It was a nail biting race with the US team fiercely defending their title as World Record holders in the Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final. Australia took the lead by the 350m split mark, with Stephanie Rice and Bronte Barratt putting in spectacular efforts to create at least two full body lengths between them and the competition. China and the US fiercely negotiated the silver, neck and neck throughout. A jaw dropping final lap witnessed the Chinese over take the USA and in a dramatic finish the Aussies demolished the World Record by over 5 seconds (7:44.31) while the Chinese snatched the silver (7:45.93). The USA settled for bronze, 7:46.33.
Eamon Sullivan (AUS) defended his World Record in the tightest race of the day, the Men’s 100m Freestyle Final. It was a race of two Speedo sponsored swimmers with Alain Bernard (FRA) and Sullivan strokes ahead of the pack from the start. Alain swam away with the gold and a time of 47.21, while Sullivan took silver (47.32) and Jason Lezak (USA) wearing the Speedo LZR RACER took bronze (47.67).
Wearing the Speedo LZR RACER the current World and Olympic Record holder Kosuke Kitajima (JPN) fought a tough battle with Brenton Rikard (AUS) in the Men’s 200m Breaststroke Final. Taking turns to dominate the lead throughout, the race was tense. Kitajima broke out in the final lap defending his title and securing the gold with a time of 2:07.64 while smashing his own Olympic Record by 0.07 seconds. Brenton Rickard (AUS) (2:08.88) picked up the silver and Hugues Duboscq (FRA) (2:08.94) the bronze, both were wearing the Speedo LZR RACER. Following the medal ceremony Rickard delved into the stands to find his family for a congratulatory hug!
Kitajima said; “I’m so relieved. I’m glad that I won this race. I was going to improve my time a bit more but I guess that to win this race is more important than to set a good time.”
Speedo’s Jessica Schipper (AUS) put in a stirling effort in the Women’s 200m Butterfly Final, dominating the race until the second lap. China’s Liu Zige, was hot on her heels though and in the second half of the last lap Zige surged forward leaving her team mate Jiao Liuyang to fight for the silver with Schipper. In a dramatic finish, with the crowds in the Water Cube on their feet and punching the air, Zige secured gold and smashed a WR with a time of 2:04.18. Liuyang pipped the Aussie to the silver with 2:04.72 and Schipper took the bronze (2:06.26). The Chinese national anthem was almost deafening as the host country celebrated their gold and silver wins. All three medalists were wearing the Speedo LZR RACER.
Natalie Coughlin (USA) gave a spectacular performance in the Women’s 100m Freestyle Semifinal, leading throughout and cementing her place in the final with a time of 53.70. The second race saw a clean sweep of Speedo LZR RACERs on the blocks. Speedo’s Libby Trickett (AUS) also went through to the final.
Aaron Pierson (USA) stole the first place in the first race of the Men’s 200m Backstroke Semifinals, wearing a Speedo LZR RACER he clocked a time of 1:58.45. The second race saw Speedo’s Ryan Lochte (USA) and Markus Rogan (AUT) secure their spots in the final with respective times of 1:55.40 and 1:56.24.
In the Women’s 200m Breaststroke Semifinal Australia’s Liesel Jones sailed into the final with a time of 2:23.04. A Speedo LZR RACER clad Rebecca Soni (USA) failed to match her own Olympic Record set yesterday but made it into the final with a time of 2:22.64.
Phelps swam to victory and into the final of the Men’s 200m Individual Medley Semifinal with a time of 1:57.70. Phelps’ USA teammate, Ryan Lochte was victorious in the next race improving on his friend’s time by 0.01 with 1:57.69 in the next race. GB’s James Goddard also made it to the final that takes place tomorrow.
Excitement in Beijing is growing every day, a total of 64 World Records now have been achieved at the Games by swimmers wearing the Speedo LZR RACER! That’s an amazing 16 out of a possible 18, 97% of gold medals, with every medalist wearing the Speedo LZR RACER here today!
With Phelps well on his way to 8 gold medals – and that $1million bonus in his sights– it’s set to be legendary finale to these Games. Keep posted for more news tomorrow
