Velimir Stjepanovic’s redemption tour continued last night as he claimed a silver and bronze at the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup in Dubai, clocking a personal best in the 100m freestyle, which also was an A-cut qualifying time for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
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Stjepanovic, who was born and raised in the UAE and swims for Dubai club Hamilton Aquatics, is a two-time European champion but admittedly has had a sub-par 2015.
But after missing out on podiums at Worlds in Kazan, the Abu Dhabi-born Serbian says he feels he’s back on track, and his two medals from last night – silver in the 400m freestyle behind Worlds runner-up James Guy and bronze in the 100 – came on the heels of two silver medals won in Doha last week.
“It’s generally been quite a disappointing year for me, so it’s good to bounce back and to do some good times,” the 22-year-old Stjepanovic told Sport360.
“These are my best times of the year. I PB’ed on the 100 free by 0.4, also got the A-cut for 100 freestyle, came third, can’t complain behind Chad Le Clos and Jeremy Stravius.
“Obviously James Guy is pretty fast and he is world second place for 400 and champion for 200. Obviously I’m going to challenge him as much as I can. I think the 200 is going to be a great race.”
Stjepanovic confessed he has had “an off year” in which he has struggled mentally throughout but is pleased with his last few months of hard work.
“It’s basically drive and determination that after a poor year to be able to not break down and get my head straight and back into a winning mentality and I think that’s what I achieved,” he said.
He had already qualified to the Rio 2016 Olympics in the 200 and 400 free but was happy to get a third A-cut in the 100 last night.
“It’s good to have an extra one. I’m probably going to do it (in Rio) because it’s on the fourth day and that’s after all my other races have been done so I might as well do it, just for fun. Just see where I am in the 100 freestyle and maybe try and break Mirolad Cavic’s national record, which I think is a 48.4. So we’ll see," he added.