Ahmed Akram of Egypt continued to have a successful week at the All-Africa Games in Brazzaville, winning the 200 fly and 1500 freestyle. Teammate Farida Osman was also a winner, taking a meet record in the 50 free.
Akram started the session in a close battle with South Africa’s Devon Brown in the 200 butterfly. Akram had the lead by more than a second at the 150-meter mark, but started to fade at the end, allowing Brown to make a move in the closing meters. Akram’s time of 1:58.87 is a lifetime best, breaking his own national record of 1:59.70 from 2013. Brown was second in 1:59.28, while Egypt’s Ahmed Hamdy helped boost Egypt’s medal count with a 2:01.54 for the bronze medal.
Though he has a lifetime best of 14:53.66 in the 1500 free from last month’s world championships (where he placed fourth), Akram coasted to an easy victory in the mile today in the Congo with a 15:11.68. This marks the debut of the men’s 1500 free at the All-Africa Games, so Akram’s time will stand as the new championship record. In the absence of 1500 Olympic champion Ous Mellouli, Tunisia’s Ahmed Mathlouthi was able to secure a silver medal with a 15:30.35. South Africa’s Brent Szurdoki was third in 15:35.48.
As for Osman, she won 50 free gold with a 25.12. It broke the meet record of 25.49 that she swam in prelims, which had broken Karin Prinsloo’s mark of 25.84 from 2011. Osman was just a bit off her national record of 24.92 that she swam earlier this year that also stands as the continental record.
Prinsloo captured the silver medal in the 50 free with a 25.79, while Egypt’s Rowan Elbadry was third with a 26.04.
Kirsty Coventry sailed to a win in the 200 IM with a 2:16.05 to mark her third-straight All-African title in the event. South Africa’s Marlies Ross couldn’t keep up with the pace, finishing second with a 2:17.57. Rene Warnes made it a South African 2-3 finish with a 2:18.98.
South Africa managed a 1-2 finish in the men’s 100 back, with Richard Ellis taking the win by the slimmest margin in 55.83. David De Villiers settled for second at the finish with a 55.84, while early leader Mohamed Samy of Egypt faded to third with a 56.31.
Egypt stopped South Africa’s winning streak in the relays at the meet with a gold in the mixed 400 medley relay. Samy, Youssef Elkamash, Osman and Elbadry clocked a time of 3:56.04, while Prinsloo’s 54.81 freestyle leg wasn’t enough to give South Africa the victory and they took silver with a 3:56.27. Zimbabwe was third with a 4:00.78.
2015 All-Africa Games, Day 5 – Results