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Olympics, Swimming: Olympic Record Tumbles Twice, Daniel Gyurta Paces Qualifying in 200 Breast -- August 12, 2008
By John Lohn
BEIJING, China, August 12. SINCE he won the silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in the 200 breaststroke, Hungary's Daniel Gyurta has been a disappointment on the world stage. And, it could all be forgotten real soon. The 19-year-old specialist in the 200 breast established an Olympic record by winning the final of seven heats in 2:08.68.
Gyurta entered the competition with a seed time of 2:10.71, but there's obviously something about the Olympics that he likes. Gyurta qualified just ahead of Italy's Paolo Bossini, who had a breakthrough performance of 2:08.98 to set an Olympic standard that lasted only a few minutes. The former mark was the 2:09.44 that Japan's Kosuke Kitajima used to win gold in Athens.
Another Italian, Loris Facci was the No. 3 qualifier with a personal best of 2:09.12, enough to hold off France's Hugues Duboscq (2:09.42) and Canadian Mike Brown (2:09.84). Kitajima, who broke the world record in the 100 breast on the way to gold on Monday morning, was next in 2:09.89. Kitajima owns the global standard at 2:07.51 and is the heavy favorite to repeat as champion.
One of the main stories of the meet, American Eric Shanteau qualified in the seventh position. Battling testicular cancer, for which he'll undergo surgery immediately after the Games, Shanteau was timed in 2:10.29, just ahead of the 2:10.39 of South Africa's William Diering. South Africa's Neil Versfeld was next in 2:10.50 and Scott Spann, the victor at the U.S. Trials, was 10th in 2:10.61.
Completing the field for the semifinals were Kazakhstan's Vlad Polyakov (2:10.83), Ireland's Andrew Bree (2:10.91), Australian Brenton Rickard (2:11.00), Ukrainian Igor Borysik (2:11.08), Great Britain's Kris Gilchrist (2:11.13) and New Zealand's Glenn Snyders (2:11.19). Norway's Alexander Dale Oen, the silver medalist in the 100 breast, was 17th in 2:11.30 and missed the semifinals. Dale Oen was seeded fifth in 2:09.74.
Results: 2008 Olympic Games - Swimming
Premium Members - Search More About: Daniel Gyurta
Reaction Time Comments
August 12, 2008 YES! I calle Gyurta doing work in this event. I knew he would be there. He was flyin under the radar in '04 and no one was talking about him coming into '08. He is going to medal. Possibly with the gold. Submitted by: WUswimmer
August 12, 2008 Well Vendt only went a 47 so he's out for sure; no way to justify using him. It's a tossup between the other two; I'm sure the coaches know best. I remember being surprised when they picked Keller last year but he came through big time... Submitted by: liquidassets
August 12, 2008 oh my god guys. you are arguing over golf and what a sport is etc!?!?! swimming site. phelps just went 1:42 and you want to argue if golf is a sport!! c'mon!! Submitted by: medina
August 12, 2008 while i would love to see vendt on the finals team i don't think it will happen. i don't think he would accept the position. especially given that 2 other guys went 1.5 sec faster than him.
i think the decision is simple, berens went the faster time, he swims the final.
order: phelps, pvk, berens, lochte.
taking the team home could give lochte the lift he needs after his disappointment from the 400IM. Submitted by: medina
August 12, 2008 WU Swimmer: Actually this website and others who had access to times from Hungary were buzzing about Gyurta since he was 11 or 12. But you are right in that he still had to prove himself internationally.
I am still betting they will still put Klete on the relay, based on years of clutch performances from lots of international relay experience. Not meant as a slight to Behrens, but Ricky did get closer competition in his relay leg than Keller. Not sure if that is fair to consider but just something to note. Submitted by: Park528
August 12, 2008 Yeah i remember them talking about him in swimming world back during the sydney olympics and i didnt forget about him before the athens games and he came out with the silver. People still didnt give him his due before these olympics cause he keeps such a low profile but i knew he was going to be a factor and what do you know throwing down a PB by about 1.5 seconds. Submitted by: WUswimmer
August 12, 2008 Well said Submitted by: Park528
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