Hungarian star Katinka Hosszu on her way to win the gold medal in the Women’s 100m Individual Medley of the FINA airweave Swimming World Cup at the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha yesterday. Pictures: Salim Matramkot / The Peninsula
Hungarian sensation Katinka Hosszu lit up the final day of the FINA airweave Swimming World Cup, fishing out three more gold medals as the spectacular two-day event concluded with thrilling races in Doha yesterday.
South African superstar Chad Le Clos and Swede prodigy Sarah Sjostrom, who are leading the overall rankings, also lived up to expectations by bagging two more gold medals each on the final day at Hamad Aquatic Centre.
Reigning world champion Hosszu dominated individual medley races as ever to take her tally to five gold medals in the Doha leg of World Cup series.
After her win in 100m backstroke, the Hungarian prodigy won 100 and 400 individual medley races to take the highest number of gold medals on the final day.
“I am happy with my performance. The support from spectators was giving me energy and I thank them for their cheers in my support,” said Hosszu.
Katinka Hosszu celebrates after winning the Women’s 100m Breaststroke final yesterday. The reigning world champion Hosszu dominated individual medley races as ever to take her tally to five gold medals in the Doha leg of World Cup series.
After a perfect run that gave him two gold medals on the opening day, World champion Le Clos scooped two more gold medals by winning the 200m freestyle and 100m fly finals last night. He also grabbed two silver medals in 50m freestyle and 200m breaststroke finals to maintain his domination in the overall series.
“I am very happy with my tally – four gold and two silver – its a good performance and I am happy with the results,” said Le Clos, who looks set to win the World Cup series for an unprecedented fourth time.
“Most importantly, I have won the cluster. It was a close contest in the cluster and I am happy to win it. I love Doha, it’s second home for me and a very luck one too.”Both the wins for Le Clos came against his rival Tom Shields of the United States. He clocked 1:44.40 for win in 200m freestyle, one second ahead of Shields. In men’s butterfly, the South African touched 50.17 with Shields completing the race in 50.17.
Sjostrom, the Olympic and world champion, also finished the meet with five gold medals, adding two more on the final day with victories in 100m freestyle and 50m fly. She lost to rival Hosszu in 100m IM final and had to content with silver medal, that deprived her a perfect 6-for-6.
South African World Champion Chad Le Clos reacts after winning the Men’s 200m freestyle gold.
“I did some mistakes (in IM) but overall I am happy with five gold medals. I have a good lead in the series,” the Swede star said.“I’ll go back to training after a break to prepare for the next cluster.”
German talent Christian Diener was other star of the day as he claimed two victories in 50m and 200m backstrokes.
Russian giant Vladmir Morozov signed off with three gold medals with a victory in 50m freestyle after touching 20.98. The Winsdor 2016 star overcame Le Clos, who finished second for a silver medal after completing the race in 21.50.
It was also a good day for Morozov’s compatriot, Kirill Prigoda who bagged the 200 IM for his second gold in Doha.
He clocked 1:55.57 to beat another Russian Daniil Pasynkov, who finished second with a time of 1:56.56
Denmark’s Rikke Pedersen also caused an upset on the final night, when she stunned Atkinson to win 200m breaststroke, with a time of 2:18.86, six seconds ahead of the Jamaican.
Chinese teenager Yufei Zhang clinched the 200m fly gold with a time of 2:07.43, edging out Germany’s Wenk Alexandra (GER) 2:08.17
A total of 150 swimmers from 25 countries took part in the event which Doha hosted for the sixth consecutive time.
