The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Lochte wins five, still claims underdog status Posted: 31 Jul 2011 08:13 AM PDT  Ryan Lochte (right) looks up to Michael Phelps. This was after their win in the men's 4 X 200m freestyle relay. — Reuters pic Lochte's fourth individual gold medal, and fifth overall, was achieved in the men's 400 metres individual medley. He led from start to finish and was never really challenged even though he chopped down a gear on the final leg of freestyle when the race had already been virtually assured. "It's been a hard eight days," Lochte told reporters. "Being able to do the 4IM at the end of the week. I am glad the meet is over." Lochte's win ensured he repeated the feat of two years ago in Rome when he also won both the 200 and 400 individual medley titles. Hungary's Tamas Darnyi is the only other man to have won both medley titles in consecutive championships. Lochte also won the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke and was a member of the gold medal-winning 4x200 freestyle relay team. He was also only one of two swimmers to set a world record during these championships when he pipped Michael Phelps for the 200 individual medley gold. China's Sun Yang broke the 1500 metres freestyle record in the final men's individual event on the programme today. Lochte, who turns 27 on Aug. 3, was named the male swimmer of the meeting, usurping his more illustrious compatriot, though the big challenge is to ensure he continues his hot run of form into next year's London Olympics. Phelps said that he had failed to fully commit to the intensive training schedule mapped out for him, and the fact he pushed his teammate so hard should worry the Florida-based Lochte. "I don't think I am the top dog," Lochte said. "I have a whole year to work hard and train hard. "For the most part, I am not really happy with the meet; I mean winning five gold medals is great but I know I can go faster. "I will make sure next year I will have a perfect swim." — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| Sun burst caps final day of world championships Posted: 31 Jul 2011 07:47 AM PDT  Ryan Lochte, with the Fina Trophy as the best male swimmer. — Reuters pic The long-stroking Sun, roared on by his home crowd, produced a storming final 100 metres to break Grant Hackett's long-standing 1500 metres freestyle world record by clocking 14 minutes 34.14 seconds — just the second mark to be bettered in Shanghai. "All the pain that I endured during my training in the past had paid off," Sun told reporters. "I didn't think too much about it (the record) before the race. "I just wanted to swim with my own rhythm and in a 1500-metre race, you need to feel good about the swim. I think this has to do with all the hard work that I put in." Lochte picked up his fifth gold of the championships when he won the men's 400 metres individual medley, to add to the 200 IM, 200 freestyle, 200 backstroke and the 4x200 freestyle relay titles. The 26-year-old American was named the male swimmer of the meeting for his performances, which included the only other world record in the 200 IM. Compatriot Michael Phelps, however, had an understated championships yet still won four gold medals. The most successful Olympian of all time won both the 100 and 200 butterfly titles as well as gold medals in the 4x200 freestyle relay and the 4x100 medley relay. He also took two silvers, behind Lochte in the 200 freestyle and 200 IM, and a bronze in the 4x100 freestyle relay. The 26-year-old Phelps had admitted to not really committing fully to his training regime after the highs of Beijing, when he won an unprecedented eight gold medals, and was using Shanghai as a test for where he stood 12 months out from his final Olympics in London. The fact he was able to push Lochte so close in a number of events and produce highly credible times suggested he and coach Bob Bowman had a more than adequate base to build from and the London programme looks even more enticing with the true emergence of Lochte as a mature and intelligent opponent. "The biggest thing (at this meet) was really trying to swim faster than I did last year," Phelps said. "With the preparations that I had, I am fairly satisfied. "Everything that went on here is going to be motivation for next year. We have 12 months to prepare for London and that's what I will find myself doing."  Rebecca Soni, best female swimmer. — Reuters pic "I'm very happy with the race, and excited for the result," Soni said. "I had a lot of fun. It is great fun for me this week." Soni's compatriot Jessica Hardy won the 50 breaststroke and coupled with wins for Elizabeth Beisel and Lochte in the 400 metres individual medley races and the men's 4x100 medley relay team winning gold, the US were able to sneak past the host nation to head the medal table. The US won 16 gold medals in the pool, and 17 overall, just nudging past China, who ended with 15 golds after they swept all 10 titles in the diving. Therese Alshammar of Sweden won the women's 50 freestyle and set down a marker for London, though the powerful Dutch team again proved their sprint freestyle credentials when Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Marleen Veldhuis took silver and bronze respectively. Britain's Liam Tancock retained his men's 50 metres backstroke title though the event is not on the London programme. — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
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