Duel In The Pool

Friday 18th and Saturday 19th December 2009

SPEEDO STARS SWIM TO AN EXCITING CLOSE TO DUEL IN THE POOL

Final Day

The final day of the British Gas Duel in the Pool started as it left off; with an enthusiastic and excited crowd and two teams eager to take home victory!

It was a great start to the evening for the E-Stars in the Women’s 800m Freestyle. Speedo sponsored Rebecca Adlington took the lead at the 400m mark and determinedly kept first position in her sights for the rest of the race. Keri-Anne Payne and Amber McDermott of the Speedo sponsored GBR and USA teams put in impressive efforts but couldn’t keep up with Adlington.

Wearing her new Speedo LZR Racer Elite suit the GBR star finished with a time of 8:10.59.

Rebecca said, “I’m really pleased with that swim. Thank you to the crowd for making it so much fun tonight.”

David Davies took home a British Record with a time of 7:36.47 in the Men’s 800m Freestyle. A key member of the Speedo sponsored GBR Team, David just lost out on second place to USA swimmer Chad La Tourette. Italy’s Federico Colbertaldo took first place with a time of 7:31.18.

On the swim and his fellow E-Stars teammate’s performance, David Davies said, “on behalf of Federico – that was bellissimo!”

In an extremely tight and exciting race, fellow USA teammates Michael Phelps and Peter Vanderkaay battled it out head to head in the Men’s 200m Freestyle. In the final 50 metres Vanderkaay, wearing a Speedo LZR Racer suit, inched ahead and took first position and an American Record with a time of 1:42.17. Phelps settled for an uncharacteristic third place with a time of 1:43.08.

Following the race Michael said, “It was a little painful. The only thing I’m looking towards is preparing to be the best swimmer I can be for 2012.”

The Speedo sponsored USA team picked up a trio of wins in the Women’s 100m Backstroke with Rebecca Soni breaking a World Record to become the first woman to complete the swim under 63 seconds (1:02.70). Her teammates Jessica Hardy and Katy Freeman took second and third, respectively.

Francesca Halsall of the Speedo sponsored GBR team gave the crowd an early Christmas present with her third first place result during the competition. The Manchester born swimmer pipped the USA’s Jessica Hardy to the post with a time of 23.44 in the Women’s 50m Freestyle.

The Women’s 200m Individual Medley saw Julia Smit of the Speedo sponsored USA team take home first place and a World Record with a time of 2:04.60. Smit didn’t surrender first place throughout the race, teammates Ariana Kukors and Katie Hoff, wearing a Speedo LZR Racer, took second and third place respectively.

A breathtaking finale to the competition saw the USA team break a World Record with a time of 3:03.30 in the Men’s 4x 100m Freestyle. Adrian Nathan hit the water first on behalf of the USA completing his 100m under world record pace in a time of 45.08.The E-stars could do little to impact on the head start until the Speedo sponsored Filippo Magnini hit the water in the final 100m. The crowd were on their feet as the Italian nibbled at Michael Phelps’ toes in a tense finish that saw the USA team take first place - and the World Record.

Michael said, “the race was emotional; relays are really important for us. We started the event with a world record and ended with one!”

The E-stars put in fantastic performances but couldn’t do anything to close the gap that the USA created the night before. The USA triumphed at the Duel in the Pool with 185 points to the E-Stars 78 – Congratulations to the USA!

Out of the pool…

SPEEDO STARS SHINE AT BRITISH GAS DUEL IN THE POOL

Day 1

The British Gas Duel in the Pool opened tonight at a packed Manchester Aquatic Centre. The atmosphere was electric at the sell-out event that takes place over two days (Friday 18th December and Saturday 19th December) and sees the cream of swimming talent from the UK, Germany and Italy duel the USA for supremacy in the pool.

The biennial swimming event was opened by Speedo’s former World Champion (and now retired) swimming talent James Hickman. Energetic music amplified the expectant mood while a stunning light show traced the lanes of the pool and cheer leaders encouraged the crowd. A swim star studded procession followed with Dana Vollmer leading the USA team out to the poolside while Speedo sponsored Rebecca Addlington paved the way for the E-Stars.

The first race of the evening, the Women’s 400M Medley Relay saw Gemma Spofforth (E-Stars) hit the water first in her Speedo LZR Racer Elite suit. Despite the swimmer’s impressive lead on Margaret Hoelzer (USA) in the first lap the roles had quickly reversed by the third as Ilaria Bianchi (E-Stars) found herself a full body length behind the American swimmer Dana Vollmer. USA snatched the first place breaking a World Record with a time of 3:47.97.

The crowd’s anticipation was tangible as they waited to see the greatest swimmer of all time grace the water for the first time in the UK for the Men’s 400m Medley Relay. In a tense race Phelps hit the water a full body length ahead of Michael Rock (E-Stars) thanks to his team mate, Mark Gangloff’s previous efforts. The USA walked away with the second World Record of the evening with a time of 3:20.71.

On wining Michael said, “everything is a stepping stone to 2012.” And on whether he likes the British weather, ‘It’s cold – just like home in Baltimore!”

Julia Smit (USA) shaved 1.84 seconds off the World Record in the Women’s 400m Individual Medley to win the race with a time of 4:21.04. The swimmer fought fierce competition from team mate Dagny Knutson who challenged her throughout the race wearing a Speedo LZR Racer suit. Knutson finished with a time of 4:24.31.

In the Men’s 400m Individual Medley, the race belonged to Tyler Clary (USA) from the outset. Wearing his Speedo LZR Racer suit the American was first in the water ahead by a full body length and a half by the mid way point of the race taking home first place for the USA with a time of 4:02.02.

Francesca Halsall of the GBR Speedo sponsored team, took first for the E-Stars in the Women’s 100m Freestyle with a time of 51.54. Halsall who is from Manchester said. “I’m so happy to be swimming in front of my home crowd!”

The Women’s 200m Backstroke saw a battle between Margaret Hoelzer (USA) and the E-Stars Elizabeth Simmons. Wearing her Speedo LZR Racer suit the American was on Elizabeth’s tail throughout the race but the British swimmer stole victory with a time of 2:00.91.

The E-Stars’ Francesca Halsall swam to another triumphant result in the Women’s 100m Butterfly. USA’s Christine Magnuson wearing a Speedo LZR Racer suit, lead from the start but the British swimmer quickly picked up the pace to take first with a time of 55.71. On her second win of the night and whether performing in front of a home crowd helps Halsall said, ”It was a bit of a shock. Yes, I guess it does! I can’t wait for 2012 now.”

Wearing his Speedo LZR Racer Elite suit all eyes were on Michael Phelps for the Men’s 100m Butterfly. The most decorated swimmer in history stole first place from Benjamin Starke of the E-Stars in the most nail-biting race of the night with a time of 50.46.

The Women’s 400m Freestyle saw second (E-Stars) and third (USA) places go to Rebecca Adlington who was wearing her new generation Speedo LZR Racer Elite suit, and Dagny Knutson, who was wearing the original Speedo LZR Racer suit.

In an exciting culmination to the evening and a fitting finale for Speedo Peter Vanderkaay took first place with a time of 3:35.54 in the Men’s 400m Freestyle wearing his Speedo LZR Racer suit.

Following an exciting night of swimming at the British Gas Duel in the Pool the points stand at 89 for the USA and 33 for the E-Stars – can the Europeans make up the difference tomorrow? Watch this space!