DMITRIY BALANDIN EARNS FIRST SWIMMING MEDAL FOR KAZAKHSTAN WITH OUTSIDE SMOKE
Competing in one of the outside lanes Dmitriy Balandin of Kazakhstan managed to defeat both Josh Prenot of the United States and Anton Chupkov of Russia in order to win the 200m breaststroke. In doing so Balandin became Kazakhstan’s first swimming medallist ever, taking home the gold.
Dmitriy Balandin – 2016 Rio Olympics/photo credit Simone Castrovillari
CATE CAMPBELL BREAKS OLYMPIC RECORD, PENNY OLEKSIAK DOWNS WORLD JUNIOR RECORD
Cate Campbell of Australia and Penny Oleksiak faced off in the second semifinal of the women’s 100m freestyle each coming away with some sort of record. Campbell broke the Olympic record in a time of 52.71, Oleksiak broke the Canadian and world junior record in a time of 52.72. They’re the top two qualifiers heading into tomorrow’s final.
EVGENY RYLOV TOPS FIELD ONCE AGAIN IN 200 BACK
Russia’s Evgeny Rylov managed to post the first sub-1:55 swim of these games in the men’s 200m backstroke, leading the charge into finals with a 1:54.45. He’s led the field in prelims and now has the middle lane for tomorrow night where despite his efforts American Ryan Murphy is the favorite.
MIREIA BELMONTE GARCIA BECOMES SPAIN’S FIRST SWIMMING GOLD MEDALLIST
Mireia Belmonte Garcia of Spain managed to defeat Madeline Groves of Australia in the 200m butterfly in order to win her first Olympic gold medal. Not only was it a first for her, but it was the first swimming Olympic gold ever won by a Spanish woman. Belmonte Garcia was the first Spanish woman to win an Olympic medal in swimming back in 2012.
Mireia Belmonte Garcia – 2016 Rio Olympics/photo credit Simone Castrovillari
KYLE CHALMERS BECOMES FIRST AUSSIE TO WIN OLYMPIC GOLD IN THE 100 FREE IN 48-YEARS
Australian Kyle Chalmers managed to get his hand on the wall first in the 100m freestyle becoming the first Olympic champion in the event from Australia in 48-years. The 18-year-old also broke his own world junior record in the process with a time of 47.58.
Kyler Chalmers – 2016 Rio Olympics/photo credit Simone Castrovillari
TAYLOR MCKEOWN TAKES CONTROL OF 200 BREASTSTROKE SEMIS
In what appeared to be a great night for the Australians, Taylor McKeown become the first swimmer in these games to dip under 2:22 in the women’s 200m breaststroke. Her time of 2:21.69 will lead the hunt for gold tomorrow night where she’ll have the middle lane right beside Rie Kaneto of Japan.
FINAL MICHAEL PHELPS – RYAN LOCHTE SHOWDOWN TO TAKE PLACE TOMORROW NIGHT
Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte swam right beside each other in the second semifinal of the men’s 200m IM. Well ahead of the rest of the field, Phelps won in 1:55.78 while Lochte touched second in 1:56.28. They’re the top two seeds for tomorrow’s final where they’re going to have one last final showdown to cap off one of the best rivalries in swimming.
AMERICAN WOMEN WIN 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY OVER THE AUSSIES AND CANUCKS
The American women managed to win the 4×200 freestyle relay as anchor Katie Ledecky stretched into the wall to secure their gold medal. The Australians were second, the Canadians third.