Balandin’s 200 Breast Gold Marks First Swimming Medal Ever For Kazakhstan

2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Swimming: August 6-13
• Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Barra Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro
• Prelims – 9:00 a.m/12:00 p.m PST/EST (1:00 p.m local), Finals – 6:00 p.m/9:00 p.m PST/EST (10:00 p.m local)
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On day 5 of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Kazakhstan’s Dmitriy Balandin made history for his country. Balandin won Kazakhstan’s first ever swimming Olympic medal, and he did it in winning fashion by taking gold in the men’s 200 breast with a 2:07.46. Kazakhstan won 7 golds at the last Olympics in London, and has a long weightlifting tradition. Today, however, Balandin brings his country’s flag to the forefront of the medal ceremony at the pool.

Balandin has been building his success in the breaststroke events over the last couple of years. He was a triple Asian champion in 2014, and followed that up with a gold in the 100 breast at the 2015 World University Games.

To win the race, Balandin ran down Japan’s Yasuhiro Koseki, who led through the first 150 of the race, outsplitting him 33.31 to 34.06. He also held off hard charges from Team USA’s Josh Prenot and Russia’s Anton Chupkov, getting his hand on the wall first by hundredths.

Prenot wound up with Silver, posting a 2:07.53 to come within a tenth of the gold. Close behind was bronze medalist Chupkov, who swam a 2:07.70 to grab the first individual medal for the Russian on the men’s side.

Balandin’s Splits:

Balandin’s Splits By 50: