Bell claims second World Youth swimming title

West Auckland swimmer Daniel Bell has become a double world champion at the FINA World Junior Championships in Monterrey, Mexico today.

Following his victory in the 100m backstroke yesterday, the 18-year-old from West Auckland Aquatics has taken out the final of the 100m butterfly.

Bell, who will compete in the medley relay at the Beijing Olympics, established a championship record with his 52.52s effort in winning the final. He held off fast finishing Serbian Ivan Lendjer to win the contest with just 35/100ths of a second separating the first three.

It is New Zealand’s third World Youth title with Natalie Wiegersma (Southland) winning at the inaugural championship two years ago.

It was a bitter sweet night for Bell who had earlier in the day finished second fastest in the heats of the 50m backstroke.

He stepped straight from the victory dais to the 50m backstroke semifinals, but unfortunately slipped off the blocks at the start and finished 10th overall, missing out on a place in the final.

His Beijing bound team-mate Orinoco Faamausili-Banse (Laser Mt Eden) will attempt to make it three medals at the meet for New Zealand after qualifying for the final of the 50m freestyle.

He was fastest in his heat in 22.76 and reduced this to 22.71 in finishing third fastest in the semifinals, after recovering from illness that forced the scratching of the men’s relay team two days ago.

Dunedin’s Shane Patience finished eighth in the final of the 800m freestyle today after a superb performance. His time of 8:13.76 was an improvement of a huge 13 seconds off his previous best.

New Zealand lies in 12th place on the points ladder, headed by USA.

The championships continue until Monday.

New Zealand results from the second day of the FINA World Youth Swimming Championships in Mexico:
Final:
100m butterfly: Daniel Bell (NZL) 52.52, 1 (Meet record); Ivan Lendjer (SRB) 52.62, 2; Tim Phillips (USA) 52.87, 3.
800m freestyle: Shane Patience (NZL) 8:13.76, 8.

Semifinal:
50m freestyle: Luca Leonardi (ITA) 22.66, 1; Virdhawak Khade (IND) 22.69, 2; Orinoco Faamausili-Banse (NZL) 22.71, 3.
50m backstroke: Bell 26.77, 10.

Heats:
50m backstroke: Bell 26.26, 2; Kurt Bassett 27.11, 18.
50m freestyle: Faamausili-Banse 22.76, 1.
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