Inauspicious Morning for the Spanish Delegation
Aside from the 4x200 freestyle relay, it was not a great morning for the Spanish delegation. Out of the six scheduled events, only four took place because Rafa Muñoz withdrew from the 100 butterfly and Melani Costa from the 200 backstroke. However, Costa did participate in the last event of the morning, the 800 freestyle, where she failed to qualify for the final as expected. This was because Costa has never swum this distance before and treated it as an experience, once Mireia Belmonte dropped out and left a vacant spot.
Costa and Bea Gómez competed in the penultimate heat but did not make the cut. Gómez was not aiming high either due to a setback after the National Championships in Malaga. An abnormality in her heart was detected, leading her to undergo an operation to correct a defect in a valve. Although it did not pose any serious health risks, it did affect her preparation. In the end, Costa finished in 13th place with a time of 8:34.89, while Gómez, with a time of 8:41.71, placed 22nd.
The morning witnessed Miguel Ortiz-Cañavate's debut in the 50 freestyle. The Madrid-born swimmer, who resides and trains in Michigan (United States), clocked a time of 22.66 and finished in 25th place. His big day will begin tomorrow with the 50 backstroke, an event in which he holds the seventh best time. Also, Duane da Rocha, who underwent an appendectomy about two months ago and arrived in Kazan out of shape, failed to qualify for the 200 backstroke, an event in which she is the European champion. Da Rocha's time of 2:11.53 puts her in the semifinals with the 16th best time.
In the other events, Laszlo Cseh continues to showcase his excellent form by finishing first in the 100 butterfly heats with a time of 50.91, setting the fastest time of the year. No one has gone below 51 seconds since the London Olympics. Katie Ledecky dominated the 800 and will enter tomorrow's final with the best time and a chance to break the world record. It would be her fifth gold medal.