Swimming events took place most of the Olympic night from Tuesday to Wednesday, July 28 in Tokyo. As a reminder, French Maxime Grost qualified for the 200-meter freestyle final and Ariarn Titmus won over the same distance between the women.
Grost will have his say
Maxime Gross will play his first singles final at the Olympics. The 22-year-old won his place among the world’s best 100m freestyle on Wednesday, July 28. Fifth in the semi-finals, dominated by the monster Caeleb Dressel at 47”23, had to wait for the result of the other series, which was flown by Kolesnikov at 47”11 (world’s best performer of the year), in order to know what his future would be.
Everything was played to small details, but his time at 47”82, eighth in the series, allowed him to secure his last ticket to the distance final in Tokyo, which will take place on Wednesday night on Thursday (4:37 am). French time). “It turned out to be nothing at all. There are many disappointments and I am not one of them. I’m really happy to reach the Olympic finalThe native of Noumea, who was already impatient to take the fight, rejoiced.
Another French swimmer entered the competition, but there would be no final with Antoine Vickert. Over the 200-meter pectoral, he only posted the fastest time 12 times in the semi-finals at 2’09’97.
Weak for Titmus, out for your hands
Katie Ledecky’s revenge was eagerly awaited. Coming to Tokyo for an unprecedented four-way attempt (200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m), the American was defeated in the 400m freestyle final by Australian Ariarn Titmus. Defeating the Queen at the Olympics was an insult, so what do we say when it happens for the second time in a row? On the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, Titmus recovered by winning the gold medal in the 200-meter freestyle by a wide margin over Ledecky.
When the former won the Olympic record at 1’53”50, the other was never around, settling into an unusual fifth at 1’55”21. The money went to Siobhan Hoogey of Hong Kong, bronze to Canadian Penny Oleksiak. Note that the Italian Federica Pellegrini, who was playing her fifth Olympic final at this distance, was satisfied with the seventh place.
Frowning after Melak’s coronation
Behind the mask, Ariarn Titmus let tears of joy shine through at the time of the Australian anthem. But don’t ask Christoph Melak to do that. The Hungarian, who flew over the 200-meter butterfly final more than two seconds ahead of his nearest rival, remained conservative in the final. Clinging to his waterline, staring into space, he wasn’t at all happy with himself.
After breaking his own world record (1’50”73, set in Gwangju in 2019), Milak finally came in behind with a time of 1’51’25. In the stands, two of his coaches grabbed their heads in their hands before hitting a wall in disappointment.
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