Hunks takes gold, Hayden silver in Berlin
Last Updated: Sunday, November 15, 2009 | 1:49 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Vancouver swimmers Tanya Hunks and Brent Hayden are leaving Berlin with medals and another Canadian-record performance.
Hunks captured gold in the women's 400-metre individual medley at a World Cup on Sunday, for her first international victory, while Hayden dipped below the world short-course record en route to winning silver in the men's 200-metre freestyle in Canadian-record time.
Paul Biedermann of Germany lowered his own world record in the 200 freestyle to one minute 39.37 seconds to win gold in front of a hometown crowd. Hayden followed in 1:40.80, also under Biedermann's previous world mark of 1:40.83 set last year.
Hayden topped his Canadian record of 1:41.65 he set Wednesday at the World Cup in Stockholm.
"My goal was to go under the world record and I'm very happy about it," said Hayden. "It was a case tonight that Paul swam better than me.
"The middle part of my race was much better than in Stockholm and I showed a lot of strength on the final length. I knew at the 100-metre mark that Paul was right with me and he would be very tough to beat the rest of the way. But I kept my head in the race and brought it home."
Darian Townsend of South Africa who led up until the final 50 metres took the bronze.
Hunks won the 400 IM gold in 4:30.52 for her second medal this week on the circuit. Anastasia Ivanenko of Russia was second in 4:31.13, and American Julie Stupp took the bronze in 4:31.34.
"It's exciting to start the season like this and see what I can do," Hunks said. "I had my best ever breaststroke split and this time I didn't overswim the backstroke like I did in Stockholm.
"I've only been back in the water for five weeks. It's great that I can pick up where I left off last summer."
Tom Johnson, head coach of the national training centre in Vancouver, said Hunks is only about 85 per cent ready.
"So this is a really good indicator that she will have a strong 2010 season," Johnson said. "She really believes in the work and training and it's paid off here."
Hayden has captured six medals — two gold and four silver — in his three stops on the World Cup circuit. He bettered his Canadian record in the 100 freestyle three times and in the 200 free twice.
"Overall I did much better than I expected," said Hayden. "I was sick the week before I left and hadn't trained as much as I would have liked. Basically I had no idea what was going to happen but getting the medal and Canadian record in the 100 freestyle in Moscow got the ball rolling."
Johnson was impressed with his star swimmer's performances.
"This experience coming over here, getting a feel for the world scene, winning some medals and going fast is exactly what he needed to kick-start a new season," the coach said.
