HYDERABAD, India, October 19. THE women's 50 backstroke world record over long course meters looks to be a springboard event. Just a few months after the United States' Leila Vaziri came out of nowhere to set the mark at 28.16 with a pair of swims both in semis and in finals of the World Championships in Melbourne, China's Yang Li did the same at the World Military Games in Hyderabad, India. An unknown coming into this event, Yang ripped off a 28.09 to become the quickest swimmer in the women's 50 back over long course meters.
SwimmingWorldMagazine.com confirmed that the event is being held over long course meters after speaking with Canadian Naval Officer Tony Zezza, who is also the president off the swimming committee at the event. According to Zezza, the Indian Swimming Federation is working on all of the paperwork required to ratify the world record performance.
In its reporting on the world record, SwimNews related the progression of Yang's career thus far. There are some drastic changes in the reporting of the background of Yang. Reports range from 22 years old all the way up to 32. Meanwhile, other reports have her as a Lieutenant in the Chinese Army. Time will tell the background of Yang as we get closer to Beijing.
Meanwhile, Russia's Elena Bogomazova held off a game Qi Hui of China, 32.46 to 32.82, in the women's 50 breast. Ukraine's Svitlana Bondarenko walked away with bronze in the event with a 33.26.
Ukraine's Oleg Lisogor, defending world champion in the event, had a battle on his hands in the men's 50 breast, as Italy's Alessandro Terrin nearly hit the wall first, 28.32 to 28.39. The close call should have been expected after the pair tied for the fourth-fastest LCM times in the event this year with matching 27.53s. Additionally, China's Qu Jingyu finished third in 28.60.
Another close call came in the men's 50 backstroke as Slovakia's Lubos Krizko surfaced with the win in 26.08. Greece's Aristeidis Grigoriadis (26.68), Ukraine's Andriy Oleinyk (26.86) and Austria's Oliver Schmich (26.86) rounded out the top three spots with the final two tying.
The Chinese dominated the women's 50 back with a 1-2 effort. Yang Li stopped the clock in 28.09 to win gold with the global standard, while teammate Xu Tianlongxi garnered silver in 29.05. Russia's Anastasia Zueva placed third in 29.07.
In the men's 400 IM, Italy's Federico Turrini cruised into the title with a time of 4:23.63. Russia's Andrey Krylov took second in 4:25.68, while China's Zhao Tao finished third in 4:29.04.
While no relay members have been announced, China won the women's 400 freestyle relay in 3:47.27, while Russia took the men's crown in 3:21.54.