Faamausili-Banse claims NZ's third World Youth Swim title
Auckland swimmer Orinoco Faamausili-Banse, hospitalised earlier in the week, recovered to win New Zealand’s third title at the FINA World Youth Championships in Mexico today.
Faamausili-Banse, 17, took out the final of the 50m freestyle at Monterrey, breaking the New Zealand Open record in the process and setting a Championship Record.
The Laser Mt Eden club swimmer won in 22.37s which broke the previous national open record of 22.51 that he held jointly with fellow Beijing Olympian Mark Herring.
His victory follows the double gold medals won by Daniel Bell in the 100m backstroke and 100m butterfly.
The win was more remarkable after the big Auckland sprinter was hospitalised earlier in the week after feeling dizzy and shaking following the heats of the relay.
Faamausili-Banse was fastest in his heat in 22.76 and reduced this to 22.71 in finishing third fastest in the semifinal. He was in charge in the final, making an strong start and winning the final from Italy’s Luca Dotto by 3/10ths of a second.
“It’s pretty awesome. I just wanted to swim fast today,” Faamausili-Banse said. “I had swum well in the semifinals but not as fast as I wanted. My coach Glenn Hamblyn helped me to relax more and things went well.
I was really pleased with my start and it felt really good.”
Faamausili-Banse said the team was on a high following Bell’s two gold medals which had been his inspiration in the final today.
He felt well after the health scare earlier in the week.
“I could not stop shaking and I had pins and needles in my hands. And I felt a bit dizzy, so they decided to put me into hospital. I’ve was put on antibiotics because they thought it was an infection and I have come right quickly.”
Faamausili-Banse said his main aim was now the 100m freestyle tomorrow, the event he will swim in the relay at Beijing next month.
“I really want to go fast and get another personal best so I can show the rest of the relay team that it’s all on for Beijing.”
Bell put himself in contention for a third medal when he won his semifinal of the 50m butterfly today. He clocked a personal best 23.77 which was a new Championship Record and a new national age group record.
Earlier Bell was second fastest in the heats of the 50m butterfly with Faamausili-Banse ninth fastest, before he scratched from the evening semifinal to concentrate on the 50m freestyle.
Earlier Wellington’s Ellen Quirke finished 13th fastest in the heats of the 200m individual medley while the men’s team of Kurt Bassett, Kane Radford, Shane Patience and Bell were ninth fastest in the 4x200m freestyle relay to just miss out on a place in the final.
The championships continue until Monday.
New Zealand results from the fourth day of the FINA World Youth Swimming Championships in Mexico:
Final:
50m freestyle: Orinoco Faamausili-Banse (NZL) 22.37, 1 (Championship and NZ Open record); Luca Dotto (ITA) 22.63, 2; Luca Leonardi (ITA) 22.70, 3.
Semifinals:
50m butterfly: Daniel Bell (NZL) 23.77, 1 (Championship and NZ Age record); Ivan Lendjer (SRB) 23.98, 2; James Doolan (GBR) 24.35, 3.
Heats:
50m butterfly: Bell (NZL) 24.17, 2; Faamausili-Banse (NZL) 25.02, 9.
200m individual medley: Ellen Quirke (NZL) 2:20.19, 13.
4x200m freestyle relay: NZL (K Bassett, K Radford, S Patience, D Bell) 7:35.51, 9.
