FINA World Cup 9 - Day 1 Report
1999-02-16

MALMO - With only one day of rest and most swimmers traveling from Glasgow to Malmo on Monday, the show continues in the seven-lane Aqua Kul venue.

Gustavo Borges (BRA)-who trains in Jacksonville, Florida-won the 100 freestyle with 48.16. In second Scott Tucker (USA) with 48.41, just 0.03 seconds ahead of Chris Fydler (AUS) in third. It was the third win in this event for Borges in the current World Cup series.

In the women's 200 free, Laura Nicholls, (CAN), in a well controlled race touched ahead with 1:58.10 of Josephin Lillhage (SWE), 1:58.62 and Sandra Steffensen (SWE), 1:59.55.

Fred deBurghgraeve (BEL) won the 50 breaststroke with 27.84 just ahead of Patrick Isaksson (SWE) in 27.91. Zhu Yi (CHN) was third with 28.10, but later won the 200 breaststroke in a come from behind effort with 2:11.90 over Yom Wilkes (USA) 2:12.01 and early leader Ryan Mitchell (AUS) 2:12.47

For the second consecutive competition Samantha Riley (AUS) touched out with a 1:07.29 perennial rival Penny Heyns (RSA) with 1:07.46 in the 100 breaststroke. Heyns was in the lead for part of the race.

Tom Wilkens (USA), won the 400 IM in 4:14.88 over experienced German Christian Keller, 26, thanks to his overwhelming superiority in the second part of the race-breaststroke and freestyle. Former Olympic IM gold medalist (Munich 72) and local sporting hero Gunnar Larsson presented the medals.

Johanna Sjoberg (SWE), much to the delight of the crowd, showed an absolute superiority in the 100 fly, winning in 58.15, a new national record, just 0.01 sec. faster than the one she set in Glasgow. Sophia Skou (DEN) and Susan O'Neill (AUS), touched the wall in 1:00.02, for a tie for second.

Stev Theloke, (GER) won the 100 backstroke with 53.85, and has an iron lock on the points race for the category. After nine World Cups Theloke has won 9 events.

Kelly Stephanyshyn (CAN) won the 50 backstroke in 28.94, over 13-year-old Louise Ornstedt (DEN) 28.98. In the 200 backstroke Stefanyshyn prevailed over Cathleen Rund (GER) 2:09.37 to 2:09.72. It was their fourth match up in the current World Cup series, with Stefanyshyn winning three of the four races.

James Hickman (GBR) was unchallenged in the 200 butterfly and posted a winning time of 1:55.07, but missed the podium in the 100 IM as Jani Sievinen (FIN) won with 54.83 and Christian Keller (GER) was second in 55.59 and Scott Tucker (USA) third with 55.62. Hickman in fourth with 55.82.

Canada's women's individual medley trio of Joanne Malar, Marianne Limpert, and Carrie Burgoyne, swept the 200 IM. Malar held the lead throughout winning with 2:12.94, held off Limpert's strong freestyle leg, who did 2:13.07 and Burgoyne in 2:14.49.

Jorg Hoffman (GER) won the 400 freestyle in 3:45.51 ahead of Massimiliano Rosolino (ITA), in second with 3:48.52 and Jacob Carstensen (DEN) third with 3:50.02.

In the women's 50 free Katrin Meissner (GER), won with 25.17 and Shannon Hosack (USA) in second 25.58. Laura Nicholls (CAN) was third 25.78.

Chen Hua (CHN), took the 800 freestyle over Claudia Poll (CRC) with 8:27.16. A time five seconds slower than her winning time in Glasgow. They swam stroke for stroke for the first half 4:16.60 to 4:16.70. Chen moved ahead and had a three second lead at the finish.

In the the last event of the day the men's 50 butterfly Sabir Muhammad (USA) won his second World Cup event in 23.81. He earlier in the series won the 100 fly at American World Cup in College Station.