With 26.94 seconds, the 28-year-old from Tyrol improved his Austrian record by 17 hundredths of a second on Tuesday and thus broke the sound barrier of 27 seconds. Gold went to the American Nic Fink (26.45) ahead of the Italian Nicolo Martinenghi (26.48) and the American Michael Andrew (26.72).
“I’m just happy at the moment. A great time, fourth place at the World Championships, that fits quite well,” Reitshammer said calmly in the Duna Arena: “I never expected something like that, but I’m all the happier that way .” Although he smashed his best time again, Reitshammer still saw room for improvement. Not everything was optimal, he emphasized. 22 hundredths of a second were missing from the medal.
For the Austrian Swimming Association (OSV), it was the third final participation among swimmers in the title fights in Hungary, crawl specialist Felix Auböck had also convinced with new best times over 200 m (fifth) and 400 m (fourth). Reitshammer is still in action with his teammates in the relay over 4 x 100 m individual medley on Saturday.
Reitshammer finished seventh at the short course world championships in Abu Dhabi last December. Shortly before, he had celebrated the greatest success of his career with bronze in the 100 m individual medley at the short course European Championships in Kazan.
Source: Nachrichten
