Lochte Earns Second Medal and Spofforth Advances in the London Games
Sunday, July 29, 2012 | Men's Swimming & Diving
It was the much anticipated final of the men?s 4x100m freestyle relay that headlined the evening swim session. France was looking to avenge the last second loss to the United States from four years ago. The group of Nathan Adrian, Michael Phelps, Cullen Jones and Ryan Lochte took to the pool for the US. Lochte anchored the team to a silver medal, finishing just behind France in a time of 3:10.38. Lochte now has two medals so far in the London Olympics.
Former Gator Darian Townsend also competed in the final of the 4x100m freestyle relay. He swam the second leg for the South African team that finished fifth in the event in a time of 3:13.45.
Two Gators took to the pool for the 200m freestyle as Ryan Lochte and Brett Fraser swam in the first heat of the semifinals. Lochte finished second in the heat in a time of 1:46.31 and Fraser finished sixth with a time of 1:47.01. Lochte advances to the finals as the fifth place qualifier. The final will take place Monday, July 30 at 2:42 p.m.
Gemma Spofforth improved on her time from the heats in the 100m backstroke clocking in at 59.70 to finish third in her heat. Incoming freshman Sinead Russell was in the second semifinal heat of the 100m backstroke. She finished eighth with a time of 1:00.57. Spofforth advances to the final as the sixth place qualifier. It will take place Monday, July 30 at 2:49 p.m.
Dana Vollmer started the evening off with a bang winning gold in the 100m butterfly in world record time. Her time of 55.98 makes her the first woman to swim the 100m butterfly under 56 seconds.
Morning Session: Heats
It was a busy morning for Gator swimmers on Day 2 as nine letterwinners saw action in the qualifying session.
Gemma Spofforth and incoming freshman Sinead Russell were first to enter the pool in the morning. Spofforth and Russell were both in Heat 5 of the 100m back and finished fourth and fifth respectively. Spofforth finished in a time of 1:00.05 and Russell a time of 1:00.10, advancing each of them to the semifinals. Spofforth is the current world record holder.
The Gators had three participants in the men?s 200m freestyle event. Former Gators Brett Fraser and Ryan Lochte were in heat five. Lochte was back in the pool after his gold medal performance yesterday. He finished second in his heat in a time of 1:46.45. Brett Fraser finished fifth in the heat in a time of 1:47.74. Both advanced to the semifinals that will take place at 2:37 p.m. today. Lochte qualified second and will be in heat two, while Brett will be in the first heat. Shaune Fraser competed in heat six of the 200m freestyle, finishing eighth in a time of 1:48.53.
Bradley Ally competed in his second event of the Olympic games as he swam the 100m backstroke. Ally finished first in his heat in a time of 56.27. Omar Pinzon also competed in the 100m backstorke. He finished second in his heat in a time of 55.37. Melani Costa-Schmid swam in the heats of the women?s 400m freestyle, she finished fifth in her heat in a time of 4:06.75.
Rounding out the morning action was the 4x100m freestyle relay. Darian Townsend swam the second leg as a member of the South African relay team. The South African team finished second in heat one with a time of 3:13.93. They advanced to the finals as the seventh seed later today at 3:45 p.m.
| Gators in the 2012 Olympic Games: Schedule & Results for Sunday, July 29, 2012 | |||||
| Gator | Sport | Country | Time (ET) | Event | Result |
| Swimming | Canada | 5:00 AM | Heats: 100m Backstroke | 5th in heat, advanced to semifinals, 1:00.10 | |
| Swimming | Great Britain | 5:00 AM | Heats: 100m Backstroke | 4th in heat, advanced to semifinals, 1:00.05 | |
| Swimming | Cayman Islands | 5:20 AM | Heats: 200m Freestyle | 5th in heat, advanced to semifinals, 1:47.74 | |
| Swimming | Cayman Islands | 5:20 AM | Heats: 200m Freestyle | 8th in heat, 1:48.53 | |
| Swimming | U.S.A. | 5:20 AM | Heats: 200m Freestyle | 2nd in heat, advanced to semifinals, 1:46.45 | |
| Swimming | Barbados | 6:03 AM | Heats: 100m Backstroke | 1st in heat, 56.27 | |
| Swimming | Colombia | 6:03 AM | Heats: 100m Backstroke | 2nd in heat, 55.37 | |
| Swimming | Spain | 6:23 AM | Heats: 400m Freestyle | 5th in heat, 4:06.75 | |
| Swimming | South Africa | 7:05 AM | Heats: 4x100m Freestyle Relay | 2nd in heat, 3:13.93, advanced to final | |
| Swimming | U.S.A. | 2:30 PM | Final: 100m Butterfly | WON GOLD MEDAL, 55.98 (WR) | |
| Swimming | Cayman Islands | 2:37 PM | Semifinals: 200m Freestyle | 6th in semifinal heat, 1:47.01, did not advance | |
| Swimming | U.S.A. | 2:37 PM | Semifinals: 200m Freestyle | 2nd in semifinal heat, 1:46.31, advanced to final | |
| Swimming | Canada | 3:52 PM | Semifinals: 100m Backstroke | 8th in semifinal heat, 1:00.57, did not advance to final | |
| Swimming | Great Britain | 3:52 PM | Semifinals: 100m Backstroke | 3rd in semifinal heat, 6th overall to advance to final, 59.70 | |
| Swimming | U.S.A | 3:54 PM | Final: 4x100m Freestyle Relay | WON SILVER MEDAL, 3:10.38 | |
| Swimming | South Africa | 3:54 PM | Final: 4x100m Freestyle Relay | Finished 5th, 3:13.45 | |
