World Championships: Manaudou Blasts Field for Gold in 400 Free

By John Lohn

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 24. RARELY at the international level, especially a World Championships, does an athlete absolutely obliterate the competition. Yet, that is exactly what happened in the women's 400 freestyle, and it came courtesy of France's Laure Manaudou. Really, though, should it have come as a surprise? After all, Manaudou has taken the event to new heights.

Bolting to a one-plus second lead after the first 50 meters, Manaudou continued to open her lead with every lap and left no doubt as to her dominance. She finished the race in 4:02.61, better than her championship record from prelims and not far off her world record of 4:02.13. The swim goes down as the second-fastest in history and gives Manaudou the three-fastest times ever produced.

For nearly two decades, Janet Evans' 4:03.85 was the standard in the event, and the fact that Manaudou has slashed more than a second off that mark is a clear indication that she competes in a world of her own. She covered the 200 in 1:58.69, a time that actually would have earned the silver medal at the 2005 World Champs in the open 200 event.

"It was a little disappointing in the final because it has been my dream to swim in front of Australia," Manaudou said. "So it was disappointing not to get the record, but I still won. I will try for the record next year."

Lost in Manaudou's brilliance, and there's likely more to come, was the silver-medal effort of Poland's Otylia Jedrzejczak. Seriously injured in a car accident last year that claimed the life her brother, Jedrzejczak went 4:04.23 to move to No. 3 on the all-time performer list. The time is the fifth-fastest ever, better only by Manaudou's three swims and Evans.

Japan's Ai Shibata held on for the bronze medal in 4:05.19, but was pushed to the limit by the United States' Katie Hoff. Coming off a semifinal in the 200 individual medley, Hoff was timed in 4:05.65, ahead of Italy's Federica Pellegrini (4:05.79) and American Kate Ziegler (4:06.99). The field was rounded out by Great Britain's Jo Jackson (4:07.42) and Aussie Linda Mackenzie (4:07.64).

Click Here to view event results PDF file.

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