Hosszu continues to shine in FINA World Cup in Beijing

Though no world record or World Cup record is broken on the first day of the FINA Swimming World Cup 2013, world champion Katinka Hosszu of Hungary still took the limelight by wining 2 gold and 1 bronze medals from her five individual events while Cate Campbell of Australia slammed down 3 titles at the FINA World Cup here at the China National Aquatic Center (Water Cube) on Wednesday.

As the current top finisher on the overall rankings after the previous seven legs, Hosszu collected her first championship in 200m freestyle 1:53.82, while Melani Costa of Spain and Lauren Boyle of New Zealand came in 1:54.57 and 1:55.20 respectively. Hosszu later celebrated her second gold in 200m individual medley in 2:05.34, 2.14 seconds shy of her own world record set in Eindhoven last August. Alicia Coutts of Australia came to second in 2:06.23 and Sophie Allen of Britain bronze 2:06.71.

It was Coutts who stopped Hosszu's unbeaten run first in 100m butterfly by clocking 56.00. Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden and Hosszu came to second and third 56.17 and 57.40. Elizabgeth Simmonds continued to deny Hosszu's title hope in 50m backstroke by storming 26.83. Hosszu placed fifth in 27.11 after China's world runner-up Fu Yuanhui 26.95 and Daryna Zevina of Ukraine 27.07. Hosszu later finished fourth in 200m backstroke in 2:06.14 while Zevina of Ukraine claimed victory in 2:01.47.

"I was tired, really tired after I competed five races, "said the Iron Lady Hosszu. "But I'm definitely happy with my two golds and a bronze medals. Tomorrow, I'm assuming to have the five events and I hope to get on more podiums. I didn't have much pressure because I've been winning through the previous World Cup legs. I just have fun in racing and preparing for the European Short Course Championships in December. That's my main goal," Hosszu said.

Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell gave Australia a 1-3 finish in 50m freestyle in 23.65 and 24.13 while Francesca Halsall of Britain squeezed to take the silver in 24.04. Cate Campbell also swept to win 100m freestyle in 51.31.

Jamaica's Alia Atkinson enjoyed a class of her own in 100m breaststroke in 1:03.81, followed by Sophie Allen of Britain 1:05. 74 and Liu Xiaoyu of China 1:06.24 while Mirela Belmonte of Spain led the women's 800m freestyle in 8:07.59, beating Lauren Boyle of New Zealand and Melani Costa of Spain in 8:10.47 and 8:18.03.

Olympic and world champion Chad Le Clos of South Africa secured his trade-mark 200m butterfly in 1:51.70 with a strong comeback in the last 50, beating Wang Shun of China into second in 1:51.94. Le Clos had a little change on his events at the Water Cube as he gave up his favorite 50m butterfly but showed up in 100m freestyle where he produced a personal best 46.60, well behind pace setter Russian Vladimir Morozov 45.88.

Morozov later snatched gold in 100m individual medley in 50.97, beating George Bovell of Trinidad and Tobago 51.72 and Le Clos of South Africa 52.14.

"I'm really tired but I'm happy with my 100m freestyle. It is my personal best. I really want to know how fast I can swim the freestyle," said Le Clos, the provisional leaders of the World Cup.

Aussie Thomas Fraser-Holmes showed his prowess in the middle distance by winning titles in men's 400m individual medley in 4:04. 05 and 400m freestyle 3:39.86.

In other men's events, Gyurta Daniel of Hungary topped 200m breaststroke in 2:03.09, Eugene Godsoe of United States hammered down in 100m backstroke 50:15 and Roland Schoeman of South Africa lifted the title in 50m breaststroke 25.95.

Composed by Rober Hurley, Christian Sprenger, Alicia Coutts and Cate Campbell, Australia team never looked back in the mixed 4X50m medley relay by winning 1:38.23, 0.39 slower than the world record they set in Tokyo four days ago. China rallied to finish second in 1:39.55 thanks to a 25.28 butterfly split from Lu Ying and a 20.59 freestyle split from young star Ning Zetao, who has a fever since he arrived at Beijing on Nov. 11 Brazil came to third in 1:42.07.

"It's a big blow for all of us. Coming up few days with meets, we've been swimming pretty well. I think we all know it is a hard event and we thought we could be faster. We planned to break the world record again, but it's OK. We'll try tomorrow," Hurley said.

Beijing is the last stop of the eight-leg FINA World Cup series.