FINA Newsletter from Barcelona #10

Newsletter #10 // July 29, 2013

USA, Brazil, Canada and Mexico are on the medals tables through first 9 days of competition at World Championships

MEILUTYTE (LTU) SETS FIRST WR IN BARCELONA!

Olympic champion Ruta Meilutyte claimed the first world record of the 15th FINA World Championships in a landmark swim for Lithuania in the women's 100m reaststroke. Meilutyte,16, clocked 1:04.35 in the semi-finals to better the 1:04.45 set by Jessica Hardy (USA) in Federal Way, Washington, on August 7, 2009. It was the first swimming world record in the 50m pool for her country since it gained its independence on the break-up of the former Soviet Union.

Four world titles were decided in the pool, with the victors coming from three continents, embracing Oceania, Europe and the Americas. Christian Sprenger provided Australia with the first gold of the evening, beating Olympic champion Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) into second place in the men's 100m breaststroke. Sprenger prevailed in 58.79 ahead of Van der Burgh (58.97) and Felipe Lima (BRA, 59.65) in an event won last time by Alexander Dale Oen (NOR), who sadly died in 2012.

Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom reclaimed the 100m butterfly title she had won in 2009, this time deposing defending champion and Olympic gold medallist Dana Vollmer (USA). Sjostrom, winner of the world title in 2009, won in 56.53, with Alicia Coutts (AUS), already a Barcelona silver medallist in the 4x100m freestyle relay, claiming her second successive world 100m butterfly silver (56.97). Vollmer took the bronze in 57.24.

MORE ON FINA.ORG

PURE ADRENALIN IN THE PORT OF BARCELONA!

After many months of expectation, the first competition of High Diving in the history of the FINA World Championships finally took place today at the Moll de la Fusta, in Barcelona (ESP). Thirteen of the most experienced and successful athletes of the world took the plunge of the 27m platform, constructed for this special occasion in the port of the Catalan capital, where the open water events were also held in the first week of FINA’s major showcase.

In this historical moment, the first two rounds of dives (this men’s final will be concluded on July 31, with three more rounds), were an impressive display of courage, talent and determination. The event was witnessed by many thousands of spectators, who amassed in this beautiful scenario to admire one of the most spectacular sport challenging disciplines in the world.

When the first diver executed his DD 3.8 dive – in these first two rounds, the inaugural combination was limited to a DD of 3.8, while the second attempt could not go higher than a DD of 4.1 –, the crowd enthusiastically applauded Jorge Ferzuli, whose name will remain in the history books as the first of the first at a FINA World Championships.

MORE ON FINA.ORG

SPAIN INFLICTS MORE PAIN ON USA AS OLYMPIC CHAMPION BOWS OUT OF MEDALS

For the second day in a row, Spanish water polo teams have bundled United States of America out of medal contention at the Bernat Picornell Pool.

On Sunday, the men defeated USA 10-6 in a quarterfinal qualifier and tonight in a rematch of the 2012 London Olympic Games final, it was Spain’s turn to turn the tables on the USA, winning 9-6, vastly different from the USA’s 8-5 victory a year ago.  With half of Barcelona seemingly in the stands, they cheered on Jennifer Pareja and her team to what was an historic victory as Spain has never beaten USA in a major championship - drawing two and losing five.

Pareja scored her four goals in the first half as she helped her team to a 4-2 opening quarter, 5-4 at halftime and 6-5 at the final break. For more than a minute near the end the score was 8-5 ironically but that became a match-winning 9-5 and a late USA goal went in silence.

Spain will now meet Hungary in one semifinal while the other semifinal will be between Olympic bronze medallist Australia and the swift Russia. Russia started the day’s proceedings with a 17-9 margin over Canada in which Ekaterina Prokofyeva captain Evgeniya Ivanova scored four each. Russia led 8-3 at halftime.

Australia won the second quarterfinal 9-5 over outgoing world champion Greece with goals being spread around by both teams. The Aussie Stingers led 4-2 at halftime and drew the third period 2-2.

The Hungary-Netherlands match was a statistical nightmare for the Dutch as Hungary won its 50th World Championship encounter - a record - by 11-7. Hungary led 7-1 at halftime in what was an obviously dominating display. Rita Keszthelyi scored four goals by halftime.

Wednesday programme:

15:30 CAN vs GRE
17:00 NED vs USA
20:15 RUS vs AUS
21:45 HUN vs ESP

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