Bovell takes 3rd in World Cup 50 free
Top Trinidad and Tobago swimmer George Bovell splashed to another medal, this time a bronze on the second and final day of the FINA Swimming World Cup Series in Tokyo, Japan yesterday.
Bovell achieved the feat in his pet event, the Men’s 50m freestyle on the seventh and penultimate leg of the series.
Bovell placed third behind longtime rival, Russian Vladimir Morozov who completed the two-lap sprint in a fast 20.72 seconds. USA’s 2000 Sydney Olympic gold medallist Anthony Ervin copped the silver in 20.10 with Bovell good enough to hold on for the bronze in 21.21. The time was Bovell’s third fastest in the event this year, behind his 21.19 in Berlin in the second leg and 21.20 in Singapore in the sixth leg last week.
Three-time Olympian Roland Schoeman of South Africa was fourth (21.24) while Brazil’s Nicholas Santos (21.27), Japan’s Kenta Ito (21.36), Poland’s Konrad Czerniak (21.50) and Japan’s Miguelgen Ozeki (21.54) rounded out the final.
Earlier in the morning preliminaries, Bovell qualified second fastest when he won heat six (21.37). Morozov was the fastest qualifier with a 21.02 effort in winning the eighth and final heat.
The 30-year-old Athens Olympic bronze medallist, increased his medal haul to date in the Cup to 12 (one gold, four silver and seven bronze), while his two-year haul at the World Cup is now up to 28 medals (ten gold, 11 silver and six bronze) from 29 finals. Last year, he won 16 medals, (nine gold and seven silver) but this year has proved to be more competitive, with the participation of 2013 World Champs Men’s 50m silver medalist Morozov and the 2012 London Olympic Men’s 50 free champion France’s Florent Manaudou.
Bovell, also a multiple Pan Am Games and CAC Games medallist, will conclude this year’s FINA Swimming World Cup campaign with the last leg in Beijing, China from November 13-14.