Streamlined News: Sette Colli Day One; Americans Lose to Italy in Water Polo; Diver Hits Head


PHOENIX, Arizona, June 14. A few Olympic medal hopefuls were the stars of today's swimming at the Sette Colli, or Seven Hills, meet in Rome. Most of today's races were decided by tenths of seconds. Cesar Cielo had a big challenge on his hands in the 50 free with France's Florent Manaudou, winning the splash and dash by a hundredth of a second in 22.17. Cielo's Brazilian teammate Bruno Fratus, who is second in the world in the 50, tied for fifth in the final with a 22.37.

The top three in the women's 50 free finished within three tenths of each other. Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands was first with a 24.21, ahead of Sweden's Therese Alshammar and Dutch star Marleen Veldhuis.

Fabio Scozzoli and Cameron van der Burgh went 2-3 in the 100 breast at the world championships, and the two met up again today, with van der Burgh winning this time in 1:00.39. Scozzoli finished in 1:00.43. Also of note, Ryo Tateishi of Japan, the world's second-fastest swimmer in this event this year, was fifth in the race with a 1:01.18.

Chad Le Clos gave South Africa another reason to cheer today, as he beat a couple of established sprint butterflyers in the 100 fly today. Le Clos touched in 52.51, just a couple of tenths over world championship silver medalist Konrad Czerniak and Olympic finalist Jason Dunford.

Federica Pellegrini went a 4:06.03 in the 400 free final, a tenth ahead of Denmark's Lotte Friis. Pellegrini's time is just three tenths off her best time of the season.

Ous Mellouli, fresh off his Olympic qualifying swim in the 10K just four days ago, couldn't beat the Italians in the 400, finishing third in 3:51.73, just a hundredth behind Andrea D'Arrigo and more than two seconds behind Gabriele Detti.

Over in Kazhakstan, the American men's water polo team suffered its first loss at the FINA World League Super Final today. Italy was able to overcome the USA's 3-2 lead after the first quarter and outscore the Americans 5-2 in the final three quarters. With this being preliminary group play, the loss does not mean the Americans are out of the tournament, but they will have to win against the Australians tomorrow in the quarterfinals if they want to advance.

Canadian diver Alexandre Despatie will spend about three weeks off the boards after hitting his head during a training session in Barcelona before a competition there. Despatie is still hopeful about attending his fourth Olympics, even tweeting his intentions shortly after doctors stitched the 10-centimeter wound on his head. The injury took place while doing an inward three-and-a-half somersault, a very routine dive for Despatie. News reports say he lost his balance and couldn't recover in time to miss the board. Despatie has won the silver medal in the individual springboard event at the past two Olympics. The diving competition begins August 6 in London.

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