Brazilian Fans Warm Up to Swimming

(ATR) Enthusiastic fans urged swimmers to two world records in four race finals on night one of swimming in Rio.

The Olympic Aquatics Stadium was roughly 75% filled to capacity with a late arriving crowd. Four upper sections of the enclosed arena were empty because of obstructed views.

World records were set by Katinka Hosszu of Hungary in the women's 400m individual medley and by the Australian women's 4x100m freestyle relay team in a thrilling final event of the evening.

The first swimming gold medal of the Rio Games went to young Japanese swimmer Kosuke Hagino, who finished seven-tenths of a second ahead of American Chase Kalisz in the 400m individual medley. Hagino, who turns 22 next week, became the first Japanese swimmer to win a medley event at the Olympics.

It took nearly an hour to bring the Japanese gold medalist to the mixed zone to talk to reporters following TV interviews and the medal ceremony. Japanese journalists appeared mildly frustrated.

The American swimmer Kalisz, who was racing in his first Olympic final, said there was a good atmosphere at the venue.

"It’s crazy, in the stands you hear the whole U.S. team and everyone yelling," Kalisz said. "It’s like a regular meet, but just way more intense with the whole arena focused on the swimmers."

The most vociferous applause of the night came for two Brazilian swimmers in the 100m breastroke semis – Joao Gomes and Felipe Franco. At one point, the PA announcer told the crowd to stop chanting until after the start of the race. Two Brazilian women received nearly equal support in the 100m butterfly semifinals.

The evening program, which began at the late local starting time of 10 p.m. to accommodate live coverage in prime time by U.S. broadcaster NBC, lasted one hour and 40 minutes. Four medals ceremonies were held for the four finals with the semifinals in two events also contested.

Samba drummers played and Brazilian ladies danced poolside stirring the crowd prior to the start of competition.

Australian Mack Horton won the 400m freestyle and called out silver medalist Sun Yang, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, for past doping violations.

"I don't know if it's a rivalry specifically but more about athletes who have tested positive in the sport," Horton said. The Aussie also called him "a drug cheat" and said he lacks respect for athletes with doping positives.

In May 2014, Sun tested positive for the banned stimulant trimetazidine and was banned for 3 months by the Chinese Swimming Association.

The Chinese swimmer defended himself answering a question from Around the Rings about being allowed to compete in Rio despite Russian swimmers with past violations being banned.

"I don’t think we need more explanations to these questions," Sun said. "I am clean. Each athlete needs to be respected."

Not everything went smoothly on the opening night at the venue. One volunteer admitted it was a "stressful night" with lots of problems, including printers not working.

Swimmers are back in the pool Sunday with heats in the afternoon and another evening session including four finals.

Michael Phelps is expected to be part of the U.S. men’s 4x100m freestyle relay as the most decorated Olympian of all-time shoots for his 19th career gold medal.

Written by Brian Pinelliat the Olympic Aquatics Stadium

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