Phelps Advances, Coventry Sets World Record
Michael Phelps, Maryland's superstar swimmer, took another necessary step in his pursuit of a record eight gold medals by posting the fourth-fastest time in the semifinal heats of the 200-meter freestyle. That, though, was briefly overshadowed by Zimbabwe's Kirsty Coventry, a former Auburn swimmer who trains in Texas and set a world record in the semifinal heats of the women's 100-meter backstroke.
Phelps's time of 1:46.28 was off his own world record in the event, but positioned him well for Tuesday's final. It came only one hour, seven minutes before Phelps was due back in the pool for the final of the 4x100-meter freestyle, where he could win his second gold medal of these Olympics.
Peter Vanderkaay of the United States was fastest in the semifinal heats (1:45.76), with South Korea's Taehwan Park second and Russia's Jean Basson third.
The 200 freestyle is the only one of the five individual events Phelps swam four years ago in Athens that he did not win. The 4x100 freestyle was the other event in which he earned bronze, not gold.
Also advancing this morning was American Natalie Coughlin in the semifinals of the 100-meter backstroke. Coughlin, who won gold in the event in Athens, opened the morning session with a time of 59.43 seconds, which was .07 slower than she swam in the preliminary heat but good enough to finish first in her race.
That, though, could not match Coventry, who swam in the last heat. Her time of 58.77 broke Coughlin's world record of 58.97, set earlier this summer at U.S. trials.
Coventry's swim was the fourth world record set thus far at these Olympics - with most of the morning session to go. She already won silver in the 400-meter individual medley.
By
Barry Svrluga
|
August 10, 2008; 10:23 PM ET
| Category:
Swimming
Previous: Grandma, 97, Bikes 1,500 Miles for Badminton |
Next: Swim Flash: Kitajima Wins Breaststroke
Posted by: Grace | August 10, 2008 11:45 PM
i for one admire Kirsty, she has surely done her country proud though yeh i guess i sympathise with her as she seems so frustrated bt her 'silver streak', but she can pull through,you go gal....
Posted by: Donell | August 15, 2008 9:07 AM
The comments to this entry are closed.
I think Michael Phelps is so cool and a great swimmer. he has inspired mr to go swim. I love him and he is the USA swimmer ever.