Wang grabs China’s 2nd gold as more records fall
CHINA’S rising star Wang Jianjiahe claimed the host nation’s second gold medal at the FINA World Championships (25 meters) yesterday, while two world records were renewed.
Wang, 16, who broke the women’s 400 meters freestyle world record a month ago at the shortcourse Budapest World Cup, was the title hopeful in the 800 free. She didn’t disappoint the home crowd and led all the way to win the final in 8 minutes 04.35 seconds. Italy’s Simona Quadrella ranked second in 8:08.03 while Leah Smith of the United States was third in 8:08.75.
“I am happy to win the gold, but I am not satisfied with my time. It is not my best time,” said Wang, who stands 183 centimeters tall.
“It is my first gold medal at my first short-course world championships. I was very excited when I stood on the top of the podium. It was a different feeling from what I did during the World Cup stops. I was too nervous and swam too fast in the first part of the race that was under world-record pace. But I was too tired afterwards.”
The Americans broke the mixed 4x50 medley relay world record as they won the final in 1:36.40. The Netherlands and Russia came second and third, respectively.
Russia’s Kirill Prigoda timed 2:00.16 in the men’s 200 breast stroke to break the world record and win gold.
“The 200 is my signature event in the short-course and I don’t know, either I prepared correctly and analyzed my mistakes, or I just closed my eyes and replicated how I needed to swim. But I am happy with everything and happy that I set a world record,” Prigoda said.
China’s Qin Haiyang rewrote the Asian record as he took silver in 2:01.15. Germany’s Marco Koch was third in 2:01.42.
China’s Li Zhuhao also broke an Asian record as he finished in 49.25 to take bronze in the men’s 100 butterfly, with South Africa’s Chad Le Clos seeing off American golden boy Caeleb Dressel for gold.
In one of the most eagerly anticipated duels in Hangzhou, the South African star romped to victory in 48.50 and a fourth consecutive title in the event.
He was 0.21 ahead of rival Dressel, who at age 22 has drawn comparisons with US swim legend Michael Phelps.
Le Clos, who appeared close to tears as he stood on the podium, conceded that Dressel was disadvantaged by racing in the 50 freestyle semifinals beforehand, but said: “It was the biggest race of my short-course career.
“I was up against the best field by far and this was the main event of the whole week.
“I was anxious because I was waiting the whole day for this, the whole week and the past three months because I knew this one could come.”
The Dutch swimmers made it a 1-2 finish in the women’s 100 free. Ranomi Kromowidjojo touched in first in 51.14, ahead of Femke Heemskerk (51.60). Mallory Comerford brought the US a bronze in a time of 51.63.
American swimmers also took both the gold and silver in the women’s 200 back. Lisa Bratton finished in 2:00.71, while Olympic gold medalist Kathleen Baker was only 0.08 seconds off. Australian veteran Emily Seebohm was third in 2:01.37.
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, who won three golds at the Rio 2016 Olympics and is the shortcourse world record-holder, was stunned into fourth.