Atkinson closed Hong Kong chapter in fine style

Photo: Alia Atkinson (Getty Images)
Jamaica’s swimming sensation Alia Atkinson once again showed what she is made of when she dived off in Victoria Park swimming pool on Tuesday’s second and final day at the third stop at the 2014 FINA Swimming World Cup in Hong Kong.

The Commonwealth silver medallist reaped a bundle of medals, one gold, two silver and one bronze to add to Monday’s gold and bronze medals ending the meet with a tally of six medals over the two days.

Atkinson topped the field in the women’s 50 metres breastroke final in a time of 29.35 seconds finishing ahead of Japan’s Rie Kaneto, in 31.11 and Hong Kong’s Jamie Yeung took 3rd in 31.89..

The Jamaican trailed home Hungary swimmer Katinka Hosszu in the 100 metres to take silver in 59.82 seconds. Hosszu stopped the clock at 58.12 seconds .

She was again second best in the women’s 200 metres breaststroke in a time of 2-min-24.94 seconds.The event was won by Japan’s Rie Kaneto,by almost a mile, in a time 2:19.55.

The women’s 50 metres butterfly was a battle of the top three ranked females based on points accumulated thus far and saw her moving one place down finishing third in 26.28 seconds behind event winner and number one ranked swimmer Inge Dekker of the Netherlands in 25.24 seconds with number two ranked swimmer Hosszu second in 25.92 seconds.

Atkinson picked up $6,000 in Hong Kong and now has $43,000 in prize money earnings to rank third on the FINA circuit.

The Hungarian, Hosszu, who won five more events on her second night, totaled $17,000 in Hong Kong and now has $142,000 overall

Hosszu was the top performer for the women with her 100 back (162) , and Alia Atkinson (72) nipped Inge Dekker (60) for the second points bonus with her 100 breast. The current female World Cup points standings reads Hosszu, on 517, Dekker 186 and Atkinson on 159 points.

This is the third of the seven stop series.

Atkinson will miss the next leg of the world cup in Moscow Russia October 4th-5th, but will return for the Asian series of the tour in Beijing China on October 24-25th.