$\"Gian$

Therese Alshammar – Photo Courtesy: Gian Mattia Dalberto\/Lapresse<\/p><\/div>\n

Come the evening and Blume’s blast – a time only she and European champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo<\/strong> have bettered this year – was an indication if one was needed that she has no intention of relinquishing her Olympic crown in Tokyo.<\/p>\n

Melanie Henique<\/strong> was second in 24.69 with Sjostrom stopping the clock at 24.81.<\/p>\n

Alshammar’s time in Canet was quicker than the 25.78 that propelled her to her first senior individual medal in long-course waters at the 1997 European Championships<\/strong> in Seville, Spain – exactly a week after Sjostrom had celebrated her fourth birthday.<\/p>\n

Should she make the team for Tokyo – and her time on Tuesday was 0.01 outside the B cut –\u00a0 it would come 21 years after she won two silvers and a bronze at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney with her 44th birthday coming 25 days after the conclusion of the swimming programme.<\/p>\n

The 10-time European champion, who competes in the 100 free on Wednesday, trains with Sjostrom under coach Johan Wallberg.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The trio had spent 10 days training at altitude at Font Romeu<\/strong> in the Pyrenees before travelling to Canet.<\/p>\n

Florent Manaudou and Bruno Fratus Tie; Hectic For Katinka Hosszu<\/h3>\n
Florent Manaudou<\/strong>, the 2012 Olympic champion, and three-time world medallist Bruno Fratus<\/strong> tied for first place in the men’s race in 22.12 ahead of Sweden’s Bjoern Seeliger<\/strong> (22.30).<\/p>\n
Hosszu won the 200IM in 2:11.62, 25 minutes after taking the 200 back in 2:11.89.<\/p>\n
Half an hour later and the three-time Olympic champion was back in the water for the 200 free won by her fellow Hungarian Evelyn Verraszto<\/strong> in 1:59.42 with Hosszu clocking 2:00.44.<\/p>\n
Le Clos, who memorably shared silver with Michael Phelps<\/strong> and Laszlo Cseh<\/strong> at the Rio Olympics behind Joseph Schooling<\/strong>, split 24.66\/27.63 to win the 100 fly in 52.29.<\/p>\n
Mehdy Metella<\/strong>, who led by 0.02 at halfway, was second in 52.64 while\u00a0Maria Jose Mata Cocco<\/strong> of Mexico won the women’s race in 59.72<\/p>\n
Efimova won the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.98 with Erik Persson<\/strong> of Sweden taking the men’s title in 1:00.86.<\/p>\n
Zirk lowered his national 200 free record to 1:46.90, slicing 0.11 from his time of 1:47.01 set at the Monaco leg of the Mare Nostrum which had seen him book a place on the team for Tokyo.<\/p>\n
$\"pernille-blume-50-freestyle-gold-rio\"$
Pernille Blume; Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports<\/p><\/div>\n
There was a France one-three in the men’s 50 back won by Mewen Tomac<\/strong> in 25.19 ahead of European bronze medallist Hugo Gonzalez<\/strong> of Spain (25.34) and Yohann Ndoye Brouard<\/strong> (25.51).<\/p>\n
Caroline Pilhatsch<\/strong> won the women’s equivalent in 28.34.<\/p>\n
Ahmed-Ayoub Hafnaoui<\/strong> won the men’s 400 free in 3:47.81, Omar Pinzon Garcia<\/strong> headed the men’s 200 back in 2:02.79 and Jose-Paulo Lopes<\/strong> claimed the 400IM in 4:21.02.<\/p>\n
Tamila Holub<\/strong> won the women’s 800 free in 8:32.30.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
Advertising: Shop At Swim360
\n