The race was almost a replica of the 200m butterfly final earlier in the week where Chad beat Youth Olympic Games Ambassador Michael Phelps to take gold. This time, Michael, the most decorated Olympian ever, was unbeatable, leaving Chad in joint second with Russia?s Evgeny Korotyshkin. Also in the pool, bronze medallist Tang Yi of China helped her team to progress to the women?s 4x100m medley relay.
Athletics got off to an incredible start yesterday, with our Youth Olympic Games hotshots taking their places in the Stadium. Qatar middle-distance runner Hamzah Driouch cruised into the semi-finals of the men?s 1500m. At just 17, Hamzah finished heat two of round one with a time of 3:39:67 in second place behind Saudi Arabia?s Mohamed Shaween after he led the group of 15 for the majority of the race. Hamzah will race again today, and the final of the 1500m is set to take place on Thursday.
Austria?s Ivona Dadic ended the first day of her heptathlon campaign in a respectable 28th place in the standings after four events, including the 100m hurdles, in which she set a personal best. Staying on the track, Romania?s Bianca Razor and Hicham Sigueni of Morocco gave it their all in the women?s 400m and men?s 3,000m steeplechase respectively, but will not progress through the heat stages.
The day was rounded off with impressive performances from two YOG boxers, Cuba?s Robeisy Ramirez Carrazana in the men?s fly (52kg) and India?s Vikas Krishnan in the men?s welter (69kg), both progressing to the quarter-finals.
The Youth Olympic Games alumni are certainly making their mark, and with a week to go there is still plenty more to come!