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Lochte double for upbeat USA
Ryan Lochte capped a golden day for the United States when he beat a flying French 4x200 metres freestyle team to ensure the Americans won their fourth successive title in the event at the world swimming championships on Friday.
Ryan Lochte capped a golden day for the United States when he beat a flying French 4x200 metres freestyle team to ensure the Americans won their fourth successive title in the event at the world swimming championships on Friday.
26-year-old Lochte had earlier romped to victory in the men’s 200 metres backstroke title before he anchored the relay team, which also included Michael Phelps, to claim his fourth gold medal of the championships in Shanghai.
“We went out there and did our best. When we hit the 75 (metres) mark, I knew it was over, I knew I had a lot of energy left,” Lochte said.
Lochte, however, said he was disappointed with his time of one minute, 52.96 seconds in winning the 200 backstroke gold. “I don’t think it was good. I know I can go a lot faster.”
BREASTSTROKE golds
Rebecca Soni added to the Americans’ gold haul when she won the women’s 200 breaststroke title. The U.S. have now won nine gold medals in the pool, and sit just behind China in the overall medal table.
“Overall I am very happy with it. You can’t complain too much with a gold medal,” Soni said. “It’s a nice night for me.”
It was not such a nice night for Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima, who was swum down by 2009 Rome world champion Daniel Gyurta of Hungary in the final length of the men’s 200 breaststroke final.
The women’s 100m freestyle also produced the second dead heat of the championships with Denmark’s Jeannette Ottesen and Aliaksandra Herasimenia of Belarus both touching in 53.45 seconds.
Also, Australia’s 20-year-old James Magnussen won the men’s 100m freestyle. It is his first major international meet.
