The New Zealand swimmer Lauren Boyle returned to the pool in winning fashion with victory in the 800 metres freestyle at a World Cup event in Paris.
New Zealand's top swimmer Lauren Boyle. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The double World Championship silver medallist returned from a week off to win the 800 and finish a close second in the 400m freestyle at the two-day meet.
Boyle took over by the 200m mark in the final of the 800m freestyle and produced her typically consistent laps to push clear, winning in 8:26.46.
She finished well clear of China's Li Bingjie (8:30.09) and American Lindsay Vrooman (8:30.16), the World University Games gold medallist.
The Aucklander had earlier qualified for the final of the 200m freestyle, using the morning swim as a warm-up only after spending the week on a photo shoot for sponsors Speedo.
Boyle returned on the second day to top qualifiers in the 400m freestyle in 4:14.20.
In the final she caught the early leader Li by the midway mark but was immediately challenged by Vrooman who managed to edge out the New Zealander in the final sprint home. The American prevailed in 4:07.16 to the 4:07.80 to Boyle.
She now returns to New Zealand for a break before returning to training early next month.
