 |
| Riannah Coleman braved through hyperventilation to make it to the YOG women's 200-meter breaststroke final. POC Media Pool |
DAKAR—Angel Polo put herself in a strong position for a medal in wushu and Riannah Chantelle Coleman bucked hyperventilation to make the women’s 200 meters breastroke final in the 4th Youth Olympic Games on Monday.
In what has become a predictable outcome in women’s Taijiquan combined, Polo again stood at third place after the Taijishuan preliminaries at the Dakar Expo Center in Diamniado behind strong favorite Ng Zhe Nin of Singapore and Chu Yu En of Chinese Taipei.
The three—who were 1-2-3 in the world junior championships in Tianjin, China, last March—finished in the same order as they were in the Taijishan preliminaries—Ng first with 9.353 points for a 18.653 total, Chu with 9.330 points for 18.563 and Polo with 9.233 for 18.456.
“Angel is doing well and we’re focusing for tomorrow’s final,” said Li Jianfang.
“We hope to do better in the final.”
Tuesday’s final will also be two-phased—Taijishan at 10:38 a.m. and Taijiquan at 4:29 p.m.—both Dakar time.
Coleman, on the other hand, was fourth in her heat and seventh among eighth finalists topped by Japan’s Mana Ishikawa.
“It was so bad but I’m grateful I had it done with,” said Coleman, who was rushed to the Medical Room for hyperventilation.
“I struggled with my breathing the entire race but I’m grateful I was able to touch the wall.”
She clocked the seventh-best time of 2:47.64—fourth in Heat 2—more than 18 seconds behind Ishikawa.
“That’s way off my best time,” added Coleman, who missed her personal best by five seconds.
Swimming staff had to carry Coleman to the medical room after she almost collapsed after leaving the pool and stayed there for some half an hour with fellow swimmer Jamesray Mishael Ajido and coach Jensen Halili.
Three other swimmers were being treated for hyperventilation while Coleman was being attended to inside the medical room.
