T&T Olympic bronze medal winner George Bovell III finished a creditable third in the men’s 50 metres freestyle at the Italian Open Long Course National Championship, Riccione yesterday. Swimming in lane six of the first of four heats, Bovell III, sped home in 22.44 seconds to trail Italian duo, Lucio Spadaro (22.20) and Luca Dotta (22.37) who were first and second overall as well. The other finishers in the heat were Marco Orsi (22.46), Federico Bocchia (22.48), Andrea Rolla (22.53), Holland’s Sebastien Verschuren (22.70), Luca Leonardi (23.29), Switzerland’s Erik Van Dooren (23.34) and France’s Jeremy Stravius (23.46). The 27-year-old Bovell III, who was fourth in the second of four men’s 100m freestyle heats in 50.72 seconds on Thursday for 14th spot also competed in the 50m backstroke where he placed 15th overall.

The top T&T swimmer’s time of 26.49 seconds was only good enough for fifth spot in heat two behind Sebastien Ranfagni (25.90), Enrico Catalano (26.17), Fabio Laugeni (26.33) and Daniele Di Deodato (26.38). The top four finishers all competed in heat one with Niccolo Bonacchi (25.61), Mirco Di Tora (25.74), Holland’s Nick Driebergen (25.79) and Stefano Maur Pizzamiglio (25.83). Last month at the Dutch Open, Bovell III was a joint-second place finisher in the 50m freestyle (22.24 seconds), with Sweden’s Stefan Nystrand. The meet in Italy was the third for Bovell III since his car accident on August 16 in Mayaro. In his come-back event at the Pro Duel Meet held in USA in November, Bovell III, a double Pan American Games gold and silver medal winner, won the 50m freestyle in 22.77 seconds.

His training partner Milorad Cavic of Serbia, the man who came closer than any other to stopping Michael Phelps on the American’s trajectory to an historic eight gold medals in 2008 was in winners row in Italy. Cavic clocked 52.10 seconds to win the 100m butterfly and was his 14th best ever and is his best ever in early winter, pre-March season. In 2008, Cavic finished 0.01sec away from Phelps in the Olympic 100m butterfly final and a year later as the shiny suit crisis escalated the two became the first to crack 50sec, Phelps the pioneer with gold once more. The silver in Riccione went to Dutchman Joeri Verlinden, 52.43 (24.86), the bronze to 33-year-old Slovenian policeman Peter Mankoc in 53.00.

By Nigel Simon

Source: www.guardin.co.tt