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Ranomi At The Ready

Aug 3, 2012

Olympic Games, London 2012, Day 7 Finals

Women's 50 Freestyle Semi-Finals

Seeking to redeem herself after a disappointing 100, defending champion Britta Steffen of Germany needed to get this one under her belt in a field of veterans who had exactly the same agenda.

Swimming next to world bronze medalist Marleen Veldhuis (NED) in heat 1, they were neck and neck down the lap with Veldhuis pipping her for the touch in 24.50. Steffen was 24.57 and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace of the Bahamas was third in 24.64 - reigning world champion Therese Alshammar of Sweden ringing in at 5th in 24.71.

No doubt still on a cloud after her 100 victory last night, the newly crowned Dutch sprint queen Ranomi Kromowidjojo had no trouble dominating heat 2 - casting all predictions otherwise to the wind as she powered through the 50 to claim top spot going into the final in 24.07 - the fastest time in the world this year.

Aliaksandra Herasimenia (RUS) was a seemingly distant second in 24.45 - and Britain's Francesca Halsall held on to place third in 24.63.

The final lines up as follows: Kromowidjojo (24.07), Herasimenia, and Veldhuis the top three. Steffen secured another chance for Germany in 4th - Halsall in 5th for Britain - and 34 year-old Alshammar is still in the race in 8th spot (24.71).

Victoria Poon of Canada was locked out of the final, finishing 15th in 25.17.