Istanbul consecrates Ryan Lochte (USA) and Katinka Hosszu (HUN)

USA men's relay

Istanbul (TUR), AKUATIK INDONESIA, December 16, 2012 – The 11th edition of the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) came to an end this Sunday in Istanbul (TUR), consecrating Ryan Lochte (USA) and Katinka Hosszu (HUN) as best male and female swimmers of the competition. Ryan Lochte (USA) earned an unprecedented number of eight medals in Istanbul (the best ever in a single edition of this event) and has now an accumulated number of 30 awards in these championships, since his first appearance in Indianapolis in 2004. His successes in Turkey were: 1st 200m Free, 1st 4x100m free, 3rd 100m fly, 1st 4x200m free, 1st 200m IM, 2nd 200m back, 1st 100m IM, and 1st 4x100m medley. Moreover, he was the only swimmer to establish new World Records in Istanbul: first in the final of the 200m IM (1:49.63) and then in the semi-finals of the 100m IM (50.71). The performances of Lochte decisively helped USA to also gain the title of the Best Team of the championships.

Among women, the FINA Trophy went to Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, who earned five medals in the five-day event: 1st 200m fly, 3rd 400m IM, 1st 100m IM, 2nd 200m IM, and 2nd 200m free. The winner of the 2012 FINA/ARENA Swimming World Cup demonstrated her immense versatility in the pool, ending in the best possible way an impressive 25m season.

In Istanbul, many remarkable performances were achieved and besides the two WR of Lochte, 18 Championships Records were bettered (11 among women, and seven in the men’s field).

In terms of the medal table, USA clearly dominated the operations, with a total of 27 awards (11 gold, 8 silver and 8 bronze). The top-5 still includes China (3+5+3), Hungary (3+4+3), Denmark (3+2+5) and Russia (2+3+4). 25 countries had athletes with medals – only the 2002 edition in Moscow (RUS) had been more prolific, with 26 nations. Moreover, four new National Federations had their first medalled swimmers in the history of the competition: Lithuania, with the new breaststroke queen Ruta Meilutyte; Jamaica, and the excellent Alia Atkinson (two silver medals in the women’s 50m and 100m breast); Faroe Islands – bronze medal of Pal Joensen in the men’s 1500m free; and Trinidad and Tobago, thanks to the bronze medal of George Bovell in the men’s 100m IM. 

The FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione highlighted the success of the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Istanbul and handed over the FINA flag to the next organisers of the competition, the city of Doha in Qatar.

“The FINA Family lived an unforgettable competition, highlighted by many remarkable performances. Confirmed stars and new revelations have demonstrated the vitality and progress of Swimming in the five continents. This success is mostly due to the hard work of our 202 National Federations worldwide. They all deserve our gratitude and appreciation”, he considered. Dr. Maglione concluded by saying: “Many countries were represented at the medal’s table of these championships, and some new nations had the opportunity to shine at the highest level. Swimming is developing fast, attracting more youth and generating an increased number of stars in the five continents. This is fundamental for the improvement of the value and image of FINA and its aquatic sports worldwide”.

ISTANBUL 2012 MEDALS TABLE
			G		S		B		T
1.	USA		11		8		8		27
2.	CHN		3		5		3		11
3.	HUN		3		4		3		10
4.	DEN		3		2		5		10
5.	RUS		2		3		4		9
6.		ITA		2		2		-		4
7.		GER		2		1		1		4
8.		JPN		2		1		1		4
9.		LTU		2		1		-		3
10.		AUS		1		5		3		9
11.		GBR		1		2		3		6
12.		RSA		1		1		-		2
13.		ESP		1		-		2		3
14.		BRA		1		-		1		2
15.		NZL		1		-		1		2
16.		POL		1		-		1		2
17.		BLR		1		-		-		1
18.		NOR		1		-		-		1
19.		UKR		1		-		-		1
20.		JAM		-		2		-		2
21.		SLO		-		2		-		2
22.		FRA		-		1		1		2
23.		CZE		-		-		1		1
24.		FAR		-		-		1		1
25.		TRI		-		-		1		1
				40		40		40		120