With a total of 18 world records broken in five days of competition, the 9th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2008 have been the fastest and most successful ever, with some of the most awe-inspiring swims of the meet saved until the final night.
American sensation Ryan Lochte lowered yet another world record – this time in the 100m individual medley. He broke the time he set in yesterday’s semis in 51.15, with Britain’s Liam Tancock lowering his British record in third place with 52.22. Tancock’s split was an agonizing 0.01 slower than Slovenia’s Peter Mankoc, who took silver and Liam’s European record.
Lochte went under his world record in the 200m backstroke final, but was in a rare defeat as Austria’s Markus Rogan took the title and Austria’s first medal with the new world mark of 1:47.84. Lochte’s split of 1:47.91 gave him the silver medal, with Russia’s Stanislav Donets third taking bronze in 1:50.45. Britain’s Gregor Tait finished sixth, breaking his own British record in 1:51.66.
Rogan said: “The truth is I didn’t think I stood a chance and Gregor (Tait) and I were laughing and joking before the race that we would just go out there and relax and it obviously paid off.”
Britain’s David Davies has had a long wait for his 1,500m freestyle final but his patience paid off when he won silver in a time of 14:36.30, behind Russia’s Yuriy Prilukov, who set a new Championship record in 14:22.98. Poland’s Mateusz Sawrymowicz took the bronze medal in 14:43.37.
The Netherlands Marleen Veldhuis broke her own world record to stamp her authority as the fastest female in water, in 23.25. Second was fellow countryman Hinkelien Schreuder in 23.83, with Britain’s Francesca Halsall lowering her British record to 24.11 to win bronze – her third medal of the week.
Fran summed up her Championships: “I’ve had a really good meet this week and it feels great to be part of this team.”
Caitlin McClatchey added to the British medal haul with bronze in the 200m freestyle in 1:55.15 behind Australia’s Kylie Palmer, in 1:54.41 and the Netherlands’ Femke Heemskerk, in 1:54.65.
Felicity Galvez broke fellow countryman Lisbeth Lenton’s world record in the 100m butterfly, winning the title in 55.89. Britain’s Jemma Lowe won the bronze medal and lowered her British record in 56.84, with American Rachel Komisarz taking silver in 56.32.
The women’s 50m backstroke saw yet another world mark fall. Croatia’s Sanja Jovanovic lowered her own record in 26.34, with Chang Gao winning China’s first medal of the Championships with silver in 26.70 and Ukraine’s Kateryna Zubkova winning bronze in 26.81,
Britain’s Lizzie Simmonds finished eighth and set a new British record of 27.79, whilst Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry finished fifth in her last race of the Championships, shortly before heading off to watch the Manchester United v Arsenal football match at nearby Old Trafford courtesy of Evodental.
Coventry signed off saying: “I have loved every minute of being here. It’s been a great meet and I definitely would not have missed it for anything.”
On Manchester United Kirsty said: “It was exciting - there was a really great atmosphere and the fans are amazing! The fans really get behind their teams here and I loved that the British fans in the MEN Arena supported swimmers from all countries, not just their own.”
In the 100m freestyle, America’s Nathan Adrian took the title in a new Championship record of 46.67, just 0.03 faster than Italy’s Filippo Magnini in 46.70 and Croatia’s 50m freestyle champion Duje Draganja in 46.83.
Elsewhere, the 200m breaststroke Championship record fell to South Africa’s Suzaan Van Biljon in 2:18.73, New Zealand won their first gold medal as Moss Burmester took the 200m butterfly in a new Championships record of 1:51.05 and Ukraine’s Oleg Lisogor took the 50m breaststroke title in 26.46.
A thrilling battle between Russia and America ended the Championships, as the Russian’s set a new world record of 3:24.29 to take the 4x100m freestyle relay title. The USA were less than 0.10 behind in 3:24.38 and the Netherlands pipped Australia to take the bronze medal, in 3:27.15. Great Britain lowered their British record to 3:28.38, finishing fifth.
The 9th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2008 has seen some of the best swimming in the world. Kirsty Coventry won the FINA women’s trophy, Ryan Lochte the FINA men’s and USA the FINA team trophy. Great Britain surpassed all expectations to finish the Championships fourth in the medals table, behind America, Australia, The Netherlands and Zimbabwe. GB’s final total was three gold, ten silver and eleven bronze medals.
All eyes now turn to Beijing.
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