‘Missile’ rockets into semifinals, Fu sets the pace
Print Edition
James Magnussen posted the fastest time in the men’s 100-meter freestyle preliminaries at the World Swimming Championships yesterday in Barcelona.
The defending world champion from Australia, known as “the Missile,” touched in 47.71 seconds, far ahead of Konrad Czerniak of Poland at 48.50. Both Americans advanced to the semifinals, with Jimmy Feigen ninth-fastest and Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian moving on in 12th.
Fu Yuanhui of China set the fastest pace in the women’s 50m backstroke, a non-Olympic race, in 27.55 seconds.
American Missy Franklin qualified in 13th but later pulled out of the semifinals to focus on the 200m freestyle final.
Mireia Belmonte of Spain gave the home crowd something to cheer about as she set the pace in the women’s 200m butterfly in 2:07.21.
Liu Zige, China’s world record holder in the event, qualified for the semifinals with the fourth fastest time of 2:07.63 while her teammate Jiao Liuyang was fifth.
Liu set the world record in 2009.
Meanwhile, American Ryan Lochte rediscovered his form in the 200m medley heats.
Lochte, 28, the second-most decorated men’s world championship medalist after former team mate Michael Phelps, came into the meet without completing his usual intense training programme.
“The first couple of days I was worried about winning, worried about the times, it wasn’t me, it wasn’t Ryan Lochte,” he said.
“I woke up this morning not a care, just going out there and having fun and that was a real smooth morning’s swim so hopefully I’ll just get better,” he added.
“After last night, after that bad performance I was like I’m not the one to really worry about swimming. I go up on the blocks, I race and I have fun and that’s when I do the best.”
Magnussen said it was all about staying focused.
“I just want to try and keep my emotions out of it for now, stay emotionless and get the job done over the next two swims,” Magnussen said.
“The Missile” added he felt “relaxed and good technically.”
(Agencies)
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