World Deaf Swimming Championships: Maryia Rudzko Blasts Historic Record; Two Relay World Records Fall

COIMBRA, Portugal, August 12. AN iconic world deaf record, as well as a pair of relay world deaf records, fell during the sixth day of competition at the World Deaf Swimming Championships.

Belarus' Maryia Rudzko crushed the meet record in the women's 200 back with a 2:31.43 during prelims. That swim cleared the 2:36.30 set by Aksana Petrushenka back in 2007. Rudzko then downed the world deaf record in the event with a sterling time of 2:25.71 in the finale. That swim smashed the historic record of 2:27.38 set by Laura Barbar way back in 1980. USA's Lauren McAlpin took second in 2:28.26, while Ukraine's Anna Tovsta placed third in 2:28.91.

Russia's Ilya Sarykin (2:00.70), Vitally Obotin (1:54.95), Stepan Klimenko (1:58.25) and Ilya Trishkin (1:56.99) downed the world deaf record in the men's 800 free relay with a 7:50.89. That time smashed the previous record of 7:56.66 set by Russia in 2009. Ukraine (8:00.10) and USA (8:11.32) took second and third in the finale.

The United States' foursome of Peggy Liang (2:11.29), Kristin Ates (2:13.68), Samantha Elam (2:12.85) and Rebecca Meyers (2:11.73) clipped the world deaf record in the women's 800 free relay with an 8:49.55. That effort beat the 8:50.09 set by Russia at the 2009 World Championships. Ukraine (8:57.36) and Belarus (9:02.50) rounded out the podium.

Yoshikazu Kanaji of Japan downed the meet record in the men's 200 back during prelims with a 2:10.97. That swim bettered the longstanding 2:15.24 set by John Kealy back in 1995. Kanaji returned in the finale to make a run at Greg Lessing's world deaf record of 2:08.54 from 2005, but fell short with a winning 2:08.94. Teammate Ryutaro Ibara took second in 2:12.09, while Canada's Philippe Oueliet wound up third in 2:12.97.

Russia's Ilya Trishkin clocked a 56.89 in the men's 100 fly prelims, lowering the meet record of 57.62 set by Bjorn Koch in 2007. Trishkin further lowered the record with a 55.70 in the finale. Italy's Luca Germano touched second in 55.89, while USA's Marcus Titus picked up bronze with a 56.51.

Russia's Alena Alexeeva dipped under the meet record in the women's 100 fly with a 1:05.28. That performance eclipsed the 1:05.41 set by Caroline Miller back in 1995. Japan's Ayaka Fujikawa finished second in 1:06.22, while USA's Peggy Liang earned third in 1:06.45.

Special thanks to Dana Elam for contributing to this report.

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