Streamlined News: FINA and Underwater Judging; Olympic Open Water, Diving, Synchro, Water Polo Recaps; Highlights from US Open


PHOENIX, Arizona, August 9. FINA has announced that they will be meeting next year at the world championships to decide if they want to be able to use underwater video judging for breaststroke and possibly other events. This comes in the wake of Cameron van der Burgh's admission that he used more than one dolphin kick at the start of the men's 100 breaststroke final, as well as video footage of others swimmers using it. This could be a little cost prohibitive for some nations but we'll see how it turns out after FINA meets next year.

Eva Risztov took some time away from the sport after the 2004 Olympics, then decided to compete again, but this time in open water. The decision paid off, as the Hungarian won gold in the Olympic 10K marathon swim in one hour, 57 minutes and 38.2 seconds. Just four tenths back was American Haley Anderson, who gave the United States their first medal in open water Olympic swimming, which was introduced in 2008. Third place went to Italy's Martina Grimaldi. Great Britain's Keri-Anne Payne, who was considered the gold medal favorite, slipped to fourth halfway through the race and finished in that spot at the end. The men take to the Serpentine in Hyde Park tomorrow for their 10K swim.

Chen Ruolin is poised to win the gold for China on the women's platform later today. Chen is the defending gold medalist in this event and was dominant in yesterday's prelims and the semifinals earlier today. The Australians are in good shape to win two medals, as Brittany Broban and Melissa Wu were third and fourth after semis. Canadian Meaghan Benfeito is second. The scores from semifinals do not carry over to finals, which gives someone like Mexico's Paola Espinosa a reprieve after barely qualifying for finals. Espinosa was the bronze medalist last year at the world championships.

The United States and Spain will battle for the gold medal today in women's water polo. The U.S. won silver in 2008 and would like to upgrade that to bronze. The Spaniards are competing in their first women's water polo Olympic tournament, and they have been on fire the entire tournament. Australia and Hungary are also playing for the bronze medal today.

And Russia is flying through the synchronized swimming competition with ease, putting up the top time today in the team technical routine rounds. They'll go into the free routine tomorrow with a two-point lead over China, which in synchronized swimming is a comfortable lead.

Back here in the States, the US Open continued to be Stephanie Peacock's playground, as she blasted away the field in the 400 freestyle. Peacock's time of 4:09.31 gives her another lifetime best. Kevin Cordes broke the national age group record in the 200 breast that he set in prelims with a 2:10.92 in finals, but it wasn't enough to win. Bernard Johnson got to the finish first with a 2:10.87. And Megan Romano surprised the field in the women's 200 back, winning from lane one with a 2:09.08, which would have been fourth at the Olympic Trials. And a great battle ensued in the men's 200 back, with Jacob Pebley out-touching Jack Conger with a 1:57.57 to Conger's 1:58.14.

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