Ye Shiwen improves Olympic record of Women’s 200m IM in semi-finals – 2012 London Olympic Games
Chinese specialist, Ye Shiwen improved the Olympic mark in the semi-finals of Women’s 200m Individual Medley (IM) on day three of the swimming events at the 2012 London Olympic Games in London Aquatic Centre on Monday, July 30.
The 16-year-old Shiwen, who lowered the world record of the 400m IM on second day of the tournament, went full rampant in the four-lap discipline and entered the playoff as top fastest swimmer.
With her impeccable efforts, she not only overpowered her opponents in a comfortable manner but also touched the finishing blockade in a new Olympic record time of 2 minutes and 08.39 seconds.
Her gruelling efforts remained one and a half body length ahead of her closest challenger, Alicia Coutts of Australia, who secured second best qualifying position of the discipline by submitting a fantastic effort of 2 minutes and 09.83 seconds.
Coutts was chased by Caitlin Leverenz of USA, who stayed 0.23 seconds slower from her foregoing finisher and hit the finishing wall with the timing of 2 minutes and 10.06 seconds.
Fourth best qualifying position of the discipline was secured by Ariana Kukors of USA, who remained only 0.02 seconds slower from upsetting her former finisher and reported a time of 2 minutes and 10.08 seconds.
Subsequently, Kukors was followed by Katinka Hosszu of Hungary, who remained almost half body length slower and touched the wall with an effort of 2 minutes and 10.74 seconds for fifth position.
Hosszu was traced by Stephanie Rice of Australia, who remained only 0.06 seconds behind and settled on the finishing blockade as sixth best finisher with the timing of 2 minutes and 10.80 seconds.
Seventh qualifying spot of the race was secured by Hannah Miley of Great Britain, who stayed just an inch behind her preceding swimmer and posted a time of 2 minutes and 10.89 seconds.
Miley was trailed by Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, who finished eighth in the IM discipline with an effort of 2 minutes and 10.93 seconds.
Furthermore, Shiwen was contented with her effort and said that she is confident of continuing her dominance in the playoff.
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