It might not be as thrilling a sight as Usain Bolt running in the 100 metres or Misbah doing press ups at Lords’ last July following a test ton but the pool has definitely got a buzz in the summer whether its the Olympics or World Championships.
As was the case this past week with the latter being held in the picturesque Budapest by the Danube, the scene was ideal for the world aquatic championships.Swimming usually at the fore front in the first week of the Olympics schedule was the jewel of the second week on this occasion. It didn’t disappoint. There was no shortage of drama alongside the banks of Danube.Similar to the Olympics in Rio, the world records were smashed left , right and centre. And for a certain Adam Peaty, even twice in one day as he managed with the 50m breast stroke.The Briton stole the spotlight on day 3 with his record swim sandwiched between evenings when he took his two golds. The first one being in the 100m breast.
Katie Ledecky was the shining star for the American team who led all countries in the overall tally. She had four individual golds in 200,400,800,1500m freestyles alongside two relay golds.The six gold tally matched her Olympic effort.Caeleb Dressel impressed even more, taking the 50 and 100 metre free style golds as well as the 100m butterfly.The 20 year old from Florida added four more golds in medley and freestyle relays to take his overall tally to seven matching Michael Phelps’ haul in 2007.
Sarah Sjostrom from Sweden broke two world records in the 50m and 100m free style although she lost the 50m finale to Simone Manuel,she rebounded to take second gold in the latter in addition to her 50m butterfly gold.For the home crowd which filled on every night , there was sweet success as well.Katinka Hosszu nicknamed the “Iron Lady” took the 200 and 400 m individual Medley golds alongside silver in the 200m backstroke and bronze in the 200m butterfly.
Lily King renewed her rivalry with Yulia Efimova in the breast stroke category. The American took two golds in the 50m and 100m whilst Efimova took the 200m gold.The Russians improved on the championship success after hosting at Kazan two years ago when they had 9 golds. This time,they swooped 11 golds with Yulia’s countryfellows Anton Chupkov and Evgeny Rylov matching 200m length golds in back and breast strokes respectively.The Chinese had lost a few golds on this occasion dropping from 15 to 12 golds overall.Hangzhou’s Sun Yang took two gold in the pool to match his Kazan tally in the 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley.
Camille Lacourt led the French resistance in the pool with final day backstroke win in the 50m, completing Le Blues’ six golds in the championships.They finished fourth overall behind USA,China and Russia.Britain rounded up the top five with Ben Proud’s gold in 50m butterfly and the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay adding to Peaty’s wins.
One of the most dramatic and sentimental wins in the pool came in the men’s 200 metre butterfly. Chad Le Clos.The London Olympics’ gold medallist took silver in the same event in Kazan and Rio Olympics.He was left gutted after the loss of his father last year and a rigorous training schedule pursued.In the Danube Arena this year, he went for the jugular attacking from the outset having just enough energy to hold out the home veteran Laslo Cseh in his prized event renewing his feat as South Africa’s most decorated swimmer.
Hungary, winning nine medals in the championships ,hosted the meet sensationally and there was a great atmosphere throughout the 2 week gala.With 21 golds in the whole aquatic championships,USA at 46 medals were miles ahead of the rest resuming their successful tally from Rio Olympics,nine better than the Chinese.This puts them in a healthy position for championships in two years in Gwangju as well as the Tokyo Olympics.Will Dressel or Ledecky overhaul Phelps’ cabinet of golds in those championships? Only time will tell.
Sportsfan Says 