“I have been training hard for four years to come to Rio and for it to be second nature”, added the tireless Hungarian, who has also entered the 200m backstroke and 200m butterfly.
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The 24-year-old world champion won a legal challenge last week to get herself reinstated to the Olympics, having previously been excluded because of her doping record. “I have to keep fighting and believing”, – Franklin was left disappointed after failing to reach the final. Though the Russian surged back, the American finished powerfully, beating Efimova to the touch by 0.57 seconds. “She has such a wide range of events that she’s been continually improving on the last couple of years”.
Hosszu, 27, claimed victory in a time of two minutes and 6.58 seconds – breaking an Olympic record she had set in the heats. “Having three so far is really just a bonus”.
There is a clear favorite to win gold at the Rio Olympics in the women’s 200-meter Individual Medley. The bronze was shared by Canada’s Kylie Masse and China’s Fu Yuanhui.
Murphy’s winning time of 51.97 seconds was an Olympic record and just outside the world record of 51.94 set by compatriot Aaron Peirsol in 2009 when non-textile bodysuits were allowed.
“If I’m not mistaken, the (U.S.) girls have medaled in every event so far, and I didn’t want to end that streak on my event so I’m glad that we could continue that”, DiRado told media – correctly – after her swim.
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She faded in the closing stages on Monday to finish seventh. But she had never won an Olympic medal, her closest call a fourth-place showing in the 400 IM four years ago in London.
