Belmonte Rebounds From Gwangju With 400 IM Best Time In 2 Years

2019 FINA WORLD CUP STOP #1 – TOKYO, JAPAN

• Friday, August 2nd – Sunday, August 4th
• Tokyo, Japan
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• Day 1 Recap
• Results

Day 2 of the first stop of this year’s FINA World Cup Series taking place in Tokyo, Japan saw another intense battle in the women’s 400m IM event between Hungary’s Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu and Japan’s IM queen Yui Ohashi. But, the bronze medalist in the race was of particular significance, with Spain’s Mireia Belmonte rebounding from a rocky World Championships with a statement swim.

30-year-old Hosszu cleared the 4IM field by over 2 seconds, clocking 4:32.20 and holding off Japanese rival Yui Ohashi who hit the wall in 4:34.27.

The 2 went head-to-head in this event at the just-concluded FINA World Championships in Gwangju, Korea, where Hosszu nabbed the top prize once again, producing a time of 4:30.39. Ohashi wound up with the bronze behind China’s Ye Shiwen, with the Japanese National Record holder punching the clock in 4:32.33.

Belmonte, however, collected the bronze tonight in a time of 4:34.47, absolutely crushing the disappointing 4:42.16 she put up in Gwangju that rendered her 13th and well away from the podium.

Belmonte’s personal best rests at the 4:31.21, the Spanish National Record, which she produced at the 2013 World Championships. But, her time tonight checks-in as her fastest since 2017. She registered a time of 4:32.17 for silver behind Hosszu at the 2017 World Championships in Budapest, but her fastest since had been the 4:36.09 logged in Sabadell at this year’s Spanish Championships.

The Spaniard raced the 200m fly on day 1 here in Tokyo but mustered just a 2:14.50 to finish 16th out of the heats. It’s possible Belmonte was using that as a warm-up swim to go all-in on this 4IM today. Although, Belmonte is entered in the 200m IM and 800m free events for day 3.