Swimmers predict fall of records at the ‘fast’ Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex

The 10th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Dubai saw the fall of a record in it’s first session, when US swim star Ryan Lochte beat Ian Thorpe’s 11-year-old 200m freestyle mark.

• Lochte beats Thorpedo’s Championship 200m freestyle mark

Thorpe set the record of 1:43.28 in Hong Kong in 1999 yet Lochte came in under that time in 1:42.28 in apparently effortless fashion.

“My first race is usually my worst but I was lucky to win this one,” said the three-time Olympic gold medalist.

Lochte’s teammate, Rebecca Soni, who qualified for the semi-finals of the women’s 50m breaststroke this evening, said the purpose-built Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Sports Complex was “fast”.

“It feels quite exciting and the pool feels fast,” said the 200m breaststroke Olympic champion. “It felt great out there and I love the atmosphere.”

Australia’s Felicity Galvez, who has won eight short course gold medals since 2007, was expecting more records to be broken.

“The heats have been pretty quick and I think that will be the story for the rest of the meet. I think there will be world records because people have just forgotten about the suits and are just training hard,” she said.

Mr Obaid al Shamsi, Championships director said: “We are proud that a championship record has been set at our spectacular new venue, especially so early in the meeting. Congratulations to Ryan Lochte and we hope we will see more records falling as the competition progresses.”

Tickets to the Championships are available at the door, at the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex, which is located on the Dubai Bypass Road (E611) or can be purchased at selected Spinneys stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as well as online at www.boxofficeme.com.