Paul Biedermann and Katinka Hosszu Impress On Day Two of Golden Tour

Paul Biedermann
Photo Courtesy: Pamela Roberts

Paul Biedermann and Katinka Hosszu, both ranked at the top of the world in their respective events, stole the show from the host country on the second day of the French Golden Tour stop in Nancy.

Hosszu earned three wins on a tough day of racing. Her first event of the day was the 1500 freestyle, where she had the lead over France’s Coralie Balmy for 500 meters before falling off the pace. Balmy won the event with a 16:20.78 while Hosszu comfortably placed second with a 16:36.43. Hosszu’s first win came with a 1:00.48 in the 100 backstroke, about a second slower than the time she swam at the Arena Pro Swim Series last week to win there. The competition in Nancy wasn’t as stiff, with Theodora Drakou of Greece placing second with a 1:02.77 and Camille Gheorghiu right behind with a 1:02.78. Hosszu let Adeline Martin take the lead in the first 150 meters of the 200 breast final, then turned on the gas in the final stretch to win with a 2:29.12 over Martin’s 2:29.69.

Hosszu couldn’t match the pace Charlotte Bonnet set in the 200 free final, where Bonnet put up a 1:56.89 to come very close to her ninth-ranked 1:56.86 from the French nationals. Hosszu was still impressive with a 1:58.60 in her fourth race of the meet.

Though not as fast as she has swum multiple times this year, Hosszu wrapped up her day with a 4:40.96 in the 400 IM to complete 2200 meters of racing in a span of two hours. She’s been faster this year with a 4:35.19 from last week’s Arena Pro Swim Series, but that was after much less racing. Evelyn Verraszto, racing for Hungary but training in France, was second with a 4:45.17, just ahead of the 4:45.90 by Germany’s Franziska Hentke.

Biedermann, on a bit of a career resurgence after a few years of missing international podiums, put on an impressive performance in the 200 free. The German world record holder in the event, Biedermann nearly even-split his race, 53.20-54.22, to post a 1:47.42. While it’s two seconds slower than his world-leading 1:45.60 from last month’s German nationals, it’s still a fine swim. Mehdy Metella, known mostly for his sprint freestyle and butterfly prowess branched out to the longer event and placed second with a respectable 1:49.99.

Metella earned another runner-up finish in the 50 butterfly behind countryman Florent Manaudou. The two were the only swimmers under 24 seconds, with Manaudou winning in 23.75 to Metella’s 23.88. Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev was third with a 24.01.

Germany had another strong performance among the men’s team as Marco Koch posted his fastest swim of the season in the 200 breast with a 2:09.68. It’s just a bit faster than the 2:09.72 he swam last month at the German nationals, and keeps him firmly ranked ninth in the world. Koch’s teammate Christian von Lehm nearly beat his season best of 2:11.13, placing second with a 2:11.95. Hungary’s David Verraszto was third with a 2:13.35 and Luxembourg’s Laurent Carnol was fourth in 2:15.18, relegating Quentin Coton to fifth with a 2:15.35 as the top-placing Frenchman.

Verraszto returned in his best event, the 400 IM, and put the field away with a 4:15.26. Jeremy Desplanches was a distant second with a 4:20.51, while Germany’s Kevin Wedel took third with a 4:23.40.

Jeremy Stravius had no peer in the men’s 100 back final, winning by a second with a 53.96 over the 55.05 by Germany’s Christian Diener. France’s Eddie Moueddene (55.81) and Germany’s Carl Louis Schwarz (55.98) also dipped under 56 seconds in the final.

Melanie Henique nearly eclipsed her season best in the 50 butterfly final with a 26.29. She’s ranked 12th in the world with a 26.17 from the French nationals. Marie Wattel’s 26.91 was good for second, while Anna Ntountounaki of Greece took third with a 27.02. Hosszu swam this event in prelims and was seeded second with a 27.11, but scratched from finals.

2015 Golden Tour, Nancy – Day 2 – Results

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