Harold Wood-born swimmer finishes seventh in heat behind defending champion Phelps
Brentwood swimmer Roberto Pavoni’s 200 metres butterfly dream is over after he finished in seventh position in his heat this morning.
The Harold Wood-born prospect was put in a tough heat featuring the Olympic champion Michael Phelps, who won eight gold medals in Beijing.
Pavoni kept in touch with Phelps, and race winner Austria’s Dinko Jukic during the first 50m, but faded away as the race progressed.
Despite being in eighth place at the halfway stage, Pavoni fought back to finish seventh, in a time of 1.57.55, almost three seconds shy of Jukic (1.54.79).
“The time was a bit slower than I hoped,” said Pavoni. “I was really hoping to make the semi-finals, it was a tough swim and I know I gave it my all which is all I can ask for.”
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