July 30, 2011
SHANGHAI, CHINA -
Former California standout Nathan Adrian again proved he is among the world's elite and one of the United States' top sprinters as he placed fourth in the finals of the 50-meter freestyle Saturday (July 30) at the World Championships in Shanghai, China. Adrian, who helped Cal to the 2011 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving team title, finished the 50 free in a time of 21.93, trailing only Cesar Cielo (21.52) of Brazil, Luca Dotto of Italy (21.90) and Alain Bernard of France (21.92).
It was the third time he competed in the finals at the 2011 World Championships for Adrian. On July 24, he swam the anchor leg (47.40) of the United States' 400-meter freestyle relay that captured the bronze medal in a time of 3:11.96, trailing Australia (3:11.00) and France (3:11.14). Included in Team USA's 400 free relay was Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale and Jason Lezak.
On Thursday, Adrian placed sixth in the finals of the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 48.23. He is slated to compete on the United States' 400 medley relay on Sunday, swimming the freestyle leg. Other swimmers with Cal ties who are potential competitors in Sunday's 400 medley relay competition include recently graduated senior Graeme Moore for South Africa, and sophomore Marcin Tarczynski for Poland.
On the college stage, Adrian approached Matt Biondi-like status for the Golden Bears as he was a three-time national champion in the 100-yard freestyle, a two-time winner of the 50 free and a member of the 2011 NCAA champion 400 free and 200 and 400 medley relays. He was the 2009 and 2011 Pac-10 Swimmer of the Year, as well as the 2011 CSCAA Swimmer of the NCAA championships - all after earning a gold medal as a member of the U.S. 400 free relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Other swimmers with recent Cal connections competing at the World Championships include graduated senior Martti Aljand (Estonia, 100 and 200 breaststroke), graduated senior Guy Barnea (Israel, 50 and 100 backstroke), graduated senior Damir Dugonjic (Slovenia, 50 breaststroke), senior Martin Liivamagi (Estonia, 200 IM), Moore (South Africa, 100 freestyle, 400 free relay) and Tarczynski (Poland, 100 backstroke, 200 IM, 400 medley relay).
Moore swam the lead-off leg (48.15) of South Africa's 400 free relay that placed sixth at the World Championships. Individually Dugonjic, the three-time NCAA champ in the 100-yard breast, placed eighth in the 50-meter breaststroke at the World Championships with a mark of 28.00. Former Cal swimmer Dominik Meichtry (2005-08) was seventh in the 200 free (1:47.02) at the World Championships on July 26 for his native Switzerland.
