Al Bello/Getty Images
Australia’s Izaac Stubblety-Cook made a late push in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke Thursday at the Tokyo Olympics, claiming the gold medal in the event.
Stubblety-Cook (2:06.38) caught and passed the Netherlands’ Arno Kamminga (2:07.01) and Finland’s Matti Mattsson (2:07.13) in the final lap. His time set a new Olympic record, with the Russian Olympic Committee’s Anton Chupkov setting the world record (2:06.12) in 2019.
#TokyoOlympics @NBCOlympics
OLYMPIC RECORD for Australia’s Zac Stubblety-Cook! <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/TokyoOlympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#TokyoOlympics</a><br><br>????: NBC<br>????: <a href=”https://t.co/Sdse4JEfNh”>https://t.co/Sdse4JEfNh</a><br>????: NBC Sports App <a href=”https://t.co/LK0fVb8t2y”>pic.twitter.com/LK0fVb8t2y</a>
The United States’ Nic Fink (2:07.93) finished fifth.
Chupkov (2:07.24)—who won a bronze medal in the event in 2016 and was one of the favorites this year—finished fourth, well off his world-record pace.
Stubblety-Cook’s gold was Australia’s seventh of the Tokyo Games and 17th medal overall. The United States currently holds the most medals overall with 32 (12 golds), while Japan has claimed the most golds with 13 (22 overall).
It was a fantastic race from Stubblety-Cook, who kept himself in contention before a blistering 25 meters to close the race.
Jake Duke @JakeDuke1
Most impressive thing about the Aussie swimmers at the <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Olympics</a> is how strong they’ve finished … all of them seem to have another gear in the final 25! Super fit! Zac Stubblety-Cook takes ???? in the 200 breaststroke!! ????????♂️
Phil Lutton @phillutton78
Zac Stubblety-Cook is the Olympic 200m breaststroke champion and executes the perfect race on the grandest stage. They went crazy at the start and he just powers over the top in 2:06.38, a new Olympic record. He was so composed all week and that was just clinical <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tokyo2020?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Tokyo2020</a>
QUENTIN HULL @QuentinHull
Gee there have been some excellent tactical swims from <a href=”https://twitter.com/DolphinsAUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@DolphinsAUS</a> during this week. Stubblety-Cook another beautifully judged and executed swim. All power to the athletes and their coaches. <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Swimming?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Swimming</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Olympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Olympics</a>
Cook swam a 2:07:00 at the Sydney Open in June before posting a blistering 2:06.28 at the Australian Olympic Trials.
“Sydney was quite a bit of a confidence boost, going 2:07 and going the same back-end as Chupkov—I started thinking, ‘If I’ve got more rest I can go out a bit quicker and have that speed a bit easier,'” he told reporters at those trials. “It’s exciting but I’ve just got to take it on my stride and keep on the process.”
He did just that Thursday. And now he’s an Olympic record-holder and gold medalist.
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