EXPERT'S EYE 8 - 1500 Freestyle, the Italian way. 100m backstroke WR for Murphy (R)

Two more gold for the United States in the medley relays. Michael Phelps finished his business on his fifth gold, sixth medal, in Rio (28 overall, 23 gold at the Olympics). Pernille Blume (DEN) won the 50 free

Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri and Gabriele Detti together on the podium, to we wear respectively the gold and the bronze medal. It was the most optimistic of assumptions for the Italian pair, and it has been fulfilled. The horses of coach Stefano Morini, who for years have been training together at the National Training Center of Ostia, near Rome, have responded fully to the expectations ..

Paltrinieri took off almost immediately, after the first 100 meters. Up to 1,400 meters he swam under the world record splits of China's Yang Sun. Then, in the last two laps, while continuing almost at the same pace, he closed in 14: 34.57, the fourth world performance ever (one hundredth more than the record that Grant Hackett had set in 2001 in 14: 34.56), and 0.53 seconds shy of the European record he set in May in London at the Europeans.

Be careful, do not forget the ability of Yang Sun in the change of pace and his exceptional acceleration in the final laps, which explains his world records that he achived previously.

Gabriele Detti showed a tremendous improvement, lowering his personal best of about 8 seconds, at 14: 40.86. A natural born fighter Detti, never tamed, never sated, returns home with two strongly wanted medals, both bronze, the first on the 400 freestyle on the day one.

Between the two Italians fitted Connor Jager who set a new American record with 14: 39.48. Fourth the other American Jordan Wilimovsky, favorite for the 10km open water, in 14: 45.03, his best time ever. Only sixth Mack Horton (AUS), with 14: 49.54.

In the women’s 50m freestyle Pernille Blume, Danish of 22 years, reiterated the fastest time in this event in Rio and won in 24.07, almost to her surprise. The first six touched separated by a minimum gap, 2 hundredths of a second from one another, an unprecedented outcome. The winner of the 100 meters, Simone Manuel (USA), took silver with 24.09, while bronze went to Aliaksandra Herasimenia (BLR) with 24.11; Francesca Halsall (GBR) 24.13, Cate Campbell (AUS) 24.15, and Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) 24.17, Bronte Campbell (AUS) 24.32 and Etiene Medeiros (BRA) in 24.69 followed.

The time of the winner was 2 hundredth above Kromowidjojo’s winning time of four years ago at the London Olympics. As happened in the 100 meters, also in this race the Dutchwoman has failed title defense: for her to win, maybe in a tie, it would have sufficed to repeat the time at which in May, in London, she won the European title, exactly 24.07.

Also in this race the favorite of the vigil was Cate Campbell, credited with a fast 23.84 from the Australian Trials in April. She remained a long way off. All others touched with their best seasonal times.

The United States won both the 4x100m medley relays.

The men’s team retained their title from 2012 winning with a new Olympic record of 3: 27.95 (was 3: 29.34), 0.67 seconds away from the world record.
Ryan Murphy, winner of both, backstroke events in Rio, gave the USA an early lead swimming in the new world record time of 51.85 (25.13 at the 50) besting that set by compatriot Aaron Peirsol with 51.94 on July 8, 2009, in Indianapolis.

The Americans lost ground in the breaststroke leg, when Cody Miller (59.03) had to give way to the formidable breaststroker Adam Peaty, who carried Britain in the lead with an amazing 56.59 (26.09). The turning point was when Michael Phelps dived into the pool to swim the third leg, butterfly. With Phelps everything changed. Michael soon jumped to the command and completed his leg in 50.33, delivering a comfortable lead to Nathan Adrian. The sprinter, twice bronze medalist in Rio, did not spoil, rather incremented the gap swimming his leg in 46.74, and anchored his team to victory. For the United States is yet another medal, for Phelps the sixth here in Rio, the fifth gold; his record of Olympic medals stops (for now?) to 28 medals, 23 gold. Super chapeau!

Before the award ceremony a boy raised a sign with the giant picture of Phelps and one word imprinted on, CHARACTER: just what Michael has shown here in Rio, in addition to its usual, infinite class.
Great Britain was second in 3:29.24, Australia third in 3:29.93, anchored by Kyle Chalmers (gold in the 100 free) in 46.72, the fastest leg.

The men’s victory was preceded by that of the United States’ women, with 3: 53.13 (with Simone Manuel in last lap), on Australia in 3: 55.00 ahead of Denmark by one hundredth; the Danes, anchored by Pernille Blume, set a European record with 3: 55.01. China was third in 3: 55.18, ahead of Canada (3: 55.49), and Russia (3: 55.66).

The USA were third in 2012 behind gold medalist Australia and the Netherlands, silver medalist.

Australia's Cate Campbell with 57.17 and USA’ Simone Manuel with 52.43 managed the fastest legs.

WATER POLO

In the Women's Water Polo third preliminary day both Italy and the USA claimed clear cut victories, with the same 5-goal gap, respectively over Russia (10-5) and Hungary (11-6) top groups, to end the preliminaries on top of their respective groups.

Both teams are favorite to win their quarter final match in two-day time and make semi-finals.

Day 3 Results
Group A: Russia v Italy 5-10; Australia v Brazil 10-3
Group B: China v Spain 8-12; Hungary v United States 6-11
Team Standings
Group A: 1. Italy 6, 2. Australia 4, 3. Russia 2, 4. Brazil 0
Group B: 1. USA 6, 2. Spain 4, 3. Hungary 2, 4. China 0

DIVING

In diving the women's 3m semi-finals yesterday were topped by the Chinese. World champion Tingmao Shi, targets second Rio gold in Rio, after leading the qualifiers for the final. Shi, who shared the synchronised 3m title with Wu Minxia on the opening day, was back to top form in the semi-final on a total of 385.00 points, more than 20 ahead of Chinese team-mate Zi He, the 2013 world champion. On her turn Zi He, with 364.05 points, was more than 20 points clear of third-placed Jennifer Abel of Canada, 343.45.

European champion Tania Cagnotto of Italy, silver medallist in the 3m synchro with Francesca Dallapè, dropped out of the top four on her final dive, finishing seventh on 324.40 points, behind Australia’s Madison Keeney (fourth on 326.35) and Abigail Johnston (USA) and Yan Yee Ng. (MAS), who were joint fifth. The scores are not carried forward and the divers will start again from zero in the final.