By Josh Jeffrey
DAEGU, South Korea, August 24. A number of countries made it onto the podium tonight, but China was the big winner in Daegu, South Korea, on the first night of the World University Games, which saw a number of Universiade records set, many of which had stood since the late 1980s.
The first to go was the men's 200m butterfly standard held by Germany's venerable Michael Gross. It was a close race for the first 100 meters as the USA's Rainer Kendrick, Japan's Takeshi Matsuda, and Korea's Han Kyu Chul were all bunched close together, but on the third 50 Matsuda proved himself to be the class of the field, as he turned more than a second ahead of nearest pursuer Sergiy Advena of Ukraine. Continuing to build on that lead all the way through the finish, Matsuda touched in a swift 1:57.44, cracking Gross' previous Universiade record of 1:57.78. Second place went to Advena at 1:58.74, and third went to the Bahamas' Jeremy Knowles (1:59.21), who thundered past Kendrick (who would finish fourth) in the last 50.
The women's 50m breaststroke went exactly as expected. The USA's Ashley Roby broke the Universiade record during preliminaries only to have it broken a few minutes later by China's World Champion Luo Xuejuan with a time of 31.15. It looked like she would give the world record of Great Britain's Zoe Baker (30.57) a challenge, but it was not to be as Luo tired over the last 20 meters to miss even her own record. Nonetheless, China's sprint breaststroke queen took gold in the final with a time of 31.39, with Australia's Jade Edmistone a surprise second in 31.74 ahead of the USA's Ashley Roby (31.92).
The men's 200 breaststroke looked to be a second gold medal this evening for Japan as Daisuke Kimura led for every split of the race only to be edged at the wall. Instead, it was a new face, Russia's Sergei Gerasimov, who took gold. His time of 2:13.78 cracked the Universiade record held by Russian compatriot Alexander Tkatchev (2:14.69) by nearly a full second. Kimura was also under the former record, taking silver at 2:14.00. Ireland's Michael Williamson taking bronze in 2:15.52, confirming that the British Isles are at no dearth for breaststroke talent. The USA's best finisher was Christian Schurr, who took third in the B-final with 2:17.77.
It's been a busy summer for Great Britain's Rebecca Cooke, one that has culminated in a bronze medal at the World Championships, but she found time to make another trip to the podium today, easily winning the women's 800m freestyle here in 8:33.84. The time also bettered the Universiade record of 8:34.82 set by 1988 Olympic medalist Noemi Lung of Romania. Second place went to China's Chen Hua, who was well off her best time with an 8:35.70, followed by Russias Olga Bereysneva in 8:36.66 for bronze. The USA's Adrienne Binder was a soundly defeated fourth (8:40.48), more than eight seconds off her personal best.
China took its second gold medal of the evening, and surprisingly enough, it was won by a male swimmer. Ouyang Kunpeng dominated the men's 200 meter backstroke from start to finish, and was never headed. Touching in a time of 1:59.17, more than two seconds ahead of the field, he also erased 1988 Olympic champion Igor Poliansky's 1:59.76 Universiade record from the books. Second place went to Japan's Takashi Yakano (2:01.60). The USA's Christian DeJong just nipped teammate Trent Staley at the finish for bronze, 2:01.63 to 2:01.68.
In a night that saw swimmers from the Bahamas and Ireland reach the podium, the most improbable surprise of all came from a determined French quartet. On paper, the US women's 400 freestyle relay couldn't be beaten. China could be close, but with one sprinter and a slew of distance swimmers on its relay, it didn't look a good bet for gold. It seemed as though this would be the moment the US team was waiting for – its first gold medal of the night, which would help to signify a momentum change in what could be considered a disappointing first session for a team with such depth. Someone forgot to tell Team France.
China turned first at the 100, Xu Yanwei hitting the pads at 56.25 to USA's Rebekah Short's 56.96. Aurore Mongel of France was within half a second of Short, splitting 57.48. The USA's Jessie Perruquet posted the team's second fastest overall split (56.65), but couldn't outswim France's Celine Couderc (56.20), who overtook China after a disasterous second leg by Zhan Shu (58.00). France's Magali Monchaux took the lead from the USA's Marie Marsman, outsplitting her 56.54 to 57.04 on leg three, setting up a final duel between the rock of the French women's team, Solenne Figues, and sprint ace Stefanie Williams. Unless Williams could split a 54 high, which no one doubted she could, Figues, who has anchored teams in 55 low before, would lead the French team to victory.
Despite Williams' valiant effort, in which she split 55.03, Figues never relinquished her lead, splitting 55.28 to anchor the ecstatic French foursome to gold. France's time of 3:45.50, edged the USA team by almost two tenths of a second (3:45.68). China, despite the efforts of third leg swimmer Jiaying Pang (55.84) were out of it by the second leg and finished third in 3:47.50.
Finals continue tomorrow night in Daegu.
2003 World University Games
Daegu, South Korea
August 24 – 30, 2003
50 meter pool
RESULTS
Day One: August 24, 2003
WOMEN
800 METRES FREESTYLE
Timed Finals
1 8:33.84*Cooke Rebecca,83,GBR
2 8:35.70 Chen Hua,82,CHN
3 8:36.66 Beresnyeva Olga,85,UKR
4 8:40.48 Binder Adrienne,85,USA
5 8:43.22 Costella Lauren,85,USA
6 8:49.05 Pasini Elisa,81,ITA
7 8:50.58 Shibata Ai,82,JPN
8 8:51.36 Korovina Irina,83,RUS
9 8:53.33 Fujita Sawami,84,JPN
10 8:57.03 Ware Catherine,81,AUS
11 8:58.09 Pechanova Jana,81,CZE
12 9:01.62 Klochkova Ganna,85,UKR
13 9:05.67 Oufimtseva Irina,85,RUS
14 9:06.81 Potec Camelia,82,ROM
15 9:14.72 Galindo Tania,84,MEX
16 9:15.24 Oliveira Denise,80,BRA
17 9:17.20 Park Sun-Hyun,84,KOR
18 9:23.45 Schrader Denise,79,SUI
50 METRES BREASTSTROKE
Finals
1 31.39 Luo Xuejuan,84,CHN
2 31.74 Edmistone Jade,82,AUS
3 31.92 Roby Ashley,80,USA
4 32.37 Kormacheva Ekaterina,82,RUS
5 32.53 Genner Rachel,82,GBR
6 32.85 Panara Roberta,84,ITA
7 32.91 Robinson Emma,78,IRL
8 33.20 Schafer Janne,81,GER
B Finals
1 33.13 Spooner Emma,83,CAN
2 33.36 Parri Serenella,81,ITA
3 33.45 Steven Birte,80,GER
4 33.45 Bogomazova Elena,82,RUS
5 33.47 Kaminska Beata,80,POL
6 33.52 Kawanabe Fumiko,84,JPN
7 33.54 Hehn Keri,81,USA
8 33.92 Bogata Olexandra,85,UKR
Prelims
1 31.15 Luo Xuejuan,84,CHN
2 31.68 Edmistone Jade,82,AUS
3 31.91 Roby Ashley,80,USA
4 32.21 Kormacheva Ekaterina,82,RUS
5 32.65 Genner Rachel,82,GBR
6 32.72 Robinson Emma,78,IRL
7 32.99 Panara Roberta,84,ITA
8 33.05 Schafer Janne,81,GER
9 33.11 Kaminska Beata,80,POL
10 33.13 Steven Birte,80,GER
11 33.26 Parri Serenella,81,ITA
12 33.33 Bogomazova Elena,82,RUS
13 33.53 Hehn Keri,81,USA
14 33.73 Kawanabe Fumiko,84,JPN
15 33.73 Spooner Emma,83,CAN
16 33.87 Bogata Olexandra,85,UKR
17 34.02 Byun Hye-Young,83,KOR
18 34.16 Waite Kelli,85,AUS
19 34.40 Laprade Michelle,81,CAN
20 34.58 Baillod Celine,78,SUI
4X100 FREE RELAY
Finals
1 3:45.50 France,FRA
57.48 Mongel Aurore
56.20 Couderc Celine
56.54 Monchaux Magali
55.28 Figues Solene
2 3:45.68 United States,USA
56.96 Short Rebekah
56.65 Perruquet Jessica
57.04 Marsman Marie
55.03 Williams Stefanie
3 3:47.50 China,CHN
56.27 Xu Yanwei
58.00 Zhan Shu
55.84 Pang Jiaying
57.39 Chen Hua
4 3:48.72 Russia,RUS
5 3:48.98 Czech Republic,CZE
6 3:49.53 Australia,AUS
7 3:50.67 Canada,CAN
8 3:51.04 Italy,ITA
Prelims
1 3:45.88 United States,USA
2 3:49.30 France,FRA
3 3:49.92 China,CHN
4 3:50.13 Czech Republic,CZE
5 3:50.89 Italy,ITA
6 3:50.93 Russia,RUS
7 3:50.98 Canada,CAN
8 3:51.52 Australia,AUS
9 3:51.65 Japan,JPN
10 3:54.22 Ukraine,UKR
11 3:56.46 Ireland,IRL
12 4:03.19 Thailand,THA
13 4:03.95 Korea,KOR
MEN
200 METRES BACKSTROKE
Finals
1 1:59.17*Ouyang Kunpeng,82,CHN
2 2:01.60 Nakano Takashi,84,JPN
3 2:01.63 DeJong Chris,84,USA
4 2:01.68 Staley Trent,82,USA
5 2:01.86 Murphy Patrick,84,AUS
6 2:01.91 Bugayov Anton,83,UKR
7 2:02.53 Sonoda Naoya,82,JPN
8 2:03.09 Lapshyn Andriy,83,UKR
B Finals
1 2:02.67 Garuglieri Alessandro,81,ITA
2 2:04.77 Ostermaier Lukas,83,AUT
3 2:04.91 Massacand Jonathan,84,SUI
4 2:05.05 Van der Kraay Anthony,80,NZL
5 2:05.06 Lucas Adam,83,AUS
6 2:05.23 Lin Yi,82,CHN
7 2:05.59 Sung Min,82,KOR
8 2:07.16 Kuzvard Tomas,79,CZE
Prelims
1 2:01.31 Nakano Takashi,84,JPN
2 2:01.75 DeJong Chris,84,USA
3 2:01.82 Bugayov Anton,83,UKR
4 2:02.12 Ouyang Kunpeng,82,CHN
5 2:02.24 Murphy Patrick,84,AUS
6 2:02.42 Lapshyn Andriy,83,UKR
7 2:02.57 Staley Trent,82,USA
8 2:02.65 Sonoda Naoya,82,JPN
9 2:03.14 Garuglieri Alessandro,81,ITA
10 2:04.30 Sung Min,82,KOR
11 2:04.59 Lucas Adam,83,AUS
12 2:04.96 Lin Yi,82,CHN
13 2:04.98 Van der Kraay Anthony,80,NZL
14 2:05.07 Ostermaier Lukas,83,AUT
15 2:05.56 Massacand Jonathan,84,SUI
16 2:06.17 Kuzvard Tomas,79,CZE
17 2:06.47 Talbot-Cameron Scott,81,NZL
18 2:06.87 Urreta Diego,81,MEX
19 2:06.90 Du Rand George,82,RSA
20 2:06.91 Freitas Bruno,82,POR
21 2:06.98 Goncalves Rafael,80,BRA
22 2:07.39 Smirnov Dimitri,83,RUS
23 2:07.47 Rodela Juan,79,MEX
24 2:07.56 Schmich Oliver,79,AUT
200 METRES BREASTSTROKE
Finals
1 2:13.78*Gerasimov Sergei,80,RUS
2 2:14.00 Kimura Daisuke,81,JPN
3 2:15.52 Williamson Michael,81,IRL
4 2:16.30 Facci Loris,83,ITA
5 2:16.45 Boulianne Michel,78,CAN
6 2:16.68 Bree Andrew,81,IRL
7 2:16.75 Perrot Stephan,77,FRA
8 2:19.55 Dymo Valeriy,85,UKR
B Finals
1 2:16.88 Trickett Luke,83,AUS
2 2:17.12 Uruburu Alfonso,79,ESP
3 2:17.17 Schurr Christian,84,USA
4 2:17.26 Nodari Dario,83,ITA
5 2:17.67 Riley Mark,82,AUS
6 2:20.05 Kawagoe Taiki,84,JPN
7 2:20.42 Brandt Wilson,83,USA
8 2:20.45 Papadopoulos Christos,82,GRE
Prelims
1 2:14.76 Gerasimov Sergei,80,RUS
2 2:15.76 Facci Loris,83,ITA
3 2:15.82 Kimura Daisuke,81,JPN
4 2:15.91 Boulianne Michel,78,CAN
5 2:16.43 Perrot Stephan,77,FRA
6 2:16.67 Williamson Michael,81,IRL
7 2:16.74 Bree Andrew,81,IRL
8 2:17.04 Dymo Valeriy,85,UKR
9 2:17.05 Trickett Luke,83,AUS
10 2:17.31 Riley Mark,82,AUS
11 2:17.58 Uruburu Alfonso,79,ESP
12 2:17.84 Schurr Christian,84,USA
13 2:18.17 Kawagoe Taiki,84,JPN
14 2:18.57 Nodari Dario,83,ITA
15 2:18.63 Brandt Wilson,83,USA
16 2:18.81 Papadopoulos Christos,82,GRE
17 2:18.96 Borysik Igor,84,UKR
18 2:19.06 Sirisanont Ratapong,76,THA
19 2:19.20 Bodor Richard,79,HUN
20 2:19.38 Melnik Dov,78,ISR
21 2:19.65 Pernat Matiaz,84,SLO
22 2:19.98 Boral Lukasz,84,POL
23 2:20.30 Serra Pablo,82,ESP
24 2:21.65 Aumpiwan Vorrawuti,83,THA
25 2:21.88 Jiracek Jakub,79,CZE
26 2:21.92 Minelli Alain,81,SUI
27 2:22.38 Cho Sung-Min,84,KOR
28 2:22.75 Wang Zheng,82,CHN
29 2:23.77 Gautsch Sebastian,75,SUI
30 2:24.09 Nasution M. Akbar,83,INA
31 2:24.40 Kim Sun-Jae,83,KOR
32 2:25.52 Sharplin Paul,79,NZL
33 2:25.60 Jacobo Alejandro,84,MEX
34 2:25.80 Daly Kieran,81,NZL
200 METRES BUTTERFLY
Finals
1 1:57.44*Matsuda Takashi,84,JPN
2 1:58.74 Advena Sergiy,84,UKR
3 1:59.21 Knowles Jeremy,81,BAH
4 1:59.78 Kendrick Rainer,82,USA
5 2:00.10 Han Kyu-Chul,81,KOR
6 2:00.35 Usuda Kentaro,83,JPN
7 2:02.37 Kokosha Maxim,83,UKR
disq Ioan Gherghel,78,ROM
B Finals
1 2:01.37 Skvortsov Nikolai,84,RUS
2 2:01.60 Drzewinski Lukasz,84,POL
3 2:01.70 Creager Brent,79,USA
4 2:01.75 Vespe Francesco,83,ITA
5 2:01.97 Halika Michael,78,ISR
6 2:02.11 Kolozar David,81,HUN
7 2:03.93 Palma Nimrod,80,ISR
8 2:04.83 Cooper Todd,83,GBR
Prelims
1 1:58.31 Matsuda Takashi,84,JPN
2 1:59.32 Knowles Jeremy,81,BAH
3 1:59.76 Gherghel Ioan,78,ROM
4 1:59.86 Advena Sergiy,84,UKR
5 2:00.57 Han Kyu-Chul,81,KOR
6 2:01.14 Kendrick Rainer,82,USA
7 2:01.38 Kokosha Maxim,83,UKR
8 2:01.39 Usuda Kentaro,83,JPN
9 2:01.48 Drzewinski Lukasz,84,POL
10 2:01.75 Halika Michael,78,ISR
11 2:01.97 Vespe Francesco,83,ITA
12 2:02.14 Skvortsov Nikolai,84,RUS
13 2:02.43 Creager Brent,79,USA
14 2:02.47 Cooper Todd,83,GBR
15 2:02.80 Kolozar David,81,HUN
16 2:02.87 Palma Nimrod,80,ISR
17 2:02.92 Mourao Duarte,84,POR
18 2:03.54 Dub Jiri,80,CZE
19 2:04.20 Hwang Jun-Il,81,KOR
20 2:04.63 Schmich Oliver,79,AUT
21 2:05.76 Sirigu Lorenzo,81,ITA
22 2:05.80 Cabrera Sergio,83,PAR
23 2:05.92 Skrydlov Ilya,82,RUS
24 2:06.26 O'Neill Donal,80,IRL
*: World University Games record