[ad_1]
This news has been read 2 times!
Paris, July 30 (Xinhua) — French teenage swimmers Summer McIntosh and David Popovich won gold medals in their respective events at the Paris Olympics, living up to their reputation as future stars.
In the evening’s first medal match at the La Défense Arena, McIntosh outclassed her opponents to win the women’s 400m individual medley final.
The Canadian athlete led from start to finish and won the gold medal in 4 minutes 27.71 seconds. American Kelly Grimes won the silver medal in 4 minutes 33.40 seconds, and her compatriot Emma Weyant won the bronze medal in 4 minutes 34.93 seconds.
“I just wanted to make Team Canada proud and set the tone,” McIntosh said. “I didn’t realize I was in the lead until the breaststroke, and then I knew I was in the lead in the last 100 meters. It was an amazing feeling.” The 17-year-old, who holds the world record in the event, said she is not afraid to perform on the Olympic stage.
“It’s always fun and it pushes my body to its limits,” she said of her first Olympic title. “I try to take each event individually. I try not to go too high or too low.” Popovich also won the men’s 200m freestyle final to claim his first Olympic gold medal. The 19-year-old, already a double world champion, touched the wall in 1 minute 44.72 seconds, just two hundredths of a second faster than Britain’s Matthew Richards.
American Luke Hobson won the bronze medal with a time of 1:44.79.
Germany’s Lukas Martens won gold in the men’s 400m freestyle on Saturday after leading early but losing ground in the final 50m and finishing sixth.
“I feel great,” Popovich said. “It’s great to be here. There are so many Romanians in the audience. It’s beautiful, it’s a dream come true. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s so simple, yet so beautiful.” Popovich has been hailed as a future star since winning gold medals in the 100 and 200 freestyle at the world championships in Budapest two years ago.
Five gold medals were to be decided that night, with South Africa’s Tatyana Smith powering through the women’s 100m breaststroke final to take home the title.
Smith, a silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, overtook China’s Tang Qianting in the final 10 meters and touched the wall in 1:05.28. Tang Qianting won the silver medal in 1:05.54, while Ireland’s Mona McSharry won the bronze medal in 1:05.59.
“I’ll turn my phone off,” said Smith, 27. “I don’t know, I think everybody’s just proud. Even if I didn’t win a medal, they’d be proud. That’s what I’m grateful for, really just the people in my life, they’ve been so supportive.” Italy’s Thomas Cecon won the men’s 100-meter backstroke final to give Italy its second swimming gold medal of the Olympics.
Sekong finished in 52.0 seconds, more than a third of a second faster than second-placed Xu Jiayu of China. American veteran Ryan Murphy took the bronze medal in 52.39 seconds.
“I’m emotional,” said Sekon. “It’s strange for me. I was emotional even before the race because it’s a strong emotion. To be in an Olympic final is not something everyone can say. It’s an honour.” In the final race of the day, Molly O’Callaghan fought hard to win the women’s 200m freestyle final to win Australia’s third pool gold medal of the Games.
O’Callaghan set an Olympic record with a time of 1 minute 53.27 seconds, more than half a second faster than compatriot and defending champion Ariana Titmus, who took the silver medal.
Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong, China, the silver medalist in the event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, took the bronze in 1:54.55.
“My expectations are high. It was a great game. I always want more,” O’Callaghan said. “I just have to follow coach Dean Boxall and trust that he knows what to do and what’s best.”
This news has been read 2 times!
[ad_2]
Source link
