A day after posting the fourth best time in the world this year, Nikita Konovalov finished in the heart-breaking third place in the finals of the men’s 100 fly to miss a chance to represent Russia in this event in London. It was veteran Evgeny Korotyshkin who touched the wall in first with a time of 52.07. That moves him up to a three way tie for sixth place in the world this year. It also was just enough to get by second place finisher Nikolay Skvortsov who posted a time of 52.08 which puts him eighth in the world this year.
Another exciting race transpired in the men’s 100 backstroke as Arkady Vyatchanin took the win to just out-touch runner-up Vladimir Morozov 53.91 to 53.93. Both men met the FINA A standard and will both be heading to London. Vyatchanin, who took third in this event four years ago in Beijing will look for a repeat performance this year; his time moves him up to 12th in the world. Morozov earns his first trip to the Olympics and is now ranked 13th in the world with his best events, the 50 and 100 freestyles, still to come.
Alexander Tikhonov secured his spot on the Olympic team with a win in the men’s 400 IM. His time of 4:15.24 cleared the FINA A standard by over a second. That moves him to 15th in the world this year. Taking second in the race was Dimitry Gorbunov in 4:20.88 which was well short of the time needed.
Russian national record holder Veronika Popova claimed a win in the women’s 100 free in 55.15. That time comes up just short qualifying standard but it does however meet the FINA B standard which means she could still earn a trip to the Games once FINA announces the additional qualifiers. The next three finishers are likely to also be added to the roster as members of the 400 free relay; Margarita Nesterova (55.91), Natalya Lovtchova (56.05) and Viktoria Andreeva (56.08).
The women’s 200 fly failed to produce even a FINA B standard which means the Russians will be guaranteed no representatives in this event in London. National record holder Yana Martynova decided to skip this event in favor of the 400 IM which left no top athletes to step into this event. Winner Maria Novikova touched in 2:13.55.
A good race is expected tomorrow night in the final of the men’s 200 free as Danila Izotov will lead qualifiers with a time of 1:47.96. That is just a bit short of the mark needed of 1:47.82. Right behind him are a number of swimmers also looking to break into the top two for an individual berth along with the top four looking for a relay spot. Artem Lobuzov (1:48.07), Alexander Sukhorukov (1:48.09), Nikita Lobintsev (1:48.10), Mikail Polychuk (1:48.13) and Evgeny Lagunov (1:48.27) are all looking to fight for Olympic spots tomorrow.
Yuliya Efimova posted the fifth fastest time in the world this year during the semis of the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:06.91. That time easily cleared the FINA A standard and gives her nearly a two second cushion over the field. Efimova has been training in the United States for the past few years as part of the elite breaststroke group who trains under Dave Salo at USC. The training has obviously helped propel the naturally gifted athlete into one of the top breaststrokers in the world and she will look to earn her first Olympic hardware this summer. Taking second in the semis was Daria Deeva in 1:08.81 while third went to Anastasia Chaun in 1:09.15. Both are within striking distance of the FINA A mark and will look to achieve it tomorrow night.
At last year’s world championships Anastasia Zueva failed to even reach the semifinals of the 200 backstroke. The former world champion looks to bounce back with a stellar performance this summer in London. Her time of 2:07.56 ranks her second in the world behind Belinda Hocking. Maria Gromova looks to wrap up second after her semi final time of 2:11.26 which comes up just shy of the mark needed.