle on day one of the 2011 USA Swimming Winter Nationals in Atlanta, on Thursday, December 1.
The 19-year-old Agnel remained slightly slower from his competitor, Michael Klueh of Fast Swim Team–C in the first round. The 24-year-old Klueh ended his first round of the race in a time of 56.60 seconds. He remained 0.08 seconds ahead of Agnel, who clocked
a second fastest time of 56.68 seconds for the equivalent distance.
In the next round, Agnel elevated his efforts and earned a lead of 0.60 seconds from his strongest competitor. He completed his first half of the race by posting a wonderful time of 1 minute and 55.28 seconds.
Klueh was nearly two strokes behind him and ended his first half in a time of 1 minute and 55.88 seconds. The French swimmer became prominent for the gold spot in third round, where he extended his lead to 2.06 seconds, clocking a time of 2 minutes and 52.38
seconds for initial 300 meters of the race.
Klueh remained nearly a body length away from his former swimmer and covered the similar distance in a time of 2 minutes and 54.44 seconds. Agnel accelerated his pace in the final round and extended his lead to almost 3 seconds, posting a time of 3 minutes
and 47.78 seconds for gold medal.
His gold winning effort remained 4.25 seconds above the US Open mark of 3 minutes and 43.53 seconds, held by Larsen Jensen of USA in 2008. He also remained 7.71 seconds slower than the World record of 3 minutes and 40.07 seconds, set by Paul Biedermann of
Germany during 2009.
The gold medallist was followed by Klueh, who emerged on the finishing end with the timing of 3 minutes and 50.56 seconds for silver medal. He was chased by Ryan Cochrane of Island Swimming, who was just 0.06 seconds slower and produced a time of 3 minutes
and 50.62 seconds for bronze medal.
Agnel was contended with his miraculous effort in the 400m discipline whereas he also expressed his desire of achieving the same in upcoming events.
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