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Mckeon bags two gold medals as Doha World Cup concludes

Mckeon bags two gold medals as Doha World Cup concludes

Alkass Digital

Australian superstar Emma Mckeon clinched two gold medals to steal the limelight on the final night at the Hamad Aquatic Center as the FINA Swimming World Cup Doha 2021 concluded yesterday.      

Mckeon, coming to the Qatari capital with an overall lead, won the women’s 100m freestyle with a time of 51.15 for her second gold on the last day of the three-day meet. Mckeon’s team-mate Madison Wilson (51.95) and Swede Michelle Coleman (52.17) secured second and third positions respectively in the event. 

“I am pretty happy as it’s been a time since I got a double. I went with a mindset to win and I am happy with my time. Doha is a beautiful place and we loved our time here,” Mckeon said after her victory.  

Earlier, Mckeon, who won four gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, recorded a comfortable victory in women’s 100m butterfly with a time of 55.83, outpacing Switzerland’s Maria Ugolkova (56.94) and team-mate Holly Barratt (57.78).

In a star-studded men’s 50m butterfly final, American Tom Shields (22.22) defeated Australia’s Kyle Chalmers (22.24) for another gold medal in Doha. Hungary’s Szebasztian Szabo clinched bronze medal with a time of 22.27. 

It was Shields’ second butterfly gold after his 100m win on the opening day. However, the American star lost to South Africa’s Pieter Coetze in the 100m backstroke final later in the evening. 

Coetze clocked 50.86 to clinch another victory with Shields taking silver with a time of 51.12. Yakov Toumarkin (ISR) came third in 51.54. 

“A great finish to racing in Doha. Now I can go home and enjoy. I really enjoyed my time in Doha,” said 17-year-old Coetze.  

Meanwhile, Japanese star Daiya Seto denied Dutchman Arno Kamminga a sweep in breaststroke events in Doha after winning the 200m race with a time of 2:01.65. 

Kamminga, who claimed 50m and 100m breaststroke victories on the first two days of the meet, had to content with a silver medal after he touched the finish line in 2:02.05. Russia’s Anton Chupkov was third with a time of 2:03.08. 

 “I am very surprised to win this race. I am very happy victory and with my time in the race,” said Seto. 

Also yesterday, Sunwoo Hwang (KOR) notched up another victory in Doha, winning the men’s 200m freestyle in 1:41.17. Rising South African star Matthew Sates was second with a time of 1:41.33 while Danas Rapsys (LTU) secured third position in 1:42.26. 

“It is my first World Cup event and I am very happy with my performance. It was a difficult race as my opponents were very tough,” the South Korean said after sealing an impressive win.   

Dutchwoman Kira Toussaint also excelled on the final night, securing her third gold medal in as many days as she topped the women’s 200m backstroke final with a time of 2:02.12. 

“It is my second best time and I am very pleased with the time. I am happy to win another gold medal. My favourite is 50m [backstroke],” said Toussaint.  

Michelle Coleman (SWE) and Zsuzsanna Jakabos (HUN) finished second and third after finishing the race in 2:06.43 and 2:10.14 respectively. 

In the women’s 50m breaststroke final, Russia’s Yuliya Efimova sealed victory in 30.11, with Belgium’s Fanny Lecluyse (30.48) and South Korean Suyeon Back (31.01) taking silver and bronze medals respectively. 

In final event of the meet, Switzerland’s Maria Ugolkova won a gold medal in women’s 200m individual medley. She raced to victory in 2:07.21, beating Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos (2:09.37) and Slovenian Katja Fain (2:10.58).

Athletes will now head to Kazan for the fourth and final meet of the FINA Swimming World Cup 2021 series, which will be held from October 28 to 30.