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Korea Wins 3 Taekwondo Golds at World University Games
witzerland's Flavia Rigamonti turned her world championships silver into gold at the World University Games pool Thursday, setting a games record in the process.
Rigamonti, who finished second to American Kate Ziegler over 1,500 meters at the world championships in Melbourne in March, easily outdistanced the field at the Thamassat University Aquatic Center to win the 800 in 8 minutes, 25.59 seconds.
That was more than nine seconds quicker than Italy's Federica Pellegrini (8:34.97). Kelsey Ditto of the United States was third in a time of 8:35.30.
``I didn't know what to expect, I knew that Federica was a fast swimmer,'' said Rigamonti. ``I was just trying to pace myself.''
Rigamonti said she had changed her training schedule this year.
``I've been concentrating on quality workouts, doing a lot more running and yoga,'' she said.
Elsewhere on the first day of medal events at the games, South Korea picked up three golds in its official martial art of taekwondo while China won the women's 20-kilometer walk.
Competition in the University Games, which are held every two years, is open to student athletes between the ages of 17 and 28 who attend school or have not been out of university or its equivalent for more than a year.
Hyun Kyoung-hwa won gold in the women's over-72 kilogram taekwondo class and Jung Sun-young in the under-72 kg. Countryman Heo Jung-young took the men's over-84 kg division. Iran's Yousef Karami won the gold medal in the men's under-84 kg, preventing a South Korean sweep of the four finals Thursday in the sport.
In an early swimming final, Japan's Ryusuke Sakata, who competes often on the World Cup short-course circuit, won the men's 200-meter butterfly in the 50-meter pool.
The American women's 4-x-100-meter relay team set a Universiade swim record of 3:40.85. Courtney Cashion, Kara Denby, Andrea Hupman and Emily Silver turned in two record performances Thursday as the team broke the meet record in the preliminary round with a time of 3:41.42, before breaking their own record in the finals.
Thu August 9, 2007 10:38 EDT
DENNIS PASSA AP Sports Writer BANGKOK, Thailand
South Korea's Heo Jung-young, right, exchanges kicks with Italy's Leonardo Basile during their men's taekwondo heavyweight class final at the 24th World University Games in Pathumthanni province, central Thailand Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007. Heo won the match and took the gold medal. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong) |