Update by Koh Yizhe

taoli.jpg

Tao Li of Singapore. (Photo © Leslie Tan/Red Sports file picture)

Beijing, Sunday, August 10, 2008 – 18-year-old Tao Li qualified for the final of the women’s 100m Butterfly and set a new Asian and National record with a time of 57.54 sec this morning at the Beijing Olympics. Swimming in Lane 5, she finished third in the first semi-final behind Lisbeth Trickett and Christine Magnuson.

Yesterday, she became the first Singaporean to qualify for a swimming semi-final. She did one better today by being the first Singaporean to qualify for the final, breaking the Asian record which was set yesterday by China’s Zhou Yafei. Having the fourth best timing in the semi-finals, she stands a great chance of winning a medal in the final tomorrow.

Qualifiers
TRICKETT Lisbeth (AUS) 57.05 sec
MAGNUSON Christine (USA) 57.08 sec
SCHIPPER Jessicah (AUS) 57.43 sec
TAO Li (SIN) 57.54 sec
ZHOU Yafei (CHN) 57.68 sec
LOWE Jemma (GBR) 57.78 sec
DEKKER Inge (NED) 58.20 sec
SILVA Gabriella (BRA) 58.39 sec