PH swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi eliminated from Rio Olympics

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – Philippine Olympian swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi was eliminated during the heats round of the women’s swimming 100-meters freestyle competition of the 2016 Rio Olympics on Wednesday, August 10 (Thursday, Manila time) at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Alkhaldi, 23, finished 3rd from the second heat of the competition with a time of 56.30, but it wasn’t quick enough to gain her one of the 16 spots to make it to the semifinals.

The swimmer landed in 33rd place out of 46 contestants. During the 2012 London Olympics, Alkhaldi’s clocked in at 57.13, which was 34th out of 50 competitors. 

This past Sunday, the Philippines’ other olympian swimmer, Jessie Lacuna, also bowed out during the heats round of the men’s 400 meters freestyle competition. 

The Philippines now has 5 remaining athletes in the hunt to win a medal at the Olympics. So far, only weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has done so after attaining silver in the women’s 53 kg event.

Cate Campbell of Australia, who broke the Olympic record for 100m freestyle on Wednesday, topped everyone with a time of 52.78, while Simone Manuel of the United State was second with a time of 53.32.

Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden was third with a time of 53.37 while Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands finished fourth after clocking in at 53.43.

Penny Oleksiak of Canada and Jeanette Ottesen from Denmark tied at fifth and sixth places with identical times of 53.53, while Abbey Weitzeil from the United States was seventh with a time of 53.54.

Bronte Campbell from Australia and Chantal Van Landeghem of Canada finished eighth and ninth, respectively, with times of 53.71 and 53.89. Charlotte Bonnet of France rounded up the top 10 after clocking in at 53.93.

Pernille Blume of Denmark and Menghui Zhu from China tied for the 11th and 12th places with identical times of 54.15. Aliaksandra Herasimenia of Belarus came in at 13 with a time of 54.25.

Etiene Madeiros of Brazil and Shen Duo of China took the 14th and 15 places, respectively, with times of 54.38 and 54.41.

A swim-off will be required between Japanese athletes Rikako Ikee and Miki Uchida, both of whom clocked in at 54.50, to determine who gets 16th place and makes it to the next round. – Rappler.com