Chinese Team Takes First Gold in Athens Short-course
The Chinese swimming team won its first gold medal on March 17, the second day of the 5th World Short-Course Swimming Championships that is being held in the Greek capital of Athens.
China's first gold came after Chen Hua set a new championships record in the fast heat of the women's 800-meter free, easily clocking 8:17.03 minutes. On Thursday, Hao Ping of China finished second in the women's 50-meter breaststroke with 31.22 while the Chinese women's team won the bronze in the 4x200 freestyle with 7:52.70.
Five more world records and four more championships records were broken Friday. Sweden's Lars Frolander set a new world record in the men's 100-meter butterfly with 50.44 while his colleague, Therese Alshammar, broke the world record in the women's 100-meter free with 52.17. Other world records were set by Gordan Kozulj of Croatia in the men's 200-meter backstroke with 1:53.31, Roman Sloudnov from Russia in the men's 100-meter breaststroke semi-finals with 58.51 and the U.S. men's team in the 4x200-meter relay free with 7:01.33.
The championships records were set by Jenny Thompson of the United States in the women's 50-meter butterfly with 26.13, Neil Walker, also from the United States, in the semi-finals of men's 100-meter medley with 53.27 and Mark Foster of Britain in the semi-finals of the men's 50-meter free with 21.43.
Australia's Rebecca Brown won the gold in the women's 200-meter breaststroke with 2:23.41, and the three other golds were won by Sandra Voelker of Germany in the women's 100-meter backstroke with 58.66, Mark Foster in the men's 50-meter free with 21.58, and Chad Carvin of the United States in the men's 400-meter free with 3:41,13.
The Athens Swimming Championships will last four days with the participation of more than 540 swimmers among 77 countries.
The Chinese swimming team won its first gold medal on March 17, the second day of the 5th World Short-Course Swimming Championships that is being held in the Greek capital of Athens.
