Sun Yang, Yannick Agnel Post 1:45s to Lead Men's 200 Free Semis
LONDON, England, July 29. CHINA's Sun Yang, already the winner in the men's 400 free and the first man from his country to win Olympic gold, is well on his way to being the first to win two after leading the men's 200-meter freestyle semifinals at the 2012 London Olympics. Sun posted a 1:45.61 to beat France's Yannick Agnel (1:45.84) to the wall in the second semifinal as the duo both eclipsed 1:46 to make the finale. Agnel, meanwhile, is attempting to be the first man from France to medal, much less win, the men's 200-meter freestyle in Olympic competition.
Defending silver medalist Tae Hwan Park of South Korea qualified third in 1:46.02. He will be looking to join Ian Thorpe as the only man to move from silver to gold the following Olympiad. Thorpe did so with a 2004 victory over Pieter van den Hoogenband after taking second to him in 2000. World record holder Paul Biederman qualified fourth for the 200 free final with a 1:46.10 after missing out on yesterday's 400 free final. Ryan Lochte, likely saving up for anchor duty in the men's 400 free relay later in the evening, cruised to fifth in 1:46.31. Russia's Danila Izotov (1:46.65), Great Britain's Robbie Renwick (1:46.65) and Australia's Thomas Fraser-Holmes (1:46.80) all earned spots in the finale. Ricky Berens of the U.S. finished just outside of advancing to finals with a ninth-place 1:46.87.