Jul - Aug 2002 View the PDF - Swimnews Online

taking the lead on the last length. Nina Zhivanevskaya(ESP) was formerly from Russia and medalled for them inthe early 1990s. Now married and living in Spain, she wonthe silver in 2:10.27 after leading the race for 150 metres.Irina Amshennikova (UKR), in third with 2:11.59, pickedup her first-ever championship medal. Komarova wassurprised at winning. “I never expected such a result. Justreaching finals would have been enough.”In the women’s 4x200 free relay, Germany’s win wasnever in doubt. In the lead through all four stages, they wonby a 10-metre lead with 7:59.07 over Spain in 8:05.83 andSweden in 8:08.46.The biggest mishap of the day was Italy suffering twodisqualifications. First it was Massimiliano Rosolino in the200 individual medley for an illegal turn in breaststroke(the post-turn dolphin kick) and then the women’s 4x200relay for the second swimmer leaving early (they wouldhave been seventh).DAY 3, Wednesday, Jul 31It was a sports resurrection for Franziska van Almsick(GER). A multiple Olympic medallist in 1992 at 15 and starof the 1993 Europeans (six gold medals), injuries andmuch controversy followed the rest of the 1990s. She’s backon top again. And the German media frenzy about her issomething to watch.She anchored the world-record-setting 4x100 free relayon the first day, repeated again on Day Two in the 4x200free, and won the 100 freestyle on this day in a very closerace. She would have a chance at two more medals in the200 freestyle and the medley relay.Germany continued to top the medal table with fivegolds and a total of eight. Fifteen countries had medalledafter 3 days.Highlights:Peter van den Hoogenband (NED) came close to his worldrecord in the 100 freestyle with his 47.86 (just 2/100 secondsoff). It was an impressive effort. He was just slightly behindafter the dive from the blocks as Alexander Popov (RUS)still has the best starting technique, but after the first 25metres he was clearly in the lead, turning in 23.24 (slowerthan his record split of 23.12). He then surged home in thesecond leg and had a full one-metre lead on the field at the42Stanislava Komarova (RUS) won 100-200 backMarco ChiesaEmma Igelstrom (SWE) won 50-100 breaststroketouch. Popov was second with 48.94 and Duje Draganja(CRO) third with 49.31, a mere 1/100 second ahead ofRomain Barnier (FRA).“It was not a perfect race,” van den Hoogenband said.“I can swim faster. But to do that I have to do more powertraining. I am particularly happy to reach my level of theSydney Olympics again. I am astonished the others were notfaster. With Ian Thorpe setting a world record in the 400 freeyesterday, I want to set one too. I will have my chance in the200 free.”Popov admitted that “It was a very tough race. The first50 metres were good (23.32) but then it got harder andharder so that I couldn’t keep Pieter in check.”In the women’s 100 freesyle, Therese Alshammar(SWE), the defending champion from 2000 and swimmingin lane eight, had the lead for the first 60 metres (turningin 26.15) but couldn’t hang on and faded to sixth. It wasFranziska van Almsick (GER) who moved into the lead with25 metres remaining to touch in 54.39, holding off MartinaMoravcova (SVK), 54.61, on one side and Elena Popchenko(BLR), 54.62, on the other.Savouring the moment, van Almsick said, “Incrediblethat I am on top of the podium at a major championshipsonce again after seven years. In the 10 years of my career Ihave never got so much applause and approval as so far thisweek. But I wonder if all this cheering could disappearagain. At the moment, I am resurrected in the sportingsense.”Silver medallist Moravcova said, “It was a tight race.Second is OK, but I am disappointed with my time. I wassurprised when Alshammar was first at the turn.” The fastimprovingPopchenko was pleased. “This is my first medalat the European Championships. Yesterday in the prelimsI did a personal best of 55.19, then I improved on that in thesemis with 54.95, and now a 54.62. I hope I can improve atthis rate in the future.”After three consecutive European titles in the 100breaststroke, Agnes Kovacs (HUN) lost all chances at afourth as she had the worst start, falling a body lengthbehind Emma Igelstrom (SWE) after the dive. Kovacs neverrecovered, finishing fourth. Igelstrom, already the Europeanrecord holder, was never pressed as she turned in 31.87 andhad a clear body length lead throughout the race. Herwinning time of 1:07.87 was a championship record, erasingone that was established in 1987.The amazing Svitlana Bondarenko (UKR) has wonfive silvers and a bronze in this event since 1991, and pickedup another silver here. She’s 31 and her time of 1:09.28 wasconsistent with her previous medal swims. “This is myeighth European medal in 11 years,” she said. She hasseven in the 100 and one bronze in the 200 from 1991. Withevery athlete aiming for the top, Elena Bogomazova said “Iam very happy with the bronze.” She was 15th in this eventtwo years ago.The last final was in the men’s 200 IM, where worldrecord holder Jani Sievinen (FIN) fought his way back tothe top of the podium after seven years, when he last won aEuropean title. It was a terrific effort with a final time of1:59.30. He was lucky that second-place finisher AlessionBoggiatto (ITA) had a terrible start. He was a full bodylength behind after the dive and seemed out of contention,only to fight back and almost catch up. His second-placetime was 1:59.83. Boggiattio was faster than Sievinen forthe second half, but having to come from so far back provedan impossible task.A comparison of the splits:Sievinen 26.020:57.11 (31.09)1:31.01 (33.90)1:59.30 (28.29)Boggiatto 27.040:58.19 (31.15)1:31.78 (33.59)Marco Chiesa1:59.83 (28.05)“My race plan really worked,” Sievinen said. “I’mtotally exhausted and have a terrible headache.” Boggiattotook the positive outlook on his race: “I swam under twominutes for the first time in my life. Now I want the title inthe 400 IM.” Markus Rogan (AUT), in third with 2:00.50,was looking ahead: “I expected a bronze, and with a silverin the 100 back, I am missing one colour to complete theset. The 200 back will be my main event and I should havea chance to do it there. Sievinen showed today why he holdsthe world record.”In semi-final action, Thomas Rupprath (GER) betteredthe European record for the second time this day in the 50backstroke. In the prelims he did 25.20, and then in thesemis he lowered it to 25.00, just 1/100 seconds off the worldrecord.David Rummolo (ITA) bettered the championshiprecord in the 200 breaststroke semi with 2:12.31.SWIMNEWS / JULY-AUGUST 2002