Australians Take 2013 Raia Rapida

The 2013 Raia Rapida competition saw teams from Brazil, Australia, France and the United States pitted against each other in a sprint eliminator in what was a rainy Rio de Janeiro.

There were four rounds of each stroke 50 with the slowest in each race being eliminated.

After the individual events the Brazilians went into the relay with a lead having collected nine points followed the the Americans with eight and the Australians with seven. The team from France did not collect a single point in the individual events with all of them team members being eliminated in the first round.

In the relay the Australians came up big winning the event collecting six points to propel themselves to the victory with 13 total points. The French finished second in the relay followed by the Brazilians and the Americans.

Many of the athletes told globoesporte.com they loved the unique and challenging format, “In addition to being fast, you have to hold up well,” said Nicholas Santos. “The competition is very tiring . Lactic acid goes up with each passing minute.”

“I think Brazil swam very well.”

“It’s a great competition,” said Christian Sprenger who took the breaststroke event. “That was what I expected a few weeks ago when I learned that I would attend.”

“It’s a tough competition , a game mentally and physically . This is a good chance to try new ways to swim faster.”

“The knockout event is very exciting.”

“The competition was fantastic and very exciting,” said Australian Matthew Abood. “It was good to feel the atmosphere of the city that will receive the Olympic Games in 2016 and I hope to be here competing with my fellow Australians.”

Final point scores:

1. Australia – 13 pt
2. Brazil – 11 pt
3. United States – 8 pt
4. France – 4 pt

Relays:

Australia – 1:38.23

• Arnamnart – 25.98
• Sprenger – 26.66
• Targett – 23.29
• Abood – 22.30

France – 1:39.79

• Manaudou – 25.80
• D’Ortogna – 27.73
• Bousquet – 23.80
• Gilot – 22.46

Brazil – 1:39.93

• Orzechowski – 25.88
• Gomes – 28.04
• Santos – 23.71
• Vitoria – 22.30

United States – 1:40.06

• Mania – 26.13
• Alexandrov – 27.99
• Godsoe – 23.53
• Schneider – 22.41

Scoring system:

Individual events:

• 1st – 3 pts
• 2nd – 2 pts
• 3rd – 1 pt
• 4th – 0 pt

Relay events:

• 1st – 6 pts
• 2nd – 4 pts
• 3rd – 2 pts
• 4th – 0 pts

Prize money (USD):

Individual:

• 1st – 4,153.74
• 2nd – 2,076.65
• 3rd – 1,245.90
• 4th – 830.75

Relay:

• 1st – 5,538.32
• 2nd – 2,769.16
• 3rd – 1,661.50
• 4th – 1,107.66