Mireia Belmonte Powers To First In 200 Fly Finals; Earns Spain’s First Gold Ever In 200 Fly

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Photo Courtesy: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY Sports

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Women’s 200 Fly FINAL:

Madeline Groves of Australia jumped to an early lead in finals of the 200 butterfly, leading by 3/4 of a body length at the 50-meter mark. But Spain’s Mireia Belmonte refused to let Groves out of her sight, however, quickly gaining on her at the 100 and pulling ahead by the 150-meter mark. Belmonte, the short course record holder in this event and the silver medalist in 2012, never let up, powering home in a 2:04.85 to claim her first Olympic gold medal and the first Olympic gold for Spain in this event.

Groves gained on Belmonte in the final 25-meters but was unable to top her, stopping just .03 seconds behind with a 2:04.88. The pair came into the finish together, and while Belmonte extended for the wall, Groves chopped her finish, and it cost her.

Japan’s Natsumi Hoshi could not back up the World title she won in the event last year, but she delivered a powerful back-half to gain on the two leaders and win bronze with a time of 2:05.20.

Swimming in lane eight Cammile Adams of the USA gave the race everything she had, moving up to a fourth place finish and personal best of 2:05.90. With the performance, Adams passed the legendary Mary T. Meagher on the all-time list and now ranks fourth in the event among Americans, trailing Mary Descenza, Kathleen Hersey and Misty Hyman.

The Chinese duo of Zhou Yilin and Zhang Yufei finished fifth and sixth with times of 2:07.37 and 2:07.40 respectively.

The USA’s Hali Flickinger turned in a seventh place finish of 2:07.71, just ahead of Australia’s Brianna Throssell (2:07.87).

Full results are available here.

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Bill Bell

7 years ago

Spain’s firs woman’s gold all- time and second overall. Martin Zubero, a former Florida Gator All- America/NCAA 200 back champion, won that race @ Barcelona in 1992 for Spain’s only men’s gold.

Twelve years earlier @ Moscow Martin’s older brother David won silver in the 100 fly. David was also a Gator but never won NCAAs. A third Zubero, sister Julie, also swam for Florida and .all three were former Bolles swimmers too.