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Swedish Women Break 4x100 Medley Record at SC Championships

Apr 5, 2002  - Nick Thierry

Sweden's women's 4x100 medley relay established the third world record of the FINA SC World Championships.

After three days, Australia moved ahead of the USA in gold medals six to five, but the Americans have the most medals with 17 to Australia's 9.

Jose Martin Meolans (ARG) won the 50 freestyle with 21.36 over Mark Foster (GBR) with 21.44. Oleksander Volynets (UKR) and Alex Popov (RUS) tied for third. It was Popov's first competition since lasy June. Meolans' win was a surprise as Foster the current world record holder had won three of five short course Worlds.

Grant Hackett (AUS) won the 400 freestyle in 3:38.29, after missing the 200 freestyle on the first day due to a virus that kept in bed for 18 hourse before the competition got underway. He recovered on day two to anchor the Aussie 4x200 free relay to the gold. His time of today was three second off his own world record.

Canadian Mark Johnston in fifth with 3:44.78, a personal best, was also suffering from the flu. "I might have won a medal if I had been feeling better," Johnston said. He won the bronze in the 200 free on the first day.

Jim Piper (AUS) won the 200 breast with a 2:07.16, over David Denniston (USA) 2:07.42 and Jarno Pihlava (FIN) 2:07.61.

Veteran Jani Sievinen (FIN) won the 200 individual medley in 1:55.45, with Peter Mankoc (SLO) second with 1:56.13 and Tom Wilkens (USA) third in 1:57.34.

Wilkens only finished ninth in the prelims but Brian Johns (CAN) who had qualified fifth with 1:57.53 had to scratch due to an upset stomach.

"Brian came to the pool an hour before finals as usual but his food wasn't settling too well and he got sick," said Mike Mintenko Johns' roommate. "It's unfortunate because there's no doubt he would have won a medal. That was his event."

In women's events Therese Alshammar (SWE) won the 100 free in 52.96 with Martina Moravcova (SVK) second in 52.96 and Yanwei Xu (CHN) third with 53.35.

Yana Klochkova (UKR) won her second gold at these championships in the 400 fre with 4:01.26. She won the 400 IM on the first day. Hua Chen (CHN) in secnd with 4:03.81. Sophie Simard (CAN) was 8th with 4:09.91.

Lindsay Benko (USA) won the 200 backstroke in 2:04.97, and Anne-Karin Kammerling (SWE) the 50 fly in 25.55 just 2/10ths of her world record.

Martina Moravcova (SVK) won the 100 IM in 59.91, with Gabrielle Rose (USA) seond in 1:00.68 amd Alison Sheppard (GBR) third with 1:00.88.

Sweden's world record relay swam 3:55.78, bettering the old record of 3:57.46. Alshammar swam backstroke in 1:00.74, Emma Igelstrom id 1:04.90 for the breaststroke leg, Kammerling did a 57.12 for the fly leg and Johanna Sjoberg anchored in 53.02.

The USA in second 3:57.17 and CHN third 3:57.29, both under the old record.


Medal Totals After Day 3
Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
AUS 6 2 1 9
USA 5 5 7 17
SWE 4 1 0 5
UKR 3 0 2 5
CHN 2 3 2 7
SVK 1 1 0 2
FIN 1 0 1 2
ARG 1 0 1 2
RUS 0 2 3 5
SLO 0 2 0 2
JPN 0 2 0 2
CZE 0 2 0 2
CAN 0 1 1 2
GBR 0 1 0 1
BRA 0 1 0 1
GBR 0 0 2 2
ISR 0 0 1 1
FIN 0 0 1 1
DEN 0 0 1 1
SUI 0 0 1 1
23 23 24 70

In semi finals action: Matt Welsh (AUS) was first in the 50 back with 23.76, and Riley Janes (CAN) in second with 24.11.

Geoff Huegill (AUS) top qualifier in the 50 fly, with Michael Mintenko (CAN) in fifth.

Emma Igelstrom (SWE) top qualifier in the 100 breast with 1:06.08, with four others under 1:07.