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london 2012

Swimmer Brent Hayden, of Mission, B.C., speaks to reporters after training at the UBC Aquatic Centre in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday May 24, 2012.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press

Brent Hayden of Mission, B.C., and Montreal's Victoria Poon each earned their second gold medal in two days on Sunday to conclude the opening stop on the Mare Nostrum swimming tour.

Sinead Russell of Burlington, Ont., and Katerine Savard of Pont-Rouge, Que., added to Canada's gold medal count as well. All four are preparing for this summer's Olympic Games.

Hayden came first in the men's 50-metre freestyle in 22.47 seconds. Hanser Garcia of Cuba was second in 22.63 and Sergey Fesikov of Russia third in 22.64. Edmonton's Luke Peddie was seventh in 23.35.

Poon, tuning up for her second Olympics, clocked 55.42 seconds in the 100-metre freestyle with Britain's Jessica Lloyd second in 55.49 and Finland's Hanna-Maria Seppala came third in 55.79. Sandrine Mainville of Boucherville, Que., was sixth and Winnipeg's Chantal Van Landeghem finished eighth.

In the women's 200-metre backstroke, Russell was the winner in 2:11.20 with Karin Prinsloo of South Africa taking silver in 2:11.73 and Montreal's Barbara Jardin third in 2:12.56.

In the women's 200-metre butterfly, Savard finished ahead of two British swimmers clocking 2:10.03. Audrey Lacroix of Pont Rouge was fourth in 2:11.80 less than a second from the podium. Vancouver's Noemie Thomas was sixth.

In the women's 50-metre butterfly, Silvia DiPietro of Spain won the gold medal 26.55 edging Savard in second at 26.86. Thomas was sixth.

In the women's 100 breaststroke, Kierra Smith of Kelowna, B.C., earned a second individual medal at the event, placing third in 1:09.92. Less than a second separated the top-three finishers. Ashley McGregor of Pointe-Claire, Que., was seventh and Ottawa's Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson was eighth.

Jardin earned a second bronze in the 400 freestyle while Seltenreich-Hodgson was also third in the 200 IM.

Montreal's Charles Francis was fifth in the 100-metre backstroke and Calgary's Chad Bobrosky came eighth in the 200-metre freestyle.

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