Sunday, August 30, 2015

RAFAELA RAURICH ESTÁ NA FINAL DOS 200M LIVRE DO MUNDIAL JUNIOR DE CINGAPURA 2015


Rafaela Raurich - Foto: Satiro Sodré/CBDA CBDA/Divulgação

Cingapura – Na manhã deste domingo, 30/08 (noite do dia 29/08, no Brasil), foi disputada a última etapa eliminatória do 5º Campeonato Mundial Junior de Natação. Com mais 300 nadadores, entre 14 e 18 anos, de 87 países, a competição teve início no dia 25/08. Nesta noite, a partir das 18h (7h no horário de Brasília), serão definidos seus últimos vencedores. O Brasil estará presente em quatrosdecisões, com Pedro Spajari e Felipe Souza, no 100m livre; Rafaela Raurich, no 200m livre; Brandonn Almeida, no 1500m livre; revezamento 4x100m medley masculino.
Rafaela Raurich precisou de 2m01s40 para garantir a primeira final feminino do Brasil na competição, nos 200m livre. Paranaense de 14 anos, Rafaela é a nadadora mais jovem da delegação do Brasil.
- Eu treinei muito para esta prova e sonhei em buscar a final. O tempo foi bom, mas achei que seria ainda melhor, porque estava nadando na frente delas. Vendo os meus outros resultados, achei que estaria entre as 12 primeiras. Mas foi melhor. Tenho uma raia para nadar a final e sinto que a ainda tenho o que melhorar. Consegui segurar um pouco no final e agora quero fazer o melhor tempo da vida – comentou Rafaela.
Em março deste ano, Rafaela conquistou o ouro desta prova, no torneio Multinations Júnior, em Israel, com 2m02s66. Essa competição é disputada pela Liga Europeia, mas pelo prestígio da natação brasileira, a CBDA é convidada e envia seus atletas, desde 1991.
A última prova com classificação brasileira foi o revezamento masculino 4x100m medley. Nadando na última série, Guilherme Basseto, Eduardo Amaral, Vinicius Lanza e Vcitor Furtado fizeram 3m44s25 e chegaram a final com o quinto melhor tempo da manhã.
FOTO
Victor Furtado, Guilherme Basseto, Eduardo Amaral e Vinicius Lanza - Foto: Satiro Sodré/CBDA
-  Foi uma prova boa. Gostei do meu resultado e acho que todos fizeram bons tempo. Classificamos com uma boa marca e a tarde, com certeza, vamos melhor bem esse tempo. Todos estão muito concentrados e na decisão vamos buscar uma medalha – disse Victor Furtado. 
No feminino, Maria Luiza Pessanha, Gabrielle Roncatto, Maria Paula Heitmann e Sarah Marques,ficaram na 11ª colocação, com 4m19s55 e fora da final. As brasileiras nadaram a primeira série, com apenas mais dois países, Alemanha e Eslováquia. Sarah Marques, que fechou a prova para o Brasil, analisou a serie e sua primeira participação em Mundiais.
- Agora melhorei meu tempo, o que é bom, mas foi estranho nadar com pouca gente assim. Perdemos um pouco a referência. Em duas provas individuais eu consegui melhorar minha marcar. Em outras duas não, mas cheguei perto. Ainda não consigo mensurar o quanto esta competição vai ser importante para a minha carreira, mas sei que essa experiência me prepara bastante. O nível é forte e a estrutura muito parecida com os mundiais absolutos e Jogos Olímpicos. Quando a gente chegar lá, não vamos sentir tanto porque já estivemos aqui – completou Sarah.
Nathan Biguetti foi o primeiro brasileiro a nadar no último dia, na fase classificatória dos 200m costas.Com 2m02s04, o nadador ficou na décima colocação e fora da decisão. Na competição junior as provas de 200m ou acima desta distância é definida em eliminatória e final, sem a disputa de semifinais.
Nos 200m borboleta, o Brasil contou com dois representantes. Kauê Carvalho e Henrique Painhas, com 2m01s67 e 2m02s21, ficaram na 14ª e 18ª colocações respectivamente. Kauê Carvalho, de 17 anos anos, fez sua estreia na competição.
FOTO

Kauê Carvalho - Foto: Satiro Sodré/CBDA
- Eu gostei do tempo e de enfim ter nadado. Normalmente participo da prova dos 100, até para quebrar o gelo, mas aqui não foi assim. A competição é incrível e cada vez mais o nível está aumentando. Muitos atletas aqui já competem bem no adulto. Eu tenho o sonho de representar o Brasil nas Olimpíadas de 2020 e sei que esta competição é um passo muito importante para eu chegar até lá – comentou Kauê Carvalho. 
Na última séria da manha, Guilerme Costa, conhecido por todos como - Cachorão, fez 15m33s78  e ficou na quarta colocação, entre os nadadores das séries fracas dos 1500m livre. A noite, os oito melhores tempo de balizamento nadarão a série forte da prova. Brandonn Almeida, medalha de prova nos 400m medley, nadará a série da noite em busca de mais um pódio para o Brasil.
Os atletas brasileiros participam do 5º Mundial Junior FINA de Natação com recursos dos Correios - Patrocinador Oficial dos Desportos Aquáticos Brasileiros, e ainda do Bradesco/Lei de Incentivo Fiscal, Lei Agnelo/Piva - Governo Federal - Ministério do Esporte e COB, Sadia, Speedo e Universidade Estácio de Sá.
Eliminatórias – 6ª Etapa
200m Costas Masc – 10) Nathan Biguetti – 2m02s04
200m Peito Fem – Sem brasileiras
200m Borboleta Masc – 14) Kauê Carvalho – 2m01s67 / 18) Henrique Painhas – 2m02s21
200m Livre Fem – 6) Rafaela Raurich -2m01s40 / 28) Gabrielle Roncatto – 2m04s87
4x100m Medley Masc – 5) Brasil - Guilherme Basseto, Eduardo Amaral, Vinicius Lanza e Vcitor Furtado - 3m44s25
4x100m Medley Fem – 11) Brasil - Maria Luiza Pessanha, Gabrielle Roncatto, Maria Paula Heitmann e Sarah Marques - 4m19s55
1500m Freestyle Masc – Serie Fraca - 4) Guilherme Costa - 15m33s78

Programação


Dia 30/08 – Domingo
100m Livre Masc - Felipe Souza e Pedro Spajari
200m Peito Fem - Sem
200m Costas Masc - Sem brasileiros
100m Borboleta Fem - Sem brasileiras
1500m Livre Masc – Série Forte - Brandonn Almeida
50m Livre Fem - Sem brasileiras
200m Borboleta Masc - Sem brasileiros
50m Peito Masc - Sem brasileiros
200m Livre Fem - Rafaela Raurich
4x100m Medley Masc - Brasil
4x100m Medley Fem - Sem Brasil

Mariana de Sá CBDA






Ryan Lochte To Stay On His Stomach by WOWSA


Images courtesy of Universal Sports in Kazan, Russia.

Olympic Champion Ryan Lochte can still do his thing in the open water, but his old body surfing technique in the pool was ruled illegal by FINA.

During his 200m individual medley gold medal performance at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia, Lochte went on his back and side to gain some additional momentum.

As body surfers have done and a handful of veteran ocean swimmers with experience in dolphining towards onshore finishes know, taking off on one's back or side during bodysurfing has is advantages.
During the individual medley races in Kazan, Lochte went on his back and side to propel himself through the water as he streamlined off the wall using his powerful dolphin kick.


Olympic swimmers who double as fast ocean swimmers like Ky Hurs and Aaron Peirsol also occasionally go on their side when they dolphin through the surf to catch waves. Lochte gave himself a similar hydrodynamic boost a la 2000 Sydney Olympics 200m butterfly champion Misty Hyman who used a similar side dolphin technique.

FINA has clarified its individual medley rule and decided Lochte’s underwater technique on the freestyle leg of IM races is now considered illegal and would lead to disqualifications in future individual medley races.

Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association

From World Open Water Swimming Association's Daily News of Open Water Swimming





Shark Encounters In Channels Around The World by WOWSA

Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Last week in the Catalina Channel, Sabrina Peron of Italy was visited by a hammerhead shark and a blue shark during her crossing.

Guided with the cool heads and collective experience of Neil van der Byl and Anthea Beletsis, nothing happened and Peron continued on to the California mainland in a successful 12 hours 10 minutes crossing.

We wondered what are the shark encounter protocols in other channels around the world. This was the feedback that we received from veterans in those channels:

Nuala Moore about the North Channel between Scotland and Northern Ireland:The North Channel does not, like the English Channel, have shark concerns at this moment anyway.
Our jellyfish offer a lot more danger and medical challenges than the potential of sharks and any threatening behaviour.

We do not have any procedures included in the rules that would allow under any circumstances for any swimmer to leave the water and re-enter. There are no specifications on the discussion/rules which allow any shark procedures.

Yuko Matsuzaki about the Tsugaru Channel between Honshu and Hokkaido in Japan: There are plenty of sharks in the Tsugaru Channel and Shark Shields and swim streamers are used. This year, in particular, many beaches in Japan have been closed due to the increasing presence of sharks and protective nets have been installed.

The pilots in the Tsugaru Channel are very well-versed in the behaviors of the sharks because they fish tuna and other fish in the waters year-round in the channel and often encounter sharks in their line of work. When a shark is spotted, the two escort boats move very close around the swimmer on their left and right sides as a protective maneuver, but this is also why the Shark Shields and swim streamers are used. The Shark Shields are new technology and the swim streamers have been used in Japan for many generations.

Nick Adams about the English Channel between England and France: This issue about shark encounters is a really very irrelevant question for the English Channel, so it is something that we do not have provision for in our rules. We just do not get biting things in the English Channel, so it’s highly unlikely to happen.

Now, if it did happen…'getting out for a bit’ is a NO NO in our books, and you’d be disqualified from an official Channel Swim. In practice, I would guess the pilots would pluck them out, chuck them back in later, and everyone would understand that carrying on would not earn an official swim status, but the Channel Swimming & Piloting Federation wouldn’t recognise the swim.

Next part of the debate, which hasn’t come our way, is what happens if we have an overly cautious English Channel aspirant who wants to strap a Shark Shield or equivalent somewhere. We would decide on this as a committee. I would predict it’d fall on unsympathetic ears, and not be approved.

Jeff Kozlovich about the Molokai (Kaiwi) Channel between Oahu and Molokai in Hawaii: First of all, we discuss this topic with the swimmer at the pre-swim meeting. The swimmer feedback is important and and covers the whole range of topics, ranging from 'Get me out fast' to 'Don't touch me, I'll make the call'.

This is the open ocean. There are sharks here. So far, the few sharks that we do see just swim by. Kaiwi is long enough to make at least part of the swim in the dark. Because some swimmers prefer to swim at night, we'd never see a shark. Even during the day with the rough water and glare, it is not easy to spot a shark.

While I'm not a shark expert, it seems to me that with most shark bites, the swimmer or surfer never sees it coming. Maybe those on the kayak and boat would could spot a dangerous or aggressive shark. If we do, we will pull the swimmer and then we all have 10 minutes to make a very important decision.

We really want this swim to be safe and the swimmer to get to the other side healthy. We cannot guarantee it.

Rafael Gutiérrez Mesa about the Strait of Gibraltar: In the Strait of Gibraltar, there aren’t dangerous type of sharks, only small sharks that not supposed to pose a problem for the swimmers. At the moment that any suspicious fins are seen from the boats, the boats get close to the swimmer(s) until the fins will be identified.

Vito Bialla of the Farallon Islands Swimming Association about the renowned area of great white sharks [who had to pull Simon Dominguez because of a great white shark last month]: The sharks primarily hunt from below 100 feet usually and attack seals swimming straight up at a very fast speed. When they come to the surface, it is because there is something to see. Sharks only attack swimmers by mistaken identity. If you are a shark and look up and he thinks he sees a seal, then he will charge it, bite it and then spit you out. If you are on the surface, they will cruise around in circles check you out and usually leave. Humans aren’t part of the food chain.

The captain is always in charge. I make the call if you are on my boat. I honk the horn three times. Swimmer comes over, gets out as I stop the boat. I will encourage the swimmer to take up golf at that point. There is no real need to push the envelope.

If a person is attacked by a shark, it will be all hands on deck, and we jump in as fast as we can. Myself and couple others always dress that way - goggles within reach, swimsuit usually on. The platform lowered life ring in tow as we jump overboard. Every second counts mind you. Also, the boat can be faster than a swimmer trying to get to an injured person. I can turn [my boat] SEQUEL on a dime and be literally a couple feet away from a swimmer in seconds. We don’t let them swim far from the boat.

Andy Olday, leader of Grant Wentwort's shark team in his swim from Cape Cod to Nantucket in Massachusetts explains about their use non-lethal and harmless shark deterrence methods: He was protected by an experienced shark team who are willing to serve as bodyguards in any shark encounter. He was also surrounded by an array of Shark Shields and shark repellent.

There was a time-release Semio-Chemical shark repellent submersed 3-4 feet below the surface of the water and deployed from the lead vessel. Flanking kayaks are provided throughout the duration of the swim. Multiple Electro-Magnetic Freedom 7 Shark Shields are submerged and strategically placed throughout to deter curious sharks.

In the event a shark is sighted, a minimum of two safety divers will be deployed into the water from the lead vessel to shield the swimmer until any threat passes. Safety divers are equipment with 3-5 feet non-lethal PVC prodding poles and defensively armed with magnetically charged SharkBanz. In addition, non-harmful pressurized canisters of repellent can be deployed in the general location to the swimmer if necessary as Grant will be alerted to all shark encounters.

If a shark or any other marine creature displays aggressive or overly curious behavior that threatens injury, Grant will be advised to exit the water immediately by the safety team."

Paul McQueeney noted, "If an encounter occurs, this will be noted on the observer's report. Additionally, the divers are not allowed to intentionally touch the swimmer and the swimmer will tread water during the time the safety divers are in the water. This will be noted on the observer report."

Ned Denison about False Bay in South Africa [jokingly explained about the picturesque bay with one of the highest populations of great white sharks in the world]: "The plan in False Bay was to get me closer to the boat and wait and wait [as the shark approached]...and only if it got near me were they to start filming..."

On a more serious note as Denison counts on is the helpful protection of dolphins. Since Adam Walker created a worldwide sensation with dolphins protecting him in the Cook Strait against sharks, this assumption of cetacean protection has been ingrained among the open water swimming community and general public.

Philip Rush, the renowned English Channel swimmer, was on the escort boat with Walker at the time. "There were lots of dolphins that day. I was right beside Adam that day and I am still looking for this great shark that was about to get him."

Moore has worked with Professor Vic Peddemors SA with Durbin University and Natal Sharks Board to study shark behavior in the presence of open water swimmers in 2003 for several weeks. "We were the case study," explains Moore. "The scientists monitored the sharks behavior to our presence daily in the water over a period of weeks.

Sharks monitor their environment based on the activity in the water so it would be good practice to halt all swimming and stand tall in the water, spreading your legs and arms still [giving the appearance of greater size] as opposed to lying flat in the water. The leg kick and the arm stroke will attract attention. Sharks have woeful eye sight so their attraction is movement and energy. Breathing should be managed and calm, kayaks stop paddling for a brief moment. Still will also assist in the possible passing of the shark. Their curiosity is peaked by the movement and the breathing.

Sharks aggressive behavior dictates that they tend to arch their backs, drop their pecs, and move erratically in an urgent manner underneath the surface before their approach. Other than that, they could just be passing."

Lower photo above by Jean Guy Lacoursiere shows George Park competing in a 14.1-mile professional marathon swim from Narragansett, Rhode Island to Block Island in 1968 as a Great White Shark passes by.

Upper photo shows wound from a cookiecutter shark on the calf of Mike Spalding (his story about his 30-mile Alenuihaha Channel crossing from the Big Island of Hawaii to the island of Maui where he was bitten 11 miles into his swim is 
here).

Copyright © 2015 by 
World Open Water Swimming Association
From World Open Water Swimming Association's Daily News of Open Water Swimming







Swimming World Juniors, Day 4, Singapore: Michael Andrew’s special mix for this day: back, fly, free


Rikako Ikee (JPN) ©Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia

Tremendous individual efforts highlighted Day 4 in Singapore, at the 5th FINA World Junior Swimming Championships as versatility was the ruling word this evening. We could witness a couple of rare pairings of medal winning performances from outstanding young talents – and as a bonus, 5 more World Junior Records.
Turkey’s Viktoria Gunes captured the titles in the 100m breaststroke and the 200m IM, US’s Michael Andrew had a gold from the 50m back and a silver from the 50m free and between the two he clocked the best time in the semis of the 50m fly, while Aussie Kyle Chalmers sprinted to victory in the 50m free then “re-paced” himself to help the 4x200m free relay to a silver medal.
Actually, those responsible for preparing the schedule of the championships couldn’t anticipate such individual programmes: breaststrokers rarely swim in the IM events (at least not on the same day), backstroke dashers rarely enters the 50m free/fly (or vice-versa) and freestyle sprinters rarely called on duty for the 4x200m relays. That’s why we could see the young guns rushing from the respective medal ceremonies to the start of the very next event (like Gunes and Andrew did) and waited for Chalmers while he left behind his relay team-mates to catch his first ceremony at the other end of the pool.

Foto

Kyle Chalmers (AUS) ©Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia 
And this was also the day of dead heats: the first tie for a medal happened in the men’s 50m back where Mohamed Samy (EGY) and Robinson Molina (VEN) shared the bronze, while at the end of the day two swim-offs had to be held, first in the women’s 50m back, then in the men’s 50m fly – the latter was to decide a three-way tie (!) for the last berth in the final…
Turkey’s Viktoria Gunes did a brilliant job while winning the 100m breast and 200m IM in a time-frame of 32 minutes (including a ceremony). Her winning margins were even more overwhelming: a full second in the breast (1:06.77) over Sweden’s Sophie Hansson and even more, 1.03sec over Canada’s Marie-Sophie Harvey (2:11.03) in the 200m IM where she brought down the World Junior Record as a bonus.
“It was really hard, I wanted to beat the records and I was able to do it in the medley” Gunes said. “Though I need to improve a lot, especially in the backstroke but I have time to do it until Rio as I wanted to be part of the Olympic team.”

Foto

Viktoria Gunes (TUR) ©Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia 

Michael Andrew, who has become famous for swimming in five events on Day 2, now created another busy evening for himself. “It was less demanding, though” the tall boy smiled at the end of the day. For the start, he bettered the Championship Record while winning the 50m back (25.13). In 16 minutes he was back to clock the top time in the semis of the 50m fly, and 26 minutes (and a victory ceremony) later he was ready for the 50m free, though this time he had to settle for the silver medal behind Kyle Chalmers.
“I knew it would be a busy schedule and I wouldn’t say it would have been a different story had I not had to rush from the ceremony to the start. I’m really strong mentally so I tried to close out everything and concentrate on my races” Andrew said.
Asked about his idols, the young American had a nice reply: “Personally, my idol… When I look up to someone, I will look up to God because God blesses everything…”
Kyle Chambers, who managed to beat Andrew in the 50m free also talked on his rival: “I’m pretty happy with this gold. I saw Michael beside me on the starting blocks, and I knew I had to swim faster than ever.”
The Aussies pulled of another win in the freestyle, Tamsin Cook smashed the Championship Record (4:06.17) in the 400m while gaining 1.3sec on the 800m champion Sierra Schmidt (USA).
“I’ve talked to my coach before the race and decided to go out fast, the second 200 was just about being in the race” Cook said. “I was definitely worried in the last 50m, my legs were burning a lot but I just had to keep my head down and get to the wall as fast as I could. I got the silver in the 200m fly and now to see the flag raised for me just tops this meet, I couldn’t be any happier.”
Japan’s Rikako Ikee flied way faster than the others in the women’s 50m, setting a new Championship Record (26.28). The race for the minor spoils were pretty close, three swimmers hit the wall in a span of 0.06sec with Penny Oleksiak (AUS) coming second, ahead of Mariia Kameneva (RUS) and Wand Jungzhuo (CHN).
“I felt I could be the best today and reach my full speed” Ikee said. “Though I was a bit scared as this is the first time I’m taking part in such a big event, with media around, answering questions, so next time maybe I can clock an even better time than this…”
Russia’s Anton Chupkov added the 200m crown to his 100m title – no doubt that in this age-group he is the breaststroke king. Of course, that’s not surprising at all as he was already a finalist in Kazan among the seniors and came 7th. The only thing he might miss here is to beat his WJR set at the ‘big’ World Champs (2:09.64), he was close but fell a bit short this time (2:10.19, still good for a CR).
“I’m really happy to earn my third gold medal here” Chupkov said (he was member of the victorious mixed medley relay). “It was a good swim, I felt I was strong enough to win this race. It does good to the team spirit as these championships didn’t begin as we expected but now we are all delighted and hope to maintain this level for the remaining days.”
As for the World Junior Records, the US quartet bettered it in the 4x200m free (7:13.76), while the girls smashed the global mark in the 50m back three times during the day. Gabrielle Fa’Amausili (NZL) started it in the morning (28.09), Minna Atherton beat it in the next heat (28.00) and the Aussie shaved it further in the semis (27.92) – this last one would have placed her 6th in the final in Kazan. And she might get even closer to the top seniors on Saturday!

Medal table after Day 4

AUS    7    5    0
USA    5    7    3
RUS    4    0    8
TUR    3    0    0
CAN    2    5    1
CHN    2    2    1
GBR    1    1    5
JPN    1    0    1
ROU    1    0    0
SWE    0    2    0
ITA    0    1    3
ESP    0    1    1
BRA    0    1    0
HUN    0    1    0
EGY    0    0    1
LTU    0    0    1
NZL    0    0    1
VEN    0    0    1
Follow the competition live stream free of charge worldwide on FINAtv







Swimming World Juniors, Day 2, Singapore: Gunes (TUR) and Glinta (ROU) making the headlines


Gergely Csurka, FINA Media Committee Member
FOTO  Robert Glinta (ROM) ©Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia 

USA, Australia and Russia clinched two titles apiece on the second day of the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships, but a Romanian and a Turkish swimmer also made the headlines after respective gold-medal winning performances. China entered the title-winners’ circle, too, on a day which also saw the fall of two more World Junior Records.

A couple if historical firsts highlighted the second day of action in Singapore. Viktoria Gunes won the first ever medal for Turkey in the history of the world juniors – and in fact it was a gold in the women’s 50m breast. She had a clean victory: her winning margin (0.4sec) is substantial in the dash.
“It’s a very good competition in a very nice pool and I’m really happy that I’m here and I came first” Gunes said. “Today I swam really well, I’m in the best age for this event so I had to show my best.”
Romania had a couple of medals from the first edition in 2006 – still, Robert Glinta’s title was the first captured by a boy. He smashed the Championship Record again in the 100m back with a convincing performance.
“I’m so excited, I’m so happy” Glinta said. “I specially prepared for this competition, I tried to be faster at the Europeans in June but that time I had some health issues. Now I wanted to show what I’m capable of. My finish could have been better, but after all, this was a good race.”
China also earned its first title in Singapore, as Wang Siqi’s maintained her nation’s rich tradition in the 200m fly by clinching a clean win, gaining more than 0.6sec on runner-up Tamsin Cook (AUS) – interestingly, two US swimmers had a huge battle for the bronze, with Hannah Kukurgya edging out Cassidy Bayer by 0.04sec.
The US had a 1-2 finish to cheer for a bit later, when Maxime Rooney reached his maximum speed in the 200m free and rushed away to score an easy win (1:47.78). Compatriot and yesterday winner of the 400m, Grant Shoults came second, 0.66sec later.
“It’s always awesome to have two medals for Team USA” Rooney smiled. “I could have been better at the third wall, I’ll be looking after that in practice but all in all I’m pretty happy with my swim.”
Russia’s Anton Chupkov was a cut above the rest in the men’s 100m breast, even though he couldn’t beat his own World Junior Record set here on Tuesday, he was just 0.07sec shy of that time (clocked 1:00.19 now). Still, he didn’t leave the pool without a record as later he was part of Russia’s WJR-beating quartet in the 4x100m mixed medley relay (3:45.85).

FOTO
Maxime Rooney (USA) – gold medal, Grant Shoults (USA) – silver, Ernest Maksumov (RUS) – bronze in the Men’s 200m free
©Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia 
After two relay titles from yesterday, the Aussies had a double in individual events as well: first Minna Atherton sailed through the pool to bring down the World Junior Record one more time over the 100m back (59.58).
“It’s a good pool, I like, I could progress really well” Atherton said. “After beating the record yesterday, I just wanted to relax and come back as fast as I could. It’s a really good experience to stand on the top of the podium – and I’d like to do it again.”
Just minutes later Clyde Lewis produced an outstanding swim in the men’s 200m IM and won comfortably (2:00.15) – here Hungary’s Csaba Sos got the silver after Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez, touching in second, was disqualified.
The US also clinched a second title this day: following the path of the great Katie Ledecky, Sierra Schmidt won the 800m free by two body-lengths, ahead of Italy’s Simona Quadarella.
“Going into the race I was a bit uncertain how I would do, because I didn’t feel that well at the nationals” Schmidt said. ”Now I’m so happy with my result, I’ve never expected to get close to the time I clocked at the PanAms. This field was fantastic, we hade some really good girls, it was a really tough race.”
Still, the hero of the day distinction can go to someone who didn’t earn any gold: USA’s Michael Andrew competed in no less than 5 events this evening, with mixed fortunes though. He came 4th in the 100m back (just 0.07sec shy of the bronze), just missed the cut in the semis of the 100m fly (finished 9th by 0.09sec), came 4th in the 100m breast (trailed 0.26sec to the third placed), finished 7th in the 200m IM and finally earned a bronze as a consolation in the mixed medley.








Swimming World Juniors, Day 5, Singapore: Swimming through thrillers, the Aussies still top the medal count


Gergely Csurka, FINA Media Committee Member (HUN)
FOTO Brandonn Almeida photo credit: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia


Australia lost one title by 0.02sec (in the women’s 50m back) but captured another by 0.04sec (in the women’s 4x100m free) and still leads the medal count ahead of the USA. Day 5 saw three more nations earning their respective first titles: Italy, New Zealand and Ukraine – and two more World Junior Records bettered.
Two Championship Records fell in succession to start the penultimate final session in style. First, Italy’s Simona Quadarella earned a clean win over the 1500m free, gaining more than 7 seconds on runner-up Sierra Schmidt of the USA – her time (16:05.61) was way better than the previous CR (by 18sec). It was also the first title for Italy here in Singapore.
“Oh, I’m so happy and proud of this gold medal” Quadarella said after the race. “The time is really great, I didn’t expect that good. It was a hard swim, not an easy one, and winning feels really fantastic!”
Soon Brazil’s Pedro Spajari brought down the 100m free’s CR by clocking 48.87 in the semis.
Ukraine also captured its first gold here – Andrii Khloptsov returned to the roots, so to speak, as the nation’s first junior world title also came in the 50m fly (among the girls, in the first edition in 2006, by Lyubov Korol). Since the championships’ most versatile athlete, Michael Andrew (USA) swam beside him, Khloptsov had to produce his very best, which he did, hitting the wall 0.2sec ahead of the American.
“I can’t translate my feelings into English words… I can just say now: Oh my God!” said the young Ukrainian while grasping for air. “There is no secret behind this. In 50m, your task only is to swim. And add a little talent. This is my best time ever, it’s really nice!”
In the meantime, Andrew is now stands with 1 gold and 2 silver in the 50m events but he can complete his unprecedented mission on Sunday when he takes his marks in the 50m breast final. Just minutes after his swim in the fly, he clocked the 5th fastest time in the breast semis, so anything can happen tomorrow.
The session’s third dash event well could be labelled as ShowDownUnder: Australia’s Minna Atherton and New Zealand’s Gabrielle Fa’Amausili had a face-to-face clash for the first time in the 50m back, though previously they had a special play of “Who betters the World Junior Record more times?”. During the heats and the semis Atherton got a 2-1 lead in record-beating, but when the title was at stake it was the New Zealander who got the upper hand. Well, the margin wasn’t even a finger between the two, Fa’Amausili clocked 27.81 (a new WJR, for 2-2), reaching the wall just 0.02sec earlier than Atherton.
“To see my name on the board with the number 1, it’s just crazy and I’m just super happy now” Fa’Amausili said. “I’ve never raced with Minna at international meets until now so it was great to see her here. When I saw her setting a new junior world record in the semis I was a bit scared, but I came out tonight, not thinking of anything else, just tried to swim as fast as I could.”
Next came the gladiators’ fight, the men’s 400m IM. It was a tremendous battle, Brazil’s Brandonn Almeida went out really fast, he was way ahead for most of the time, but the fast start began to take its toll in the second part and Sean Grieshop of the US was closing up metre by metre. He trailed by more than 3sec at the half-way mark behind Almeida, but that was cut to 1.26sec with 100m to go and only 0.35sec separated the two before the last lap. With the Brazilian running out of gas, Grieshop switched into the 5th gear and passed his rival with ease, gaining 1.76sec on him just in the last 50m (4:15.76).


“It was a great effort from all the competitors, a lot of fun” Grieshop said.
“One of my best stroke is freestyle and I just felt I really needed to hit the freestyle as hard as I could, harder than any other 50s and it paid off. It’s so amazing to be on the podium, hold the hand and my heart, see raising the flag.”
One more World Junior Record swim was ahead – and it turned out to be the thriller of the day in the women’s 4x100m free relay. The Russians led the field during almost the entire race, boosted by outstanding takeover times (0.18, 0.09, 0.17), however, the chasers caught them perhaps in the last 20cm and Australia’s Lucy McJannett just out-touched Daria Ustinova by 0.04sec for a new WJR (3:39.87).
With this brilliant win the Aussies have held their ‘2-gold lead’ over the US at the medal table before the last day, a gap they are maintaining since Day 2.

Medal table after Day 4

AUS    8    6    0
USA    6    9    4
RUS    4    1    9
TUR    3    0    0
CAN    2    5    3
CHN    2    2    1
GBR    1    1    5
ITA    1    1    3
JPN    1    0    1
NZL    1    0    1
ROU    1    0    0
UKR    1    0    0
BRA    0    2    0
SWE    0    2    0
ESP    0    1    2
HUN    0    1    0
EGY    0    0    1
LTU    0    0    1
VEN    0    0    1

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