“That’s the cherry on the ice. Pretty cool to make it to the final,” Espernberger said of his personal best in the semifinals. “I’m very happy. At the Olympics it’s not so much the time, but the situation. To be ahead in the final, it takes more than the Austrian record. “Maybe a low 53. But of course anything can happen.”
Espernberger had a lead of 2/100 of a second over ninth place Pole Michal Chmielewski The best time was set by Hungarian Kristof Milak in 1:52.72; – final run. Area favorite Leon Marchand won first in 1:53.50. Again a good feeling is guaranteed for the final run. “I’m definitely looking forward to it. His efforts and water levels are amazing,” Espernberger said of Marchand.
He will try to swim with the “big boys” in the final, said the electrical engineering student from the University of Tennessee. He may not look that worried on the outside, but he is nervous on the inside. “You do breathing exercises to calm yourself down so you’re calm when you start and you can just focus on swimming. “
In the morning, Espernberger had achieved the fifth best lead time of 1:55.19 minutes and even left Marchand. He also looked a bit cautious in the afternoon after the start. “I’m just smaller and tighter compared to the other guys,” he said. He wasn’t over it at all, even though he had planned something similar for Wednesday. “Sleep. And swim a little.” Before going to La Defense Arena.
