RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, August 23. THE United States got off to a strong start during the first session of finals at the World Youth Championships as Courtney Kalisz collected a gold medal in the 200-meter butterfly with a time of 2:12.34. The U.S. was a late addition to the meet and has sent an eight-athlete team to the event. Dick Shoulberg (Germantown Academy) is serving as the head coach while Mike Gobrecht (West Shore YMCA) is serving as an assistant coach.
Kalisz, who trains with the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, posted a convincing triumph in the 200 fly as she finished more than a second ahead of Great Britain’s Jemma Lowe (2:13.52) and Austria’s Nina Dittrich (2:13.92). American Leah Gingrich, who is coached by Gobrecht, was eighth in the race with a swim of 2:18.06.
Gingrich was one of the busiest swimmers at the meet, as she also placed fifth in the 400 individual medley and handled a leg on the United States’ seventh-place 800 freestyle relay. She was joined in relay action by Jessica Rodriguez, Kalisz and Caitlin Leverenz. In the 400 I.M., top honors went to Mireia Belmonte in 4:47.38. Rodriguez was fourth in 4:51.91. France was the winner of the 800 free relay (8:12.38) as Ophelie Cyriell Etienne anchored in 2:00.02.
In finals action on the male side, Italy’s Cesare Sciocchetti touched the wall first in the 200 freestyle with a performance of 1:51.97. He finished ahead of Belarus’ Yoris Grandjean (1:52.20) and the United States’ Tyler Clary (1:52.23). In the 400 free relay, Italy bested the competition with a time of 3:26.84, quick enough to defeat Russia (3:27.36). The United States was seventh in 3:37.61.
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