FFN Golden Tour Camille Muffat – Amiens
- Dates: Friday, February 5 – Sunday, February 7, 2016
- Prelims 9 am GMT+1 (3 am EST/12 am PST); finals 5 pm on Friday and Saturday (11 am EST/8 am PST), 3:30 pm on Sunday (9:30 am EST/6:30 am PST)
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Day One of the FFN’s Golden Tour Camille Muffat in Amiens produced several very close finals and five Golden Tour records. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) won the women’s 50 fly with 25.37, the second-fastest time in the world so far this season, and a new record for the Golden Tour. Sjostrom put up the world’s leading time in January at the Swedish Grand Prix in Malmo, with 25.24. French record-holder Mélanie Henique was runner-up in 26.02.
Katinka Hosszu (HUN) eclipsed her own world #1 time in the 400 IM, winning the event in 4:32.25 for a new Golden Tour record. Hosszu also won the 800 free (8:31.43) and 1500 free (16:58.04), and was an A-finalist in the 50 back, 50 breast, and 50 fly during the final session.
It was an all-international podium in the 50 back, as Russia’s Anastasiia Fesikova edged Sjostrom, 28.10 to 28.39 for the win. Daryna Zevina of Ukraine was third in 28.74. The French women made their presence known in the 50 breast, though, with Adeline Williams (31.89) getting the win over countrywomen Charlotte Bonnet (32.08) and Solène Gallego (32.61).
French national record-holder Camille Lacourt took down another Golden Tour mark when he won the men’s 50 back in 24.67. It was his second GT record of the day, having first broke it in prelims with 24.83. Florent Manaudou had placed second in prelims with 24.95 but did not contest the final. Russia’s Sergei Feskiov (25.69) and France’s Benjamin Stasiulis (25.79) completed the 50 back podium.
Félipe Lima (BRA) out-touched Giacomo Perez Dortona (FRA) and Ross Murdoch (GBR) in a thrilling 50 breast final. Lima broke the Golden Tour record with his 27.74 finish, while Perez Dortona and Murdoch tied for second in 27.87.
Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR) and France’s Damien Joly ended the evening’s session with perhaps the most exciting race of the night. Anyone who left early missed out on a terrific battle in the men’s 800 free. Joly was out first and maintained a slight lead over Romanchuk through the 300. From there, the Ukrainian took over but Joly never let himself get a body length behind. Joly gradually pulled even by the 700, then flipped first at the 750 wall. The two battled stroke for stroke over the final 50 meters, and when the waves settled, Romanchuk got both the victory and the Golden Tour record, winning 7:55.57 to 7:55.62.
Frédérick Bousquet (FRA) earned a huge victory in the 50 fly, outpacing the field by more than a half second in his best performance since 2013. Bousquet won with 23.54, ahead of Marseille teammates Mehdy Metella (24.09) and Anthony Ralefy (24.64). Bousquet wrote on his Facebook page after the race, “Super happy with my win in the 50 fly tonight in 23.54. My best time since 2013, it feels great!!”
Ediz Yildirimer of Turkey won the men’s 1500 free with 15:48.86 and David Verraszto of Hungary dominated the men’s 400 IM in 4:17.34.
For all those people who think DiRado can beat Hosszu in the 400IM in Rio, think again. Hosszu will win gold and break the WR.
4.32.25 in the 400 im for Hosszu 20 minutes after an 8.31 in the 800 free..by now we’re getting accustomed, but remains a terrific effort.
The Iron Lady is working on her endurance (another meet she has swum 800, 1500 free and 400 im in the same session) and who hopes to defeat her in the 400 im at Rio will have to dip well under 4.30..