Fedrica Pellegrini made her presence known with a thunderous world-ranked swim at the 2015 French Open in Vichy. Pellegrini and a host of other international heavyweights including Katinka Hosszu and Cesar Cielo are competing in the meet, drawing the attention of the swimming universe.
Pellegrini clocked the third fastest time in the world in the women’s 200-meter free with her jaw-dropping 1:55.00. She vaulted into first place in the women’s 200-meter free after entering finals as the second seed to Katinka Hosszu. The Italian star came home in a 29.01 en route to to top Hosszu, who had the lead at the 150-meter mark. Hosszu took second in 1:56.11, while Charlotte Bonnet came in third in 1:57.64.
Andrey Govorov won an exciting race in the men’s 50-meter fly ahead of Cesar Cielo. Govorov’s 23.37 was just enough to get by Cielo, who posted a 23.44. France’s Florent Manaudou finished right behind Cielo for third place in 23.45.
Cameron Van Der Burgh swam a 27.09 to win the men’s 50-meter breast, finishing ahead of Damir Dugonjic (27.44) and George Richard Bovell (27.57).
Vicktoria Guenes took gold in the women’s 100-meter breast in 1:08.50. Laura Sogar finished a close second with a 1:08.56, while Giulia De Ascentis wound up third in 1:09.13.
In the women’s 100-meter fly, Great Britain’s Rachael Kelly (58.67) narrowly defeated French National Team member Marie Wattel (58.87). Wattel was actually ahead at the halfway point, but Kelly stormed back on the final lap to pull out the victory. Kimberly Buys took third in 59.40.
Arkady Vyatchanin fended off two French National Teamers to win the men’s 100-meter back in 54.23. Camille Lacourt and Jérémy Stravius swam a 54.40 and 54.80, respectively, to get second and third.
Great Britain’s Georgia Davies (27.95) and Francesca Halsall (28.20) took first and second in the women’s 50-meter back. Alicja Tchorz of Poland swam a 28.66 to get third.
Jan Switkowski won the men’s 200-meter fly with a 1:56.55. Markus Gierke, the only other swimmer to break two minutes, finished second in 1:57.61. Jonatan Batcha made the podium with a 2:01.22.
Katinka Hosszu dominated the women’s 200-meter IM with a 2:10.22 victory. Viktoria Guenes (2:13.93) and Fantine Lesaffre (2:15.66) trailed Hosszu to take second and third.
Filip Zaborowski took the men’s 400-meter free in 3:51.72 just ahead of France’s Jordan Pothain (3:51.95) and Andrea-Mitchell D’Arrigo (3:51.96).
Halsall was the only competitor under 25 seconds in the women’s 50-meter free with a 24.65. Anna Santamans silvered with a 25.01, while Anna Dowgiert took third in 25.51.
In the men’s 200-meter breast, Marco Koch crushed the field with a 2:08.98. Lennard Bremer was a distant second in 2:13.93, and Maik Ludtke finished third in 2:15.79.
Mehdy Metella won a tight race in the women’s 100-meter freestyle. Her 49.01 was simply a hair better than Pawel Korzeniowski‘s 49.21 and Shinri Shiouria‘s 49.25.
It took an 8:42.47 from Tjasa Oder to win the women’s 800-meter free. Gaja Natlacen hit an 8:44.87 to take second and Ophélie-Cyrielle Etienne finished third in 8:45.54.
I believe that should read 50 fly instead of 50 free.. I was a little worried for these gents