Lethal Leisel Clocks 1:06.78, Breaks Olympic Record in 100 Breast. -- August 15, 2004
By Stephen J. Thomas
ATHENS, Greece August 15. AUSTRALIAN world record-holder Leisel Jones swam the third fastest time in history over the two laps – 1:06.78, breaking the Olympic record set by South African Penny Heyns in Atlanta eight years ago.
German Sarah Poewe equaled her PR from the Sydney Olympics to clock 1:07.48 for the second spot, with Americans Tara Kirk (1:07.60) and Amanda Beard (1:07.92) and the other Aussie Brooke Hanson (1:07.75) the only swimmers under 1:08.
China’s Luo Xuejuan (1:08.57) and Qu Hui (1:09.06) made the cut and can’t be discounted.
Jones, is clearly in the best form of her career. If she can keep her head together tomorrow night, she should finally get her hands on a gold medal after a four-year wait.
Women 100m Breaststroke Semifinals
Record Split Name NOC Location Date
WR 1:06.37 31.40
JONES Leisel AUS Barcelona (ESP) 21 JUL 2003
OR 1:07.02 31.65
HEYNS Penelope RSA Atlanta (USA) 21 JUL 1996
Event No: 9
Rank Heat Lane Name NOC R.T. 50m Time Time
Behind
1 1 4 JONES Leisel AUS 0.74 31.74 1:06.78
35.04 OR
2 1 5 POEWE Sarah GER 0.71 31.98 1:07.48
35.50 0.70
3 2 5 KIRK Tara USA 0.71 31.79 1:07.60
35.81 0.82
4 2 4 HANSON Brooke AUS 0.77 32.02 1:07.75
35.73 0.97
5 2 3 BEARD Amanda USA 0.73 32.43 1:07.92
35.49 1.14
6 1 6 BONDARENKO Svitlana UKR 0.89 32.71 1:08.28
35.57 1.50
7 1 3 LUO Xuejuan CHN 0.71 32.29 1:08.57
36.28 1.79
8 2 6 QI Hui CHN 0.81 32.60 1:09.06
36.46 2.28
9 1 2 TANAKA Masami JPN 0.79 32.90 1:09.11
36.21 2.33
10 2 7 KOVACS Agnes HUN 0.79 32.37 1:09.12
36.75 2.34
11 2 1 van OOSTEN Lauren CAN 0.77 33.18 1:09.45
36.27 2.67
12 2 2 LEIER Rhiannon CAN 0.81 32.53 1:09.46
36.93 2.68
13 1 7 BERNHARDT Vipa GER 0.75 33.03 1:09.72
36.69 2.94
14 1 1 JUKIC Mirna AUT 0.77 33.26 1:10.06
36.80 3.28
15 2 8 BOGOMAZOVA Elena RUS 0.84 33.22 1:10.41
37.19 3.63
16 1 8 BOGGIATTO Chiara ITA 0.82 33.59 1:10.84
37.25
Results: 2004 Olympic Games
