Swimming Roundup: Four Universiade Records Bettered as China Pull off Two Golds

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 25, 2003

Swimming Roundup: Four Universiade Records Bettered as China Pull off Two Golds

Four games records werebettered on Sunday at the 22nd World University Games as China clinched two golds from swimming pool.

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Chinese Ouyang Wins Men's 200m Backstroke at Universiade

Four games records werebettered on Sunday at the 22nd World University Games as China clinched two golds from swimming pool.

World champion Luo Xuejuan sprinted to the first swimming gold for China as she grabbed the women's 50m breaststroke title in 31.39 seconds, beating Australian Jade Edmistone in 31.74 while American Ashley Roby finished third in 31.92.

Luo, crowned with 50m and 100m as well as 4x100m medley relay titles at the Barcelona world championships last month, looked unbeatable as she eased to finish well within the Games record in 31.15 in the morning heats.

The Universiade record for this event was 32.12 set by Tara Kirk of the United States.

Four Universiade Records Bettered as China Pull off Two Golds

"It is my first time to compete as a college student, which makes my gold very special," said the 19-year-old.

"I am pleased with her performance tonight as she overcame the injury to win,"said Chinese team coach Zhang Yadong.

"I thought she would have broken the world record judging from the morning heats, but her injury stopped her from doing better," said Zhang.

Luo suffers a minor waist injury and had to receive treatment right before the competition.

Ouyang Kunpeng pulled off the second swimming gold for China ashe triumphed in the men's 200m backstroke in a Universiade record breaking time of one minute 59.17 seconds.

"It was unexpected for me," said the delighted Ouyang, who was a semifinalist at the Barcelona worlds.

"I was on vacation after the world championships and started preparation for the Universiade only a week before,"said the Universiade debutant.

Japanese Nakano Takashi finished second in 2:01.60 while Christian De Jong was third in 2:01.63.

Commonwealth double titlist Rebecca Cooke of Britain outclassedAsian Games champion Chen Hua to bag the women's 800m freestyle gold.

Cooke pulled off the victory in 8:28.49 as Chen finished in 8:35.70. Olga Beresnyeva of Ukraine took bronze in 8:36.66.

"I was aware that Chen was a tough opponent and I was hoping towin,"said Cooke, who will also compete in the 400m freestyle.

"I am really pleased," said she.

Japanese swimmer Matsuda Takeshi broke another Universiade record in one minute 57.44 seconds as he claimed the men's 200m butterfly, the first event of the night.

The silver went to Serhiy Advena of Ukraine in 1:58.74 while Bahamas' Jeremy Knowles took the bronze 1:59.21.

"He did really well,"Japanese team coach Kuze Yumiko said of her gold medalist, who won a bronze in the 200m butterfly in the national championships this year.

"He was choked once in the last length which slowed him down, but he still won," said Kuze.

Russian Winter Championship winner Sergey Gerasimov created a new games record in the men's 200m breaststroke, winning with 2:13.78, beating the old mark by 0.99 seconds made by his fellow countryman Alexandr Tkatchev in 1995.

French relay team won the first gold for their country in this Universiade as they charged to the women's 4x100m freestyle relay in 3:45.50, followed by the United States in 3:45.68. China came third in 3:47.50.

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