(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Sarah Sjostrom was on fire on the opening day of the FINA Swimming World Cup stop in Doha. The Swedish swimmer set the Hamad Aquatic Centre alight as she bagged three gold medals on the night.
Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom won in 200m freestyle, 100m butterfly and 50m freestyle events.
Sjostrom began her winning spree in the 200 freestyle as she pulled away from the Netherlands' Femke Heemskerk, to finish in 1:52.00 seconds. Finishing three seconds back in third was China's Shen Duo (1:56.28).
In her second splash of the evening session, Sjostrom was at it again. This time, she won the women's 100 butterfly in 55.55, less than a second shy of her world-record time of 54.61 and just off Alicia Coutts' World Cup record of 55.30.
Ahead by more than a half-second at the halfway point, Sjostrom pulled away from the field. Finishing second — almost two seconds back — was China's Zhang Yufei in 57.31, and Hong Kong's Lin Lok Chan was third in 57.98.
She then wrapped up her perfect run with a victory in 50m freestyle in 23.28. The timing was not too far off Ranomi Kromowidjojo's world record of 22.93 set earlier in the series. Sjostrom had actually set the world record in the event at 23.10 at a World Cup stop in Moscow before Kromowidjojo lowered it days later in Berlin.
Kromowidjojo finished second in 23.82, and was followed by Dutch teammate Femke Heemskerk (24.40).
The Olympic and world champion Sjostrom, who broke two world records in Doha in 2014, was delighted with her show on the opening night. 'I was fast today and my performance was good, said the 23-year-old Sjostrom, who is comfortably leading the overall points standings for the World Cup title. 'I am very happy on winning three gold medals. It's always fun to be in Doha and I am enjoying the contest, the Swede added.
Meanwhile, South African Chad Le Clos, former world champion Vladmir Morozov of Russia and Hungary's Katinka Hosszu all bagged two gold medals each to start the two-day contest on a high note. Le Clos also enjoyed a perfect day, winning both the races he competed. He avenged rival Tom Shields of USA for defeat in Hong Kong last week, with a victory in 50m butterfly, touching 22.45. Shields had to content with bronze with China's Qibin Zheng claiming the silver.
The race was 26th consecutive butterfly victory for Le Clos. 'I am honoured to achieve this milestone for my country. I am very happy to beat Tom (Shields). He won the last race (in Hong Kong) so it's good to win this title. I am tired but there will be no excuses as I look forward to more races, he said.
Earlier, the South African won 200m gold with a time of 1:49.59, beating Shields who claimed silver. After losing the 50m backstroke final to Aussie star Emily Seebohm, most decorated female athlete in the series, Hosszu bounced back to win back-to-back gold medals.
The Iron Lady claimed silver in the 50m backstroke but she looked invulnerable in 200m IM and 200m backstroke races, which she clinched comfortably with times of 2:05.29 and 2:02.06 respectively. 'I am super excited after today's races, said Hosszu who clinched six out of six gold medals in Hong Kong in the earlier leg. 'I am looking forward to three races on the final day. I love the atmosphere in Doha and the support for me here is amazing.
Former world champion Morozov was also in top form as he claimed gold medals in 100m freestyle and 100m IM. He clocked 46.87 for the freestyle title and took 51. 38 for the medley triumph. It was world champion Detti Gabriele of Italy, who again reigned supreme in men's 400m freestyle with a time of 3:42.57, beating rival Wojdak Wojciech of Poland.
Jamaican world champion Alia Atkinson also struck a gold medal after finishing the job in 1:04.21 which she felt was not very fast. As many as 18 more finals will be decided today, the final day of the two-day meet which will bring curtains down to cluster two of the FINA World Cup series.
Fixtures
Men's
100m Freestyle: 1. Vladmir Morozov (RUS) 46.87; 2. Damian Wierling (GER) 47.82; 3. Benjamin Hockin (PAR) 47.89
50m Breaststroke: 1. Cameron Van Der Burgh (RSA) 25.70; 2. Kirill Prigoda (RUS) 25.85; 3. Shymanovich Ilya (BLR) 26.24
100m Backstroke: 1. Christian Diener (GER) 51:00; 2. Radoslaw Kawecki (POL) 51.11; 3. Vladmir Morozov (RUS) 51.13
200m Butterfly: 1. Chad Le Clos (RSA) 1:49.59; 2. Tom Shields (USA) 1:49.86; 3. Yuya Yajima (JPN) 1:52.08
400m Freestyle: 1. Detti Gabriele (ITA) 3:42.57; 2. Wojdak Wojciech (POL); 3. Filip Zaborowski (POL)
200m breaststroke: 1. Kirill Progoda (RUS) 2:01.24; 2. Ilya Shymanovich (BLR) 2:04.77; 3. Ilya Khomenko (RUS) 2:05.08
100m Individual Medley: 1. Vladimir Mozorov (RUS) 51. 38; 2. Pavel Sankovich (BLR) 52.61; 3. Tom Shields (USA) 53.21
50m Butterfly: 1. Chad le Clos (RSA) 22.45; 2. Qibin Zheng (CHN) 22.74; 3. Tom Shields (USA) 23.04
Women's
200m Freestyle: 1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 1:52.00; 2. Femke Heemskerk (NED) 1:53.11; 3. Duo Shen (CHN) 1:56.28
100m Breaststroke: 1. Alia Atkinson (JAM) 1:04.21; 2. Rikke Pedersen (DEN) 1:05.55; 3. Lena Kreundl (AUT) 1:08.07
100m Butterfly: 1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 55.55; 2. Yufei Zhan (CHN) 57.31; 3. Lok kin Chan (HKG) 57.98
50m Backstroke: 1. Emily Seebohm (AUS) 28.29; 2. Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 26.30; 3. Maaike De Waard (NED) 27:06
200m IM: 1. Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:05.29; 2. Emily Seebohm (AUS) 2:06.65; 3. Femke Heemskerk (NED) 2:08.33
50m Freestyle: 1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) 23.28; 2. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 23.82; 3. Femke Heemskerk (NED) 24.40
200m backstroke: 1. Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:02.06; 2. Emily Seebohm (AUS) 2:04.15; 3. Xuwei Peng (CHN) 2:06.50
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