T&T swimmer beats Aussie rival in Tokyo World Cup
Trinidad and Tobago's George Bovell is unlikely to win the US$100,000 first prize on offer to the winner of the 2012 FINA Swimming World Cup series. But he doesn't seem too bothered.
"Blackman Redemption playing through my head all day," Bovell tweeted yesterday. "No need to get jumpy, cool runnings, can you dig it?"
Two hours later, Bovell jumped into the pool at the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center, in Japan, where he picked up a sixth 2012 FINA Swimming World Cup gold medal, beating Australian Kenneth To into second spot in the men's 100 metres individual medley final.
Bovell triumphed in 51.80 seconds, while To clocked 51.83. Another Australian, Kyle Richardson was third in 53.13. Today, Bovell will seek another gold medal in the 50m freestyle, before heading to Singapore for the final leg of the World Cup series, on November 10 and 11.
Bovell seemed to conserve his energy yesterday at the preliminary stage when posting 54.48 seconds and finishing as just the third qualifier out of heat four, behind Richardson (54.17) and hometown favourite Hiromasa Fujomori (54.17). To was the overall fastest qualifier in 53.36 when winning heat three.
The championship race victory was Bovell's third 100 IM World Cup triumph this year. To has four wins in the event.
The overall male and female circuit winners at the end of the eight-meet series will earn US$100,000 each. Bovell has so far picked up six gold medals, but is unlikely to catch To for the overall prize. Ahead of yesterday's opening day of the Tokyo meet, To led the series with 135 points, while Bovell was second with 112, and Japan's Daiya Seto a distant third on 81.
Source: www.trinidadexpress.com