Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, the Hong Kong swimmer who trained in the United States and who surprised at the Tokyo Olympics with two silvers in the 100 and 200 free, has become the first star of the short pool World Cup that started this Thursday in Abu Dhabi. In a brilliant 200 free race, in which from the first moment she put her focus and strokes on breaking the record, she has added the first record of the competition, leaving that of the Swedish Sarah Sjöstrom in oblivion (1: 50.31 ). In a great moment of form, Haughey was joined on the podium by Canadian Rebecca Smith (1: 52.24) and American Paige Madden (1: 53.01).
Before then, the day started with an exciting 400 freestyle in which Austrian Felix Auboeck celebrated the victory with passion. They clattered their arms loudly in the water, like flippers, after beating Lithuanian favorite Danas Rapsys (3: 36.23). The Austrian managed to drop from 3:36 (3: 35.90). The European podium was completed by the Swiss Antonio Djakovic, with 3: 36.83.
Canada’s level continues to amaze. Even if their most iconic swimmer, like Penny Oleksiak, are able to hang the gold in the free 4×100 relays, formerly with the United States with a time of 3: 28.52, ahead of Sweden, who was bronze (3: 28.80). In the 400 feminine styles, also the anthem that resounded with force in the desert pool (with hardly any audience due to restrictions) was for Tessa Blindfold (4: 25.55). The silver and bronze were hung by the Irish Ellen Walshe (4: 26.52) and the American Melanie Margalis (4: 26.63).
The day could not close without the Italian exhibition. First in the 200 butterfly with the triumph of Alberto Razzetti, with a great mark. In the absence of Olympic champion Kristof Milak, the young Italian continues to approach stratospheric records (1: 49.06). Silver went to the Swiss Noe Ponti (1: 49.81) and bronze to the eternal Chad le Clos, a super class (1: 49.84). In the men’s 4×100 free relay, Russia beat Italy in the last meters. 3: 03.45 for Russia, led by Kolesnikov, by 3: 03.61 for Italy. America was bronze.
Razzetti himself had rounded off his afternoon with bronze in the 200 styles, a test dominated by the Japanese Daiya Seto with 1: 51.15, followed by the American Carston Foster, with 1: 51.35. Razzetti achieved 1: 51.45. A final in which Hugo González could not be, who was out in the morning with a time of 1: 57.00 (19th). He also did not make the final in the 100 backstroke by finishing 16th at 51.34. Jessica Vall, Jimena Pérez and Catalina Corró did not advance to the afternoon session.