By Denzil Pinto
DOHA: France set another world record to triumph in the Mixed 4x50m Freestyle as Hungarian swimming sensation Katinka Hosszu clinched three more golds and a silver on the final day of the FINA World Cup Tour at Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha yesterday.
South Africa’s Chad le Clos boosted his chances of leading the standings in the men’s category by picking up gold and silver in the 200m Individual Medley and 100m Butterfly, which adds to his overall tally of five medals (three golds and two silvers) in Doha.
Last year’s overall men’s winner Australia’s Kenneth To won two silvers (100m Backstroke and 200m Individual Medley), while Robert Hurley also picked up two second-placed cheques in the 200m Freestyle and 50m Backstroke.
Just 24 hours after smashing the Mixed 4x50m Medley Relay on Sunday, a French team that consisted of Florent Manaudou, Frederick Bousquet, Beryl Gastaldello and Anna Santamans were simply too good.
Dominant from start to finish, the quartet registered a time of 1.31.14 in the final race of the evening.
The French beat Japan’s world record set in Dubai four days by 0.0138 seconds.
China came a distant second in 1.32.74, while Japan clocked 1.33.80.
After the race, The French team were delighted at setting the world record. They said: “We had a good team. The relay is a good event. The mixed race reflects the level of each country well. You have to have a relatively equal level between the men and the women and it is not easy to achieve.”
They added: “It feels great to achieve a new world record but we don’t think we’ll be able to keep for long, we’re not at that level yet. The main challenge will be to try and beat our own world record at the European Championships (in Berlin in 2014).”
Earlier, Hosszu led from the start to claim her 15th gold of the 2013 tour in the 400m Individual Medley (4.28.91).
The world record holder, who set the mark in Berlin leg in October, eased home finishing nearly two seconds ahead of Japan’s Miyu Otsuka (4.30.11) and third-placed Mireia Belmonte of Spain. (4.31.06).
In her second race of the evening, the Hungarian was denied another gold by 200m specialist Daryna Zevina in the 100m Backstroke.
The Ukrainian, who secured gold in the 200m Backstroke, clocked a time of 57.48, to relegate the Hungarian into silver medal position.
Japan’s Sayaka Akase (57.49) finished third.
Shortly after receiving her silver medal on the podium, Hosszu was back in the pool and grabbed her second gold of the evening.
Hosszu (2.07.20), who married her coach/agent Shane Tusup after the European legs in August, came nearly one second faster than second-placed Briton Sophie Allen (2.06.60) and Japan’s Miyu Otsuka (2.07.66).
Later, Hosszu eased to victory in the 100m Individual Medley with a time of 58.43.
Israel’s Amit Ivry came a close second (58.66) to clinch silver, with German record holder Theresa Michalak securing bronze (59.49).
The Hungarian missed out on the podium twice yesterday but overall secured eight medals in the Doha meet (five golds, one silver and two bronzes).
Le Clos showed why he will be a reckoning force in the sport for years to come after a strong performance in the 200m Individual Medley. Finding rhythm, speed and strength, the 21-year-old was pushed to the limit by Australia’s To.
The South African was strong in the final 25 metres to register a time of 1.53.32. To, who clocked 1.54.36 was nearly two seconds ahead of Hungary’s David Verraszto (1.56.14).
Earlier, le Clos had finished second to Thomas Shields of the US in the 100m Butterfly.
The American produced a stunning race to claim his second gold in two days despite nearly missing out on the world record by 0.32 seconds.
Poland’s Konrad Czerniak finished third.
In a closely contested race in the 1,500m, Myles Brown of South Africa edged Tunisia’s Oussama Mellouli to claim gold.
In a scintillating finish, the South African came home with a time of 14.46.19 minutes, just 0.0027 seconds ahead of the 2009 world champion (14.39.18). Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieiri secured bronze (14.36.46).
Other notable winners yesterday in the men’s category were South African veteran Roland Schoeman, who picked up his third gold in two days (50m Freestyle) and Poland’s Pawel Korzeniowski (200m Freestyle).
In the women’s category, reigning world champion Melani Costa of Spain (400m Freestyle), Japan’s Kanako Watanabe (200m Breaststroke) and Russia’s Iuliia Efimova (50m Breaststroke) were among the winners.
The next leg of the FINA World Cup tour will take place in Singapore on November 5 and 6.
The Peninsula
