Spain’s Mireia Belmonte-Garcia made a huge thump at the 2010 short course World Championships in Dubai with three individual golds and one individual silver medal. Since then, the swimming world has been waiting longingly for her in a 50-meter course, but the Spaniard has been largely absent.
But now it seems, at 21-years old, she is finding that physical maturity to excel in the long-course races, as shown off at this week’s Spanish Spring Open Nationals/Olympic Trials.
After first winning the 800 free on Thursday in an 8:25, she roared back for two more titles on Friday. The first came in the session-opening 200 IM, where she swam a 2:10.53 to land just a few tenths off of her own National Record. That’s the third-best time in the world in 2012.
Behind her in that race was 18-year old Beatriz Gomez in 2:12.26, which also clears the FINA “A” standard and puts a second entry through to the Olympics and is a best time. The Spanish meet have had a great week so far, and will be looking to turn that into another great week this summer. These two should really put on a show in the 400 IM later in the meet.
Bookending the session, Belmonte-Garcia came back and broke the Spanish National Record with a 1:57.58, clearing the old mark held by Melania Costa-Schmid at 1:57.83. This shows that Belmonte is starting to click full-bore on the long course, which shows what huge changes can come about with Olympic motivation. The question will be which events she chooses to hold onto for London, and how well she can step-up and perform in the spotlight.
For the champion, that’s her lifetime best by almost exactly two seconds in the event. With Costa-Schmid placing 2nd in 1:58.15, Patricia Ortega 3rd in 1:58.79, and the lesser-known Lydia Morant in 4th in 1:59.70, the Spanish suddenly have what looks like at the least a strong Olympic-finalists 800 free relay.
Florida-Gator freshman Eduardo Solaeche Gomez also had a nice day, winning the 200 IM in 2:01.37. That’s a best time and a good recovery after having a less-than-spectacular NCAA Championship meet last weekend. While that won’t get him to London, at least not without special blessing of the federation (it wasn’t a FINA ‘A’ time), between him and the runner-up Albert Puig (2:01.39 – a new Spanish Junior Record, and just .02 behind), the hopes for the Spanish men headed towards Rio in 2016 look very bright.
Belarus’ Aliaksandra Herasimenia, known best for her sprint freestyle and backstroke prowess, is adding a serious 100 fly to the mix as well. She won in a Meet Record time of 58.09 – that’s a full second faster than her previous best that was set last season. It’s amazing that she hasn’t been better than a 2:21 in the 200 IM ever, though in fairness that time was swum in 2006, just after returning from a doping ban. It would be great to see her give the medley a shot at least once between now and London.
In the men’s 100 fly, Rafael Munoz, long hailed as one of the great tragedies of the rubber-suit era, is starting to swim well in textile. He touched in 52.49, the fastest he’s ever been in textile. Still, this time will leave him just a tenth shy of the Olympic Team (he was painfully left out of Worlds last year).
And finally, Paraguayan Benjamin Hockin swam a 1:47.79 that is the fastest time of his career. Hockin is the swimmer who infamously changed his sporting nationality after setting British National Records, and then failed to tell anybody about it. He earned himself a hefty suspension, but is now back and swimming extremely well. He trains now in Spain and this swim gives him a lifetime best and a new Paraguayan Record, as well as a FINA “A” time.
