BANGKOK, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) — Six swimming gold medals were split on the first competition day of the Universiade here on Thursday while four new games records were set.
Japan’s Ryusuke Sakata took the first gold medal in the pool in the men’s 200m butterfly by one minute and 55.92 seconds, which was a fresh Universiade record.
Chinese Chen Yin overtook American Daniel Madwed on the sprint to take a sliver by 1:56.59 while Madwed 0.57 seconds further late.
Janne Scheaefer gifted Germany a gold on the women’s 50m breaststroke, timing 30.99 seconds ahead of Sarah Katsoulis of Australia on 31.51.
In the men’s 200m breaststroke, Grigory Falko of Russia triumphed on 2:12.89, 0.35 seconds faster than Ryan Hurley of the United States.
The easiest victory of the day went to Flavia Rigamonti of Switzerland, who swam in 8:25.59 in the women’s 800m freestyle, while the closest follower Federica Pellegrini of Italy was half the pool away, timing 8:34.97.
Markus Rogan of Austria denied Nakano Takashi’s efforts to bring the second gold to Japan, timing 1:56.66, a new games record, for the men’s 200m backstroke victory.
The United States, which claimed 11 gold medals two years ago in Izmir, Turkey, finally managed the first gold here, winning the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay in a close contest.
Trailing on second from the beginning to Germany, the U.S. caught up within the last 50 meters to time 3:40.85, a new games record and 0.53 seconds ahead of second finishers China. Germany finished third in 3:42.68.
The other two Universiade swimming records were all refreshed in the heats. Susan Silver from the United States timed 55.06 seconds in the women’s 100m freestyle heat 3, and Rigamonti swam in 8:25.59 in heat 3.