Americans Josh Prenot and Kevin Cordes took to the pool where they were looking to medal in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke final. This final was going to be a highly competitive one as it was less than a second difference between the final qualifier, Dmitry Balandin of Kazakhstan, and top qualifier, Ippei Watanabe of Japan.
Prenot won the silver medal, just getting outtouched by Balandin at the end by .07 seconds. Russia’s National Record holder Anton Chupkov took the bronze over Great Britain’s Andrew Willis by .08 seconds. Balandin's win is Kazakhstan's first medal ever in swimming at the Olympics.
The Field
Some of the big names were already mentioned in the medalists, but many were underestimating Marco Koch of Germany, the World Champion in this event. Yasuhiro Koseki was sixth in the 100-meter breaststroke earlier and fifth in the Worlds so he was a contender too. Willis was the second-fastest qualifier in the event, and Watanabe held the Olympic Record which he set earlier and had the second-fastest time in the world this year behind Prenot.
Koseki Out Like A Bullet
Cordes was flying in this race earlier in the day, threatening the World Record mark after 150 meters before fading. Koseki was first at the wall at the 50 meters under World Record pace along with Cordes while Koch in third.
The Japanese in Lane 6 continued to swim at a blistering pace in the second 50. He had a half body length lead over the World Record line with about 15 meters before the 100 and touched the wall nearly a second ahead of the World Record line. Balandin was over a half second back while Prenot was third at the wall over a second back halfway through the race.
The 23-year-old American was looking to make up some ground in the third 50 which would allow him to show off his final closing speed for a potential shot at gold in the final 50. Once again Koseki was ahead of the field and the World Record line, moving over a second ahead of that mark. It was the same two swimmers who touched second and third at the wall at the 100 mark at the 150 mark.
Charging Swimmers Chase Down Koseki As Balandin Stuns Field For Gold
After the turn, the field began to make their move on Koseki who looked to have tightened up after a fast first 150 meters. He was looking to hold on for gold, but at this point, it was anyone’s race. The swimmers began to bunch as it looked to be a six-swimmer battle for three spots on the podium. Koch and Cordes were out of the picture.
Koseki was still holding on, but Balandin made his move as well as Prenot. The World Record line eluded all of them, as the Kazakh reached for the wall, just ahead of Prenot to steal gold. Chupkov of Russia won bronze.
Top qualifier Watanabe finished in sixth while countryman Koseki, who led for 175 meters, finished in fifth. Kevin Cordes finished in last.