China, Hungary and Russia had good reasons to celebrate during the second day of swimming finals at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires (ARG). The three nations managed to earn two gold medals each, in a session highlighted by eight finals – the remaining two titles going to Lithuania and Norway.
The day started with the expected victory of Kliment Kolesnikov in the men’s 100m back. After winning on Day 1 the gold in the mixed 4x100m free relay with his team, the successful Russian got his first individual title, touching home in 53.26. Kolesnikov is the only swimmer present in Argentina with a World Record, in the 50m backstroke: all eyes will be on the Russian ace during this race, and the inevitable question will be in everyone’s mind: will he improve his 24.00 performance from the last European Championships?
The Magyar delegation could then celebrate two consecutive successes. In the women’s 200m butterfly, Blanka Berecz largely dominated operations, with a comfortable victory in 2:10.37. She was immediately followed by her teammate Kristof Milak in the men’s 200m free – gold in 1:47.73. After winning the 400m free on Day 1, he is also the favourite to triumph in his two pet events, the 100m and 200m butterfly. In the latter, he is the currently European champion, while in the shorter distance he was silver medallist at the Worlds in Budapest 2017.
Lithuania shone next. The country is known in recent years because of its breaststroke ace Ruta Meilutyte, a consecrated breaststroker. The tradition will perhaps continue with the new “kid on the block”, Agne Seleikaite, who brilliantly took gold in the women’s 50m breast here in Buenos Aires, in a time of 31.37.
China appeared strong in the men’s 100m breaststroke, with Sun Jiajun earning gold in 1:00.59. Denis Petrashov, from Kyrgyzstan, was a surprising silver medallist, touching in 1:01.34. The second success for the Chinese team came in the final event of the session, the women’s 4x100m medley relay – victory in a convincing 4:05.18, after a thrilling final lap with Australia (4:05.46).
In the meantime, Daria Vaskina gave the second gold for Russia in the women’s 100m backstroke, in what was perhaps the most undecided race of the day. Vaskina touched home in 1:00.45, but was closely followed by Kaylee McKeown (AUS, 1:00.58), and by Rhyan White (USA, 1:00.60).
The last individual title of this second day went to Tomoe Hvas, from Norway, in the men’s 200m individual medley. The Nordic young swimmer convincingly won in 1:59.58.