Moravcova Captures Six Gold Medals

COLLEGE PARK, MD - Olympic medalists Martina MORAVCOVA (Slovakia) and Ed MOSES (USA) added more medals to their collection at the FINA World Cup meet in College Park, Maryland. Moravcova won three more events tonight, giving her six total and the Women's High Point Award. She'll also take home $3600 in prize money. She won three events on each of the two evening sessions, her 200 freestyle swim was a US Open Record. US Open Records are the fastest times swum in the 50 United States.

Moses won the 100m breast in 1:00.06, after winning the 50m and 200m breast last night. He also won all three events at this meet last year. Moses' three gold medals earned him a share of the High Point Trophy for the meet, tying with Jirka LETZIN of Germany. LETZIN won all three Individual Medley events at this World Cup competition and the same three events at the first World Cup event in Rio de Janierio, Brazil just last weekend.

"I came in wanting to use this meet as a stepping stone for the season like I did last year," MOSES said. "I wanted to feel the water and get back in the competitive spirit. This was a good meet to start off the season. If you want to have a great spring season, you have to put in the work now. I planned all last summer for the Olympics. Now I have to put that behind me and get ready for the next season. I'm looking ahead to the spring. I want to have a great Spring Nationals and put myself in a position to win four gold medals at the World Championships next summer."

American Amy BALCERZAK added two more wins to her total, winning the 50m and 200m breast. She was also third in the 100m IM and won the 100m breast last night. "I'm amazed at how exciting this meet was. The atmosphere was great,"Balcerzak said. "It was a great opportunity to swim against good competition from around the world." BALCERZAK also set a US Open record in the 50 meter breast tonight.

The FINA World Cup, held Nov. 15-16, will be shown on ESPN2 on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 1:30 pm, EST. The commentating will be done by swimming stars Rowdy Gaines ('80, '84 Olympics, three gold medals) and John Naber ('76 Olympics, four gold medals, one silver). Check your local listings for exact times.

Day 2 - Daily Report

100 FREESTYLE WOMEN: Martina MORAVCOVA (SVK) won her fourth event at this meet by a body-length. Her time of 53.59 easily defeated three time Olympian Karen PICKERING (GBR) and Suzy CATTERSON (USA). MORAVCOVA was asked about her great time and replied, "I think I have been on an ongoing taper since the Olympics."

200 FREESTYLE MEN: Australia's new faces at this World Cup made a clean-sweep of this event. Leo BIGGS (AUS) 1:47.55, finished ahead of teammates Raymond HAAS (AUS) and Anthony MATKOVICH (AUS). BIGGS was second in the 100 free last evening.

50 BREASTSTROKE WOMEN: A second US Open record fell this evening when Amy BALCERZAK (USA) powered her way to another gold medal at the FINA WORLD CUP. She won the 100 breast last evening and established a new mark of 31.19 in the short course event. BALCERZAK is the 1999 World University gold medalist in the 100 meter breast. Katie MCCLELLAND (USA) and Lindsey ERTTER took second and third.

100 BREASTSTROKE MEN: Ed MOSES (USA) completed his three-peat by winning the 100 to go with the gold medals he won in the 50 and 200 breast last evening. The hometown crowd was strongly behind MOSES, the short course world record holder, as he finished the race in 1:00.06. MOSES has only been a competitive swimmer for four years and offered these comments: "I say the first couple of years is the most surprising but my performances in the last year has given me the confidence to swim at this level. I pride my self on distance per stroke and by finishing strong -- hopefully the race will fall in place." Canadians Morgan KNABE (CAN) and Michael BOWLIANNE (CAN) were second and third.

400 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY WOMEN: Rachel CORNER (GBR) 4:43.05 won a close race over Ann BERGLUND (SWE) while Elizabeth LAVELL (USA) captured the bronze medal. CORNER won the same event in Rio last weekend.

100 BUTTERFLY MEN: Shane FIELDING (AUS) upset his teammate Heath RAMSAY (AUS) to win his first FINA World Cup title. When asked about the rivalry between him and his teammates FIELDING said: "I guess at the moment Australian Swimming is very strong and it is great to have my teammates pushing me." RAMSAY, a member of the Australian Olympic team placed 11th in the Olympic Games. Fifteen year old Michael PHELPS (USA) placed third in his second ever short course meters competition. PHELPS finished fifth in the 200 fly at the Olympic Games and was the youngest member of the US Olympic team was third.

100 BACKSTROKE WOMEN: Shu ZHAN (CHN) won gold while Dominique DIEZI (SUI) took home the silver medal. Suzy CATTERSON (AUS) earned the bronze medal, last night she won the 50 back.

50 BACKSTROKE MEN: Beau MANNIX (AUS) had a fantastic turn to make his second gold medal look easy, last night MANNIX won the 100 back and said this about his 24.62 time: "It exceeds my expectations as the moment but I still have one race to go tonight. The long dolphin kick under water is my secret." Raphael THUIM (BRA) earned the silver medal having pervasively won the 50 meter fly. David JENKINS (AUS) earns the bronze, he won the 100 free last evening.

200 BUTTERFLY WOMEN: Ruan Yi (CHN) had another easy win with 2:11.73 having also won this same event at the first FINA WORLD CUP in Rio last weekend. Cara LANE (USA) was second with 2:12.65 and Jessica BROSCH (USA) third.

200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY MEN: Jirka LETZIN (GER) has now swept the 100, 200 and 400 IM events at the first and second FINA WORLD CUP's. He was followed by Micke JACOBSON (SWE) and Ashley ANDERSON (AUS) who claimed silver and bronze. USA Olympian Michael PHELPS (USA) was disqualified for moving his elbows on the start.

400 FREESTYLE WOMEN: Yu YANG (CHN) 408;61 earned the gold medal to go with the silver medal she won in 200 free last evening. Monique Ferreira was second with 4:10.75, a new South American record. Cara LANE (USA) received the bronze medal, she won the 800 free last night and was second in the 200 fly.

50 FREESTYLE MEN: David Jenkins (AUS) won by a fingernail posting a great time of 22.31. JENKIS also won the 100 free last evening and captured the gold medal in same event in Rio last weekend. Raphael de Thuin (BRA) finished second with 22.68 just as he had also done in Rio. When interviewed by ESPN2 at poolside JENKINS said: "Thankfully in the 50 there is not much endurance needed. The 50 is definitely my favorite event, I put my head down and just go for it. This is a new thing for me winning all the time, hopefully it won't go away to soon." John STRATMAN (USA) was third.

200 BREASTSTROKE MEN: Amy BALCERZAK (USA) won her third gold medal in 2:26.27 having also won the 50 and 100 breast. Katie MCCLELLAND (USA) and Jillian MARTIN (USA)

1500 FREESTYLE MEN: Frederik HVIID (ESP) who led the entire race won in 15:17.98. Some distance behind was Heath RAMSAY (AUS) and Andrea RIGHI (ITA).

100 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY WOMEN: The champion in the mini-mini decathlon of swimming was crowned this evening when Martina MORAVCOVA (SVK) won her fifth gold medal at this FINA WORLD CUP. Her time of 1:01.10 was only one-tenth of a second off of the US Open Record which is held by Jenny THOMPSON (USA). Canadian Olympian Nadine ROLLAND (CAN) earned the silver medal and was followed by Amy BALCERZAK (USA) who picked up the bronze medal.

200 BACKSTROKE MEN: Raymond HAAS (AUS) captured the gold medal in this event with a winning time of 1:57.66, HAAS was the silver medalist in this event at the 1999 Pan Pacific Championships and was second in the 200 free at this FINA WORLD CUP. Paulo MACADO (BRA) took the silver medal while Shane FIELDING (AUS) took home the bronze medal.

50 BUTTERFLY WOMEN: The air was filled with suspense as to whether Martina MORAVCOVA (SVK) would capture her sixth gold medal at this FINA WORLD CUP competition. But there was no doubt about the result as soon as she came up for her first stroke. Her winning time was 26.60. In her interview for ESPN2 television MORAVCOVA told the audience: "It has been a fun meet for me, I had a great start so it was important for me to finish strong as well. I love the fans and love the sport and I had a great time tonight." Kristen KILROY (USA) and Dana VOLLMER finished second and third.