DUBAI – Ryan Lochte continues his world record hunt at the short course world championships here later Saturday after easing to victory in the 100m individual medley heats.
Lochte, who has claimed three golds and two world records so far this week, had pushed the pace until the final few metres, when he literally drifted into the wall to cruise to a time of 52.07.
Brazil’s Henrique Rodrigues qualified second with a 52.23 mark and George Bovell from Trinidad qualified in third in 52.60. The world record stands at 50.76. It may be a semi-final, yet USA star Lochte, whose opening day 200m freestyle gold was supplemented by two world records in the 200m and 400m individual medley, is on for a world record hat-trick in the evening session.
“I’m not saying anything is certain,” he said. “I was pushing for it this morning until just at the end and then I stopped. I enjoyed that race.” Slovenia’s Peter Makoc will also contest the semi-finals after qualifying in fifth in a time of 52.78. The USA’s Rebecca Soni is going for a breaststroke double in the 100m breaststroke, after winning 50m breaststroke gold on day two.
The fastest qualifier in 1:04.17, she takes on Australia’s Leisel Jones who qualified second in 1:04.75. Brazil’s Cesar Cielo, fresh from his gold in the 50m freestyle on Friday night, was back in action in the 100m freestyle heats. Fabien Gilot was the fastest qualifier in 46.62 – a championship record.
Sweden’s Therese Alshammar, gold medalist in the women’s 50m butterfly on day three, has qualified for the semi-finals of the 100m butterfly. Another gold medal in this competition would see her equal the all-time medal tally of 16 held by the USA’s Jenny Thompson.
