SWIMMING WORLD CUP SWC 2013, Berlin Day 1: Belmonte (ESP) smashes WR in 800m, first woman under 8:00.00

RENANG INDONESIA, The international swimming elite did not disappoint on day 1 of the second leg of the FINA Swimming World Cup, organised in Berlin (GER) from August 10-11. The best race of the night was the women's 800m free with Mireia Belmonte (ESP, lane 7) racing alongside Lauren Boyle (NZL, lane 4) for most of it under World Record pace. The Spanish swimmer touched first in 7:59.34 (1010 points), becoming the first woman to break the 8-minute barrier in the event and setting a new World Record. Boyle took second in 8:02.53 while Lotte Friis (DEN) clocked 8:12.14 for third.

In the men's 100m back, Robert Hurley (AUS) took out the race in 50.01 (937 points), ahead of Radoslaw Kawecki (POL, 50.46) and Mitchell Larkin (AUS, 50.54).

Aya Terakawa (JPN) confirmed her domination in the women's 50m back, winning in 26.06 (959 points). Aleksandra Urbanczyk (POL) took second in 26.12 while Simona Baumrtova (CZE) completed the podium with a time of 26.55.

In the women's 200m back, Daryna Zevina (UKR) took the lead but was trailed by Australian Belinda Hocking. At the 150m mark, Zevina increased her lead, touching home in 2:00.81 (980 points), a European record. Hocking finished second in 2:01.89 while compatriot Emily Seebohm placed third in 2:02.97.

In the men's 50m breast, Roland Schoeman (RSA) was victorious in 25.65 (953 points), closely followed by Fabio Scozzoli (ITA, 25.72) who beat his own European record from Eindhoven. Local Hendrik Feldwehr claimed third spot in 26.37. Schoeman claimed a second win in the men's 50m fly, clocking 22.05 (966 points), ahead of local Steffen Deibler, second in 22.14 and compatriot Chad Le Clos, third in 22.53.

In the men's 200m breast, Hungary's Daniel Gyurta battled it out with German Marco Koch in the first 150m. Gyurta eventually took the lead in the last lap, powering home and setting a World Cup record in 2:01.37 (982 points). Koch clocked 2:02.50 for second place and Michael Jamieson (GBR) was third in 2:03.04.

In the women's 100m breast, Rikke Pedersen (DEN) emerged victorious in 1:03.74 (951 points). Alia Atkinson (JAM), who was ahead in the beginning but lost the lead in the end to the Danish swimmer, took second in 1:04.45. Australia's Sally Foster completed the podium with a time of 1:05.22.

In the men's 100m free, Russia's Vladimir Morozov won easily in a time of 45.74 (948 points), beating James Magnussen (AUS, 46.04), second, and local Steffen Deibler (46.20), third. Morozov was again the best in the men's 100 individual medley. The Russian started strongly before losing the lead to Australian's Kenneth To at the 50m and 75m marks only to recapture the lead in the last 25m and power home in 51.13 (975 points). Kenneth To (51.21) took second and George Bovell (TRI, 51.65), third.

U.S. Tyler Clary dominated the operations from start to finish in the men's 400m free, clocking 3:36.86, ahead of teammate Conor Dwyer (3:40.10), second, and Myles Brown (RSA, 3:41.36), third.

In the women's 50m free, Dutch sprint queen Ranomi Kromowidjojo held at bay Jeanette Ottesen Gray (DEN) and Sarah Sjoestroem (SWE) to take out the event in 23.72 (941 points). Ottesen Gray finished second in 23.88 and Sjoestroem third in 23.95. Ottesen Gray finished first in the women's 100m fly in 55.94 (953 points), ahead of Katerin Savard (CAN), second in 56.35 and Ellen Gandy (AUS), third in 56.56.

In the women's 200m free, Femke Heemskerk (NED) concluded the race in 1:52.25 (971 points), ahead of Katinka Hosszu (HUN, 1:52.32) and Melanie Costa Schmidt (ESP, 1:52.52). In this close race, the above trio led all the way and Heemskerk touched first by a fingernail, not far from the World Cup record (1:52.08).

In the men's 400 individual medley, Japan's Daiya Seto bettered his own World Cup record set in Berlin last year (4:00.12), touching first in 3:58.84 (958 points) and confirming his domination in the event. Conor Dwyer (USA) placed second in 3:59.90 while David Verraszto (HUN) took third in a time of 4:01.25.

In the women's 200 individual medley, Hosszu set the second best world mark of all time after her World Record in Eindhoven, swimming a blistering time of 2:03.25 (1033 points). Compatriot Zsuzsanna Jakabos took second in 2:06.04 while Emily Seebohm (AUS) placed third in 2:06.95.

In the men's 200m fly, Chad Le Clos (RSA) took out the event after a pulsating swim in the last lap, in a time of 1:49.90 (978 points), eclipsing Pawel Korzeniowski (POL), second in 1:50.43 and Daiya Seto (JPN), third in 1:50.96.

In relay action, Australia took out the mixed 4x50 medley in 1:40.95. Two teams from Canada completed the podium.

The best three performers of this first day in Berlin were:

Men
GYURTA Daniel (HUN): 2:01.37 - 982 points - (WCupR) 200m breast
LE CLOS Chad (RSA): 1:49.90 - 978 points - 200m fly
MOROZOV Vladimir (RUS): 51.13 - 975 points - 100m IM

Women
HOSSZU Katinka (HUN) - 2:03.25 - 1033 points - 200m IM
BELMONTE Mireia (ESP) - 7:59.34 - 1010 points - (WR) 800m free
BOYLE Lauren (NZL) - 8:02.53 points - 990 points - 800m free

Provisional leaders after Day 1:

Men
SCHOEMAN Roland (RSA): 24 pts
DWYER Conor (USA): 18 pts
LE CLOS Chad (RSA): 18 pts
SETO Daiya (JPN): 18 pts

Women
BELMONTE Mireia (ESP): 32 pts
HOSSZU Katinka (HUN): 21 pts
OTTESEN GRAY Jeanette (DEN): 21 pts