Swimmers at the start of the men’s 100m backstroke competition on day one of the FINA World Cup series event at Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: Daloul Walid of Qatar in action during men’s 50m breaststroke heats. PICTURES BY: ABDUL BASIT
By Denzil Pinto
DOHA: A strong French team broke the world record in the 4x50m Mixed Medley Relay as South Africa’s Chad le Clos and Roland Schoeman and Hungarian star Katinka Hosszu each grabbed two gold medals on the opening day of the FINA World Cup yesterday.
South Africa’s swimming sensation le Clos also won a silver as Hosszu, who has also had a strong season so far in the series, claimed two bronzes.
Also with strong performances yesterday, Ukraine’s Daryna Zevina won gold and silver while young Spanish swimmer, Melani Costa picked up silver and bronze.
After 17 races in the evening session, France’s Jeremy Stratvius, Giacomo Perez Dortona, Melanie Henique and Anna Santamans broke the world record in an astonishing time of 1.39.54.
Just nine days ago, Russia posted a time of 1.41.70 in their home town of Moscow on October 12.
Earlier, le Clos clinched his first win at Hamad Aquatic Centre in the 400m Individual Medley with a time of 4.03.23.
After competing in the Dubai leg just a few days ago, the 21-year-old showed no signs of fatigue, edging home ahead of Hungary’s David Verraszto and Tunisia’s Oussama Mellouli.
The Olympic gold medallist triumphed again in his favourite event - the 200m Butterfly. Le Clos, who beat his idol - swimming legend Michael Phelps in the event at the London 2012 Olympic Games, carried on his impressive form. The South African had looked set to breaking his own world record that he set in Eindhoven in August, but fell short by 0.0135 seconds.
Poland’s Pawel Korzeniowski and Hungary’s Bence Biczo finished second and third respectively.
Le Clos missed out on a hat-trick of golds as his compatriot, Schoeman showed that age has little bearing despite being 33.
The veteran clinched first place in the 50m Breaststroke and 50m Butterfly. Le Clos took silver in the latter.
Speaking of his performance, le Clos said: “I am very happy obviously. The most important thing is to keep going. I have one more race left in this competition.”
Schoeman (25.89) finished nearly one second ahead of French Olympic gold medallist Florent Manaudou (26.54) and Germany’s Hendrik Feldwehr.
Speaking of his victory in the 50m Breaststroke, Schoeman said: “I feel pretty good after the race. I wanted to go a bit faster but gold is gold. I am happy to be back in Doha.”
Despite her hectic schedule so far, Hosszu, made it two straight victories in a row in the 200m Freestyle and 200m Individual Medley events after triumphing in both categories in Dubai.
Nicknamed as the ‘Iron Lady’, last year’s overall winner in the women’s category, was third best in the 100m Butterfly and 200m Backstroke, losing to Zevina in the latter.
Despite losing out on the podium twice during her six races, Hosszu was satisfied with her performance. She said: “I swam six races tonight and I won two gold and two bronze medals, and I came close to the podium twice. It makes good practice to swim that many races but it is also because I want to.”
Zevina secured her first medal in the 50m Backstroke. Costa picked up first medal of the day finishing second to compatriot and silver Olympic medallist Mireia Belmonte in the 800m Freestyle. France’s Coralie Balmy finished third.
Later, Costa registered the third fastest time behind Hosszu and Netherlands’ Femke Heemskerk in the 200m Freestyle.
Among other notable winners last night in the men’s categories were Russia’s Vladimir in the 100m Freestyle, Tom Shields (100m Backstroke), Robert Hurley (400m Freestyle) and last season’s overall winner Australia’s Kenneth To (100m Individual Medley).
Elsewhere, in the women’s categories, Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson (100m Breaststroke), Denmark’s Jeanette Gray (100m Butterfly) and Poland’s Aleskandra Urbancyzk (50m Backstroke) also triumphed.
Today is the final day of the Doha leg of the series after which the competitions will resume in Singapore on November 5 and 6.
THE PENINSULA
