Barbados’ Olympic swimmer Bradley Ally continues to write his name in the record books.
Last weekend, he cut through a world-class line-up to win the 200 metres individual medley (IM) in the VlIes Championnats de France [the French National Short Course championships] in Chartres, France.
In snatching the gold for Barbados, Ally smashed the French national and championship records and the Barbadian national record.
He lowered his own record of 1 minute, 57.38 seconds – established in October in Berlin – to post a new 18-and-over and national open record for Barbados.
His time of 1:56.29 seconds bettered the French national record of 1:57.02 held by Christophe Soulier, who finished third in the race, and the Championship record of 1:58.77, set by second-placed finisher Jeremy Stravius. Â
Ally went on to set three more national marks in the 100m IM and the 100m and 200m breaststroke.
He won bronze in the 100m IM in 53.65 seconds, barely missing out on the top spot.
Florent Manaudou and Stravius were just splits ahead and tied for the gold in 53:52.
In this swim, Cliff Gittens’ 18-and-over record of 1:02.27 fell by the wayside and Ally lowered his own national open record from 57:35. Both marks were established in 2004.
In the 200m breaststroke, Ally finished fourth, but in a time good enough to establish both an age-group and a national open record.
His time of 2 minutes, 09.35 seconds bettered the 2:10.79 he posted in October in Berlin, and the 1:01.11 was another national age group and open record in the 100m breaststroke.
Ally was first in the “B” final but his time ranked among the top spots in the “A” final.
The Barbadian is getting in shape for the World Short Course Swimming Championships in Dubai from December 15 to 17 where he will compete in the 200m IM, 100m breaststroke and 100m IM. (SAT/PR)