Keaton Jones Wins 4 Gold Medals, Sets 5 World Records at World Ice Swimming Championships
American Olympian Keaton Jones set five world records and won four gold medals at this month’s International Ice Swimming Association World Championships.
The Cal swimmer and Olympic finalist in the men’s 200 backstroke at the Paris Olympics returned with hardware from the sixth annual event, held in Molveno, Italy. He owns five of the eight world records set in the open category. Those were also among 151 age-group records set at the five-day meet, extending from the junior category to the 85-to-89 age group (that would be American Michael Donaldson with three marks).
Among the record setters was Markus Rogan, the Olympic medalist from Austria who at age 42 set four marks in the 40-to-44 age group. He won a bronze medal in the open 200 individual medley and finished fifth in the 100 breaststroke. French open water international Axel Reymond also left with a silver medal in the men’s 1,000 freestyle.
Keaton Jones; Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Jones set a world record in the men’s 100 backstroke of 59.01 seconds in prelims, then won the final in 1:01.28. He set the world record of 27.21 in the 50 back prelims, winning gold in 28.46. He went 53.15 in the final of the 100 free to win in a world record.
In the 100 fly, Jones set a world record of 57.18 in prelims but skipped finals (won by Poland’s Michal Tomaszowski in 1:03.32). Jones posted the fastest time in the 50 fly with a 27.00 in prelims, though he settled for silver at night, his time of 27.99 bested by Poland’s Filip Kolodziejski in 27.39.
Jones finished the meet in special fashion. He set a world record of 24.67 to win the 50 freestyle, then he led off in 2:25.83 to help Team USA win the mixed 4 x 250 relay. He handed off to younger sister Ezmee Jones on a team that included Lisa Yamamoto and Stephen Rouch. That’s an age spread of 27 years, from Ezmee, a 17-year-old headed to UC Davis next year, to the 44-year-old Rouch. Ezmee Jones picked up silver medals in the 50 back (in an 18-to-24 world record) and the 200 IM and was fourth three times.
The meet was hosted at the Molveno Olympic Pool, with water at temperatures below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
The biggest winner on the women’s side was France’s Ludivine Blanc. The 29-year-old set a world record in the 50 back, one of four gold medals. She started with a backstroke sweep, then added wins in the 50 fly and 50 free. Countrywoman Zoe Ducret won the 50 breaststroke to go with silver in the 100 breast.
Alisa Fatum-Boker was the distance standout, the German international winning the women’s 250, 500 and 1,000 freestyle races. She also finished second in the 100 free and 100 fly.
New Zealand had a fine showing, none finer than Emilia Finer. She set a world record in the 200 IM en route to victory. She also won the 100 fly and was second to Fatum-Boker in the 500 free and 250 free. The aptly named Winter sisters also impressed for the Kiwi delegation. Heidi Winter bested Fatum-Boker in the 100 free to go with two bronze medals and a fourth-place finish. Sophie Winter finished in the top four in four events, golden in the 100 breast and earning silver in the 50 breast.
On the men’s side, France’s Theo Goyeaud set a world record in prelims of the 200 IM, an event he went on to win. He also earned silver in the 100 breast. Countryman Virgile Deage won three silver medals, all behind Keaton Jones. Romania had an impressive medal haul, with Andrei Enache winning one medal of each shade and Adrian Nae taking home a gold and a bronze in breaststroke. German distance swimmer Andreas Waschburger won the 500 free and 1,000 free after taking second to Enache in the 250 free.
