Australia stops Ledecky

To open the battle in the spectacular pool of the Défense Arena, the menu is unparalleled. The American and Australian media hastened to christen the final of the women’s 400 freestyle as the ‘Race of the Century’, the race of the century, because it will face three dragons: the legendary American. Katie Ledeckythe Australian Ariarne Titmuscurrent world record holder and champion in Tokyo, and the rising star, the Canadian Summer McIntosh, who at 17 years old is already a universal record holder in 400 styles. To smack your lips, but in reality it is not much.

Ledecky, who sought to match the 8 Olympic golds of Jenny Thompson, had to settle for a bronze – the first of her Olympic career – which brought her total haul to 11, one medal short of Thompson’s 12. In fact, it is never in the ointment. Titmus set a maddening pace from the start and only McIntosh could keep up with him, though he always lacked a few motos to challenge him for victory. Of course, this guarantees him comfortable money. With no real fight to tighten the screws, the winner’s final record (3’57”49) was far from his own world record.

There were three more finals, overshadowed by the bitter battle of the queens. In the men’s 400 freestyle, the German won Lukas Maertens ahead of the Australian Winnington and from South Korean Woomin Kim after a brilliant start and a survival exercise at the end. The German reigned supreme at the distance where his countryman still holds the world record Paul Biedermann , courtesy of the controversial miracle swimsuits from the golden age of polyurethane (2009). This is the first German men’s Olympic gold in swimming since the ‘Albatross’ Michael Gross (Seoul’88).

The 4×100 free relay, for men and women, closed as usual on the opening day of Olympic swimming, without doubt the test experienced by the competitors and something that was clearly transferred to the stands. It’s basically a head-to-head between the US and Australia. But sometimes others interfere.

Among the girls, it was a clear ‘Aussie’ victory over the Americans, with the Chinese third, the last two with records from America and Asia and far from victory. This gold is the sixth, and twelfth overall, for the veteran Emma McKeonwho is also fighting hard for the next generation along with Ledecky and Thompson.

In the male chapter, roles are exchanged. The US took command from the second post and did nothing but leave water at their feet. Australia, by far, won the silver and the bronze went to an Italy that continues to produce chlorine talents.

Spain’s record is meaningless

The Spanish men’s 4×100 free relay dropped out of the morning final by four tenths, separating them from Germany. however, Sergio de Celis, Luis Dominguez, Caesar Castro and Mario Mollá They took a huge bite out of the national record achieved at the European Championship in Rome ’22, leaving it at 3’13”19.