I swim. Federico starts strong in the drums, then slows down. His seventh time overall At 4.41 am the challenge for the final of the 200 butterfly. “What an effort, but I braked a bit”
PAVIA
Federico Burdisso wins the Olympic semifinal of the 200 butterfly between lights and some shadows. The 19 year old champion from Pavia, Italian distance record holder, obtained the qualification in the fourth battery, establishing the seventh overall time. He started very strong, so much so that he could easily lead over his opponents (his time trial in the middle of the race was the best of all the heats); in the second part, however, Federico slowed down, suffering the return of both the young Taiwanese Kuan Hunh Wang, who made the personal (1’54 “44, second best time in qualifying), and the American Zach Harting, also at personal best and fourth best time trial. The comment of the Pavia talent Federico Burdisso at the end was calm: «I had some decent passes, overall – said Federico – Up to the middle of the race I have to say that I had good sensations, I seemed to be fine, then in fact I did a bit of effort, even if it is true that I pulled the brake a little. I must also add that at the European Championships (where he won a beautiful silver) I struggled less. It is my first Olympics, the atmosphere is unusual without an audience, but it is equally beautiful to be there ». The best time of the qualifiers went to the Hungarian Kristof Milak, who dominated the last heat, resulting in the only swimmer to go under the wall of 1.54 (1.53.58). In the semifinals also the other blue Giacomo Carini, with the tenth time overall in 1.55.33 thanks to the third place in the session won by Ponti.
The challenge that is worth the final
Today at 11.41 am Tokyo time (4.41 am in Italy) Burdisso will be engaged in the second semifinal, while Carini will swim in the first. The best eight times qualify for the final. The 19 year old from Pavia will be in the water in sixth position; in the first will swim the Polish Krzysztof Chimielewski, in the second the Japanese idol of the house Daiwa Seto, in the third the Swiss Noè Ponti, in the fourth Milak, in the fifth the Brazilian Leonardo De Deus, in the seventh the American Gunnar Bentz, in the eighth the French Leon Marchand . Federico Burdisso in this battery boasts the fourth qualifying time, even if, knowing his talents of Pavia, stimulated by the comparison with the champion Milak, it would not be surprising if he closed with a time well below 1’55 “. –