Seebohm and Groves win gold on day one of Fina World Cup in Moscow
Swimming Australia, August 12, 2015: World champion Emily Seebohm has continued on her winning ways on the opening day of the Fina World Cup in Moscow overnight – just days after her triumphant World Championship campaign in Kazan.
The 23-year-old won gold in the 50m backstroke and silver in the 200m backstroke - beaten by 16-year-old Russian rising star Daria Ustinova.
Seebohm snatched the 50m gold in a slick 27.90 secs, out-touching Mie Nielsen of Denmark who was 0.15 seconds behind Seebohm in 28.05 with Ustinova taking bronze in 28.52.
But it was Ustinova’s time to turn the tables on the world champion, with the teenager clocking 2:08.21 to Seebohm’s 2:09.61 in the 200m final in front of her home crowd.
The Ukraine’s Daryna Zevina rounded out the podium in 2:11.78.
Seebohm’s fellow Queensland member of the Australian Dolphins, Maddie Groves came from behind to secure a golden dead-heat in a thrilling finish to the 100m butterfly final with the USA’s Claire Donahue with the pair inseparable in 58.08.
Donahue was ahead with 10 metres to go, but as they approached the wall it looked as though Groves moved past her. By getting every inch out of her touch, Donahue managed to hold on for the tie with the young Australian.
Russian Natalie Lovtcova finished third behind the two winners with a time of 58.42.
Meanwhile 2012 Olympic bronze medallist over 200m freestyle, Bronte Barratt, took the silver behind Hungary’s “Iron Lady” Katinka Hosszu in the 200m freestyle.
Hosszu led from start to finish to clock 1:56.83, with Barratt winning the silver in 1:57.15 and American Melanie Margalis the bronze in 1:58.30.
After finishing second in the 100m backstroke to Australia’s Mitch Larkin in Kazan, 50m world champion Camille Lacourt of France won the 100m gold in 53.44 from Grigory Tarasevich (Russia) in 54.01. He just narrowly out-touched Quah Zheng Wen of Singapore (54.03) with Australia’s Josh Beaver fourth in 54.30.
In other results, The Sunshine Coast’s 2012 Olympian Tessa Wallace (1:08.35) was fifth in the 100m breaststroke won by the USA’s Katie Meili in 1:06.68
Miami’s 4x200m freestyle relay silver medallist from Kazan, Dan Smith finished seventh in the 100m freestyle final in 49.84, in an event won by South African Olympic butterfly champion Chad e Clos in 48.16.
Southport’s David Morgan finished fifth in the 200m butterfly final in 2:00.74, with Denmark’s Viktor Bromer claiming gold in 1:55.03.
And in the women’s 50m freestyle final, Sasha Touretski (swimming for Switzerland) the teenage daughter of former Russian and AIS and Australian coach Gennadi Touretski finished fifth in 25.60 to Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen (24.62).
The 12-strong Australian team will line up for day two of the World Cup, swum over long course for the first time, before travelling to Paris for th4 second leg on the weekend, where they will be joined by dual 1500m freestyle gold medallist Grant Hackett.
Hackett has entered both the 200 and 400m freestyle as he kick starts his Rio Olympic Trials campaign.
Issued on behalf of Swimming Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
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