Men’s 4×200 Free Relay Start Lists Made Available: Guy, Sun, Haas, Horton Set to Anchor
by ANDY ROSS
26 July 2019, 03:14am
FINA World Swimming Championships
Gwangju 2019
James Guy: Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
Day Six Finals (Men’s 4×200 Free Relay)
The start lists for the men’s 4×200 free relay were made available before the start of Friday’s finals at the 2019 FINA World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
Great Britain, the United States and Australia are expected to vie for the gold medal along with China, Italy and Russia.
Great Britain has won the last two World titles in this event in 2015 and 2017 and will be swimming Duncan Scott, Calum Jarvis, Tom Dean and James Guy. Scott tied for bronze in the 200 free individually while Guy just missed the final, but had a solid 1:45 swim.
The Americans were the last team to win before the British started a streak in 2015. The Americans are the third seed and are a favorite to win a medal, despite not having a finalist in the individual 200 free. Andrew Seliskar, Blake Pieroni, Zach Apple and Townley Haas will represent Team USA. Apple and Pieroni have been solid on the US free relays this week with Apple splitting a 46.8 earlier in the week.
Australia will be tough as they have Clyde Lewis, Kyle Chalmers, Alexander Graham and Mack Horton on their team. The Aussies will be front loading their team with Lewis and Chalmers up front. Lewis was sixth in the individual 200 free but was a 1:44.9 in the semifinals. Chalmers was a bit off in the 200 free semi but was second in the 100 free last night.
China and Russia are also two countries that could play spoiler. China has an underrated team with Ji Xinjie, Wang Shun, Xu Jiayu and Sun Yang. Xu dropped out of the 200 back semifinals last night in order to focus on the relay tonight, meaning China thinks they can do damage in this event. Wang has always been a solid 200 freestyler while Ji was a 1:45.88 in the semifinals and just missed the final. Sun was the World Champion in the 200 free this week and has the fastest relay split in history (1:43.16).
Russia has a chance to win three gold medals tonight in individual events and they also have a very strong team in this men’s 4×200 free relay. The team of Mikhail Dovgalyuk, Mikhail Vekovishchev, Aleksandr Krasnykhand Martin Malyutin will be very dangerous in the final. Malyutin won the bronze medal in a tie with Scott while Dovgalyuk was a 1:46.2 in the semifinals. Vekovishchev and Krasnykh were on the silver medal winning team in 2017 so they have the experience.
And yet none of those teams are the top seed.
Italy’s team of Filippo Megli, Gabriele Detti, Stefano Ballo and Stefano di Cola will be swimming in lane 4 tonight. Megli was fifth in the 200 free at 1:45.67 while Ballo (1:45.60) and di Cola (1:46.10) were solid on the back half this morning. Detti is the only unknown here since he didn’t swim this morning but he has a strong pedigree so the Italians won’t have to worry about him.
This will be one of the can’t miss races of the night.
Men’s 4×200 Free Relay Start Lists:
Great Britain
Duncan Scott
Calum Jarvis
Tom Dean
James Guy
China
Ji Xinjie
Wang Shun
Xu Jiayu
Sun Yang
United States
Andrew Seliskar
Blake Pieroni
Zach Apple
Townley Haas
Italy
Filippo Megli
Gabriele Detti
Stefano Ballo
Stefano di Cola
Russia
Mikhail Dovgalyuk
Mikhail Vekovishchev
Aleksandr Krasnykh
Martin Malyutin
Australia
Clyde Lewis
Kyle Chalmers
Alexander Graham
Mack Horton
Brazil
Luiz Melo
Fernando Scheffer
Joao de Lucca
Breno Correia
Germany
Poul Zellmann
Rafael Miroslaw
Jacob Heidtmann
Damian Wierling
Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay Start Lists Made Available: USA Goes Murphy, King, Dressel, Manuel
by ANDY ROSS
24 July 2019, 03:42am
Lily King will swim Breaststroke in the Mixed 4 x 100
Relay / Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
The start lists for the mixed 4×100 medley relay were made available before the start of the fourth night of finals at the 2019 FINA World Swimming Championships. The United States are the top seeds in the relay and will be swimming Ryan Murphy, Lilly King, Caeleb Dressel, Simone Manuel as they are going the same gender order that they set the world record in in 2017, going man-woman-man-woman. The United States should be tough to beat with two world record holders, a World Champion, and an Olympic Champion on their team.
Australia is the second seeded team and will have Mitch Larkin, Matthew Wilson, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell swimming for them. The Aussies had the top time in the world in 2018 and will be swimming the same gender order that got them there, going man-man-woman-woman.
Russia, Australia and Italy are the only countries going two men first.
Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay Lane Assignments
Netherlands (F-M-M-F)
Kira Toussaint
Arno Kamminga
Mathys Goosen
Femke Heemskerk
Canada (F-M-F-M)
Kylie Masse
Richard Funk
Maggie MacNeil
Yuri Kisil
Russia (M-M-F-F)
Evgeny Rylov
Kirill Prigoda
Svetlana Chimrova
Mariia Kameneva
United States (M-F-M-F)
Ryan Murphy
Lilly King
Caeleb Dressel
Simone Manuel
Australia (M-M-F-F)
Mitch Larkin
Matthew Wilson
Emma McKeon
Cate Campbell
Great Britain (F-M-M-F)
Georgia Davies
Adam Peaty
James Guy
Freya Anderson
Italy (M-M-F-F)
Simone Sabbioni
Fabio Scozzoli
Elena di Liddo
Federica Pellegrini
Germany (F-M-M-F)
Laura Riedemann
Fabian Schwingenschlogl
Marius Kusch
Jessica Steiger
Peaty Becomes First Swimmer To Win Six World Breaststroke Titles With 26.06 50m Win: Silver And Bronze For Brazil
by LIZ BYRNES
24 July 2019, 04:54am
World Swimming Championships (Adam Peaty)
Gwangju, Day 4 Finals
Adam Peaty Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
Men’s 50m breaststroke
Adam Peaty seemingly writes a new line in the history books every time he swims and Wednesday night was no different after victory in the 50m breaststroke saw him become the first swimmer to win six world titles in breaststroke events.
The Briton won in 26.06secs – the third-fastest time in history – to become the first man to complete the 50 and 100m breaststroke double for the third time, moving ahead of Cameron van der Burgh and Oleg Lisogor.
Brazil filled out the rest of the podium with Felipe Lima second in 26.66 and Joao Gomes Junior taking bronze in 26.69.
It is a measure of how accustomed people have become to Peaty taking his events through a complete timewarp that without fail he is asked post-race: “happy with that?”
Never mind that he may well have – and probably will have – delivered one of the fastest times in history over either 50m and 100m breaststroke.
The 17 fastest times over 100m and nine of the top 10 over 50m. Six world titles in six individual finals. Five world records over 100m and four in the one-length dash. Beaten once in four years. Only Katie Ledecky eclipses Peaty with the 18 fastest times over 800m although that will be extended this week if her health is good enough for her to compete.
Maybe there is a lack of understanding in some quarters of exactly what he has done and continues to do, about how privileged we are to witness his journey with coach Mel Marshall.
Great Britain team-mate James Wilby won silver for a British one-two in the 100m in Gwangju a full 1.32secs behind Peaty.
The pair train in the same Loughborough pool, albeit under different coaches, and Wilby said Peaty had forced him and others to reconsider what is possible.
“It’s not always possible but for me with my swimming and the motivation I have got behind me I try to get myself in the mindset of anything’s possible,” he said. “Seeing him do his stuff certainly motivates me for my goals and they are entirely possible.
“It’s not really about what you can do and what you can’t do. It’s just focusing on your own stuff. I am sure if you had asked Adam God knows how many years ago he would have said a similar sort of thing.”
After all, who would have thought when he made his long-course international debut five years ago at the 2014 Commonwealth Games that we would see him – or anyone for that matter – go under 57 seconds? To dip inside 26 seconds? Madness, surely?
Marshall, who has guided Peaty since he walked through her doors at the City of Derby club aged 14, said to Swimming World after he stopped the clock at 56.88: “On the year of 50 years of landing on the moon, tonight we went into orbit but tomorrow we must land on the big one and complete the mission.”
He did of course but felt compelled to point out the magnitude of his achievement in becoming the first man to win three breaststroke world titles in the fourth-fastest time in history and one just 0.01secs off the time that steered him to Olympic gold in 2016.
While he is taking other swimmers with him, the gap between Peaty and the chasing shoal has not narrowed.
Peaty once said that in the absence of others pushing him that he “would have to pioneer himself” and a pioneer he is.
Like Michael Phelps before him, process is key for the Briton. Marshall recalls how he has always needed to know why she wants him to do what she has asked of him. Once satisfied with the reason, he will give everything and pay attention to every detail.
Marshall is a two-time Olympian with world, European and commonwealth medals to her name.
The 37-year-old has experienced the highs and lows that sport can throw at you: after going into the 2004 Olympics ranked first in the 200m she finished 16th.
It was devastating for Marshall who retired immediately after the 2008 Games in Beijing but through traumatic experiences and introspection comes knowledge and empathy.
more to follow
Gregorio Paltrinieri Punches 7:39.27 Euro-Record Victory As Christiansen & Aubry Make History
by CRAIG LORD
24 July 2019, 04:39am
World Swimming Championships (Gregorio Paltrinieri)
Gwangju
Photo Courtesy: Patrick B. Kraemer
Day 4 Finals (Men’s 800m freestyle)
Italy kept the crown but by half-way it was clear that a new name would be added to the list of champions over 16 laps: Gregorio Paltrinieri raced alone and away from a shoal of four others battling for the minor spoils.
In 7:39.27, a time that took the European record below 7:40 for the first time, the Italian claimed the crown after silver in 2015 and bronzes in 2013 and 2017.
All the champions on those occasions were in the race today but out of the medals, Paltrinieri’s training partner and defending champion Gabriele Detti fifth, China’s Sun Yang (2013, ’15) sixth.
History followed the winner onto an all-Europe podium: Henrik Christiansen granted Norway its first 800m medal in World-Championship waters in a national record of 7:41.28, and David Aubry achieved a first-ever medal for France with bronze in 7:42.08.
The European record had stood at 7:40.77 to Detti since he got the edge in a stroke-for-stroke battle with Paltrinieri, on 7:40.81, two years ago in Budapest.
1
PALTRINIERI
Gregorio
ITA
7:39.27
ER
2
CHRISTIANSEN
Henrik
NOR
7:41.28
3
AUBRY
David
FRA
7:42.08
4
MCLOUGHLIN
Jack Alan
AUS
7:42.64
5
DETTI
Gabriele
ITA
7:43.89
6
SUN
Yang
CHN
7:45.01
7
FROLOV
Sergii
UKR
7:47.32
8
ROMANCHUK
Mykhailo
UKR
7:49.32
After taking the bulk of a year away from his coach Stefano Morini to go and travel in Australia, train and take time out with friend and rival in the wash Mack Horton and add a heap of open water swims to his regime “to avoid getting stale on the way to Tokyo 2020”, Paltrinieri had been reminded what it felt like not to win at European Championships last year.
Today, after finishing a few strokes shy of the medals in the 10km title race last week, he got back on top of distance freestyle with a vengeance – and was delighted to have done so: “I mean it’s a big surprise. After the open water last week, I was feeling really tired. It was difficult to change from the open water to the swimming pool so it’s crazy to be here right now at the top of the world. I was silver in Kazan, bronze in Budapest, so just miss the gold.”
Asked if defeating Sun Yang meant anything to him, he replied: “It doesn’t mean anything to me. Everyone in this competition … I’m against them all. Sun Yang is just like another athlete. I don’t want to think about anything while I’m racing like doping or something, I just don’t care. I just want to beat them all.”
More soon
Loud Roar by Federica Pellegrini Powers Italian to Repeat in 200 Freestyle & Eighth Straight Medal
by JOHN LOHN
24 July 2019, 04:53am
World Swimming Championships (Federica Pellegrini)
Gwangju, Day 4 finals
Photo Courtesy: Patrick B. Kraemer
Women’s 200 freestyle
The Lioness of Verona has roared again.
A legend in the freestyle ranks, Italy’s Federica Pellegrini orchestrated a perfect race on Wednesday night to repeat as champion of the 200 freestyle and collect the eighth medal of her career in the event at the World Championships. Staying intact with the leaders through the opening three laps, Pellegrini shot off the final wall and pulled away from her rivals to win in 1:54.22, and to secure the fourth title of her career.
It was back in 2005 at the World Championships in Montreal where Pellegrini collected her first global medal over four laps of freestyle. She has not been off the podium since, complementing her quartet of triumphs with three silver medals and a bronze medal. New challengers have come and gone through the years, but Pellegrini has remained a force. Her winning time is the sixth-fastest in history, and the fourth-quickest in a textile suit.
The silver medal went to Australian Ariarne Titmus, who added to her gold medal from the 400 free. Titmus led the field through the 150-meter mark and finished in 1:54.66, just ahead of the 1:54.78 of Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom. Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey also cracked the 1:55 barrier, checking in at 1:54.98, while China’s Yang Junxuan was fifth in a world junior record of 1:55.43.
There was a scary moment following the race as Sjostrom was tended to by medical staff and given oxygen on the pool deck. Sjostrom was somewhat of a surprise participant in the 200 freestyle as she had indicated in the months prior to the World Championships that the event was likely off her busy schedule. Instead, she opted to give the race a go and came away with a podium finish.
Legendary is the only way to describe the longevity and success that Pellegrini has displayed throughout her career. At every global championships since the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Pellegrini has never finished out of the top five in the 200 freestyle. That stretch includes a silver medal at those Athens Games and gold from Beijing in 2008. Now, at 30 years old, Pellegrini goes into preparation for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo as the favorite.
It is worth noting that the event was missing some of its pre-meet luster. Heading into the World Championships, the 200 freestyle was tabbed as a can’t-miss final, perhaps the most-anticipated of the week. But with illness forcing the withdrawal of American Katie Ledecky and Australian Emma McKeon, and Canadian Taylor Ruck bowing out to conserve energy, a loaded field was diluted.
The top qualifier entering the final, Pellegrini packaged a masterful race, utilizing her experience to its fullest. Seventh at the first turn and fourth at the midway point, Pellegrini never showed any panic. Rather, she stayed true to her strategy and used the last 100 meters to take over. After posting the fastest third-50 split, Pellegrini moved into second with a lap remaining. Over those final 50 meters, which she covered in 28.90, Pellegrini pulled away from the competition.
Longevity in the sport is not like finding a unicorn, especially in this modern era in which the elite athletes have the means to continue their pursuit of excellence. But the consistency that Pellegrini has displayed down the years is remarkable, an invitation to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in her future. Aside from medaling in the 200 freestyle at eight straight World Champs, Pellegrini remains the owner of the world record, sitting at 1:52.98, and proved on Wednesday night that she is still at the top of her game. Pellegrini’s time was the third-fastest of her career, and the fastest she has ever gone in textile.
There’s no telling for sure, but even with the likes of Ledecky, McKeon and Ruck in the field, Pellegrini was going to be hard to beat. And it’s not like she hasn’t beaten those foes in the past, as Ledecky and McKeon were the joint silver medalists to Pellegrini two years ago in Budapest. As a tribute to Pellegrini’s greatness, the crowd inside the Nambu University Aquatics Center gave the Italian a standing ovation during the awards ceremony and festively clapped along to the Italian National Anthem.
With Titmus in the lead heading into the last lap, and given her status as the world champion in the 400 freestyle, the Aussie seemed to have the advantage. Instead, Pellegrini left the teen easily behind, out-splitting the upstart by .61 over the final length. It was a reminder of sorts that Pellegrini was once among the elite 400 freestylers on the planet, evident in her pair of world titles in that event. Although the 400 free has been shelved for eternity by the Pellegrini camp, her ability to close is still a trademark.
For Titmus, her silver medal was the latest achievement in a rapidly rising career. The Aussie entered the final with a best of 1:54.30 and while she didn’t match the speed she showed at the Australian Trials, another sub-1:55 effort was proof she will be a factor for years ahead.
“I think I took it out hard,” Titmus said. “A silver medal at World Championships is great. Based on training times, I probably thought I had a better time in me but what can you do? It’s what you do on the day and Pellegrini was really good tonight.”
For Sjostrom, her bronze medal marked her second podium finish of the week, complementing her surprise silver medal in the 100 butterfly, where Canada’s Maggie MacNeil clipped the Olympic and world champion. The medal, however, was a bonus of sorts. In interviews over the past several months, Sjostrom alluded to the 200 freestyle as an afterthought that didn’t fit her schedule. The change of heart clearly paid off.
Australia Claims Mixed Medley Relay Gold Behind Huge Anchor from Cate Campbell
by JOHN LOHN
24 July 2019, 04:43am
World Swimming Championships (Cate Campbell)
Gwangju, Day 4 finals
Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay
Powered by an anchor split of 51.10 from Cate Campbell, perhaps the greatest relay performer in history, Australia took top honors in the mixed medley relay, winning in 3:39.08. Campbell overhauled the United States’ Simone Manuel on the closing leg, as the Americans won the silver medal in 3:39.10. Campbell was joined by Mitch Larkin, Matthew Wilson and Emma McKeon in the event that debuts on the Olympic schedule next year in Tokyo.
More to come.
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Kristof Milak Crushes Michael Phelps World Record in 200 Fly With 1:50.73
by ANDY ROSS
24 July 2019, 04:55am
World Swimming Championships (Kristof Milak)
Photo Courtesy: Patrick B. Kraemer
Gwangju 2019
Day Four Finals (Men’s 200 Fly)
Hungary’s Kristof Milak crushed the world record in the 200 fly on Wednesday night at the 2019 FINA World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Milak, 19, crushed the world record at 1:50.73 to lower Michael Phelps’ world record of 1:51.51 from 2009. It is the first time someone not named Phelps has held the world record in the men’s 200 fly since 2000.
It is the first world record of Milak’s career and it is the fourth time the world record has been broken at the World Championships. Mel Stewart broke the WR in 1991 (1:55.26) while Phelps broke it in 2001 (1:54.58), 2007 (1:52.09) and 2009 (1:51.51). Phelps also broke the world record in the semifinals in 2003 at 1:53.93.
Milak was out under world record pace through 150 meters, similar to what he did at the European Championships in 2018. But this time Milak held on to break the world record, and then some, knocking nearly a full second off of Phelps’ WR from ten years ago. Last year, he looked disappointed after his 200 fly in Glasgow when he was within a tenth of Phelps’ world record pace
Milak’s previous best was a 1:52.71 from last year as he was third all-time. He dropped nearly two full seconds from his best time in one swim.
Milak’s splits: 24.66, 28.22, 28.69, 29.16. He was out in 52.88 and 1:21.57.
Phelps’ splits: 24.76, 28.12, 29.05, 29.58. He was out in 52.88 and 1:21.93.
200 Fly Results:
1:50.73, Kristof Milak, HUN, WR
1:53.86, Daiya Seto, JPN
1:54.15, Chad Le Clos, RSA
1:54.39, Federico Burdisso, ITA
1:54.79, Denys Kesyl, UKR
1:55.69, Zach Harting, USA
1:55.96, Leonardo De Deus, BRA
1:57.10, Tamas Kenderesi, HUN
The early leader was Chad Le Clos, who was the reigning World Champion from 2017. Le Clos was out under world record pace at 52.55 but had the slowest final 50 in the field at 31.51. He won the bronze medal at 1:54.15 as Japan’s Daiya Seto (1:53.86) won his first 200 fly Worlds medal with the silver.
Last night, Milak cruised to the final at 1:52.96. Observations concluded that Milak had not fully shaved his arms last night. When asked if he thought he could go faster last night, he said: “Of course I want to be faster. This semifinal is just a preparation for tomorrow’s final so I definitely want to be faster.”
This is Milak’s first medal in the 200 fly at the World Championships as he won the silver in the 100 fly in Budapest. It is also Hungary’s first gold medal in the 200 fly at the World Championships as Laszlo Cseh won silver in 2017 and Tamas Darnyi won bronze in 1991.
This is also the third of Phelps’ five world records to fall from his tremendous career. He set world records in the 400 IM, 200 free, 200 fly, 200 IM and 100 fly in his career. The 200 free, 200 IM and now 200 fly have been taken down in the last 10 years.
Hungary and the United States also notably have five of the ten fastest performances in this event with Milak, Phelps and Cseh standing on the list.
Going back to the race itself, Italy’s Federico Burdisso was fourth at 1:54.39 while Ukraine’s Denys Kesyl (1:54.79) was fifth. USA’s Zach Harting (1:55.69), Brazil’s Leonardo De Deus (1:55.96) and Hungary’s Tamas Kenderesi (1:57.10), who won a swim-off this morning to get here, also swam in the final.
Top 10 Performers:
1:50.73, Kristof Milak, HUN (2019)
1:51.51, Michael Phelps, USA (2009)
1:52.70, Laszlo Cseh, HUN (2008)
1:52.96, Chad Le Clos, RSA (2012)
1:52.97, Takeshi Matsuda, JPN (2008)
1:53.23, Pawel Korzeniowski, POL (2009)
1:53.40, Masato Sakai, JPN (2016)
1:53.42, Tamas Kenderesi, HUN (2019)
1:53.64, Tyler Clary, USA (2009)
1:53.79, Nao Horomura, JPN (2018)
Top 10 Performances:
1:50.73, Kristof Milak, HUN (2019)
1:51.51, Michael Phelps, USA (2009)
1:52.03, Michael Phelps, USA (2008)
1:52.09, Michael Phelps, USA (2007)
1:52.20, Michael Phelps, USA (2008)
1:52.70, Laszlo Cseh, HUN (2008)
1:52.71, Kristof Milak, HUN (2018)
1:52.76, Michael Phelps, USA (2009)
1:52.79, Kristof Milak, HUN (2018)
1:52.91, Laszlo Cseh, HUN (2016)
World Record Progression:
1:50.73, Kristof Milak, HUN (2019)
1:51.51, Michael Phelps, USA (2009)
1:52.03, Michael Phelps, USA (2008)
1:52.09, Michael Phelps, USA (2007)
1:53.71, Michael Phelps, USA (2007)
1:53.80, Michael Phelps, USA (2006)
1:53.93, Michael Phelps, USA (2003)
1:54.58, Michael Phelps, USA (2001)
1:55.18, Tom Malchow, USA (2000)
1:55.22, Denis Pankratov, RUS (1995)
Matt Grevers Fuels United States to Top Seed in Mixed Medley Relay
by JOHN LOHN
23 July 2019, 08:31pm
World Swimming Championships (Matt Grevers)
Gwangju 2019
Day 4 Heats (Mixed Medley Relay)
Propelled by a strong leadoff backstroke leg from Matt Grevers (52.75), the United States claimed the top seed for the final of the mixed relay, clocking in at 3:41.23. Grevers was followed into the water by Andrew Wilson (58.35), Kelsi Dahlia (57.35) and Mallory Comerford (52.78). The event has taken on greater significance at these World Championships since the mixed medley relay will be an Olympic event for the first time next year in Tokyo.
Australia, the primary challenger to the United States, advanced to the final in the No. 2 qualifying position. The Aussies relied on the foursome of Minna Atherton (59.65), Matthew Wilson (58.84), Matthew Temple (51.41) and Bronte Campbell (52.32) to post a time of 3:42.22. Australia was followed in third by Russia (3:43.30), with Great Britain placing fourth in 3:43.37.
There will be plenty of changes to lineups for the final, with the United States likely to go with a squad that consists of Ryan Murphy, Lilly King, Caeleb Dressel and Simone Manuel. Meanwhile, Australia is expected to add Mitch Larkin and Cate Campbell for additional firepower, while Russia has the option of adding Evgeny Rylov and Yuliya Efimova to its order. Unlike the mixed 4×100 freestyle relay, in which most teams front-load their lineups with the men to get clean water, the mixed medley forces countries to assess their relative strength on each leg. The result is an event with plenty of action and changes in position.
Canada took the fifth position for the final in 3:44.03, while Italy, the Netherlands and Germany rounded out the finalists. China and Japan were expected to contend for medals, but disqualifications short-circuited those hopes. The world record of 3:38.56, set in 2017 by the United States, should be under fire in the final.
Mixed Medley Relay Finalists
1. United States 3:41.232. Australia 3:42.223. Russia 3:43.304. Great Britain 3:43.375. Canada 3:44.036. Italy 3:44.387. Netherlands 3:44.678. Germany 3:45.20
Showdown Between Caeleb Dressel and Kyle Chalmers Set for 100 Freestyle
by JOHN LOHN
24 July 2019, 04:42am
World Swimming Championships (Caeleb Dressel)
Gwangju, Day 4
Semifinals
Men’s 100 Freestyle
The long-awaited showdown between American Caeleb Dressel and Australian Kyle Chalmers is on, as the reigning world champion and reigning Olympic titlist went one-two in the semifinals of the sport’s blue-ribbon event. Dressel shot off the blocks – as usual – and notched the top seed for the final in 47.35 with a win in the second semifinal, just after Chalmers produced a mark of 47.58 in the prior heat.
While Dressel and Chalmers are on a collision course, Brazil’s Marcelo Chierighini is lurking as the third seed, following a semifinal swim of 47.76. Chierighini was joined in the sub-48 realm by Russia’s Vladislav Grinev (47.82) and the United States’ Blake Pieroni (47.87). When Dressel and Chalmers engage in their duel, the world record of 46.91, held since 2009 by Cesar Cielo, could be under attack.
France’s Clement Mignon (48.25) earned the sixth slot in the final, followed by Hungary’s Nandor Nemeth (48.29) and Brazilian Breno Correia (48.33).
Finalists
1. Caeleb Dressel, United States 47.352. Kyle Chalmers, Australia 47.583. Marcelo Chierighini, Brazil 47.764. Vladislav Grinev, Russia 47.825. Blake Pieroni, United States 47.876. Clement Mignon, France 48.257. Nandor Nemeth, Hungary 48.298. Breno Correia, Brazil 48.33
Women’s 50 Backstroke
Illness and injury have plagued Kathleen Baker for a good portion of this season, but the American has a shot at the podium in the 50 back. Surging late over the one-lap sprint, Baker topped the semifinals in 27.62, finishing ahead of Brazil’s Etiene Medeiros (27.69) and Great Britain’s Georgia Davies (27.72). Baker has dealt with the flu and pneumonia this year, her bout with pneumonia leading to a broken rib following a coughing attack.
Australia’s Kaylee McKeown (27.73) and the United States’ Olivia Smoliga (27.76) qualified fourth and fifth. Smoliga is the reigning world champion in the short-course version of the event and should be in the medal mix coming off a bronze in the 100 back from earlier in the meet.
In a surprise, China’s Fu Yuanhui finished ninth and missed out on the final. Fu was the world champion in the 50 back in 2015 and claimed the silver medal in 2017.
Finalists
1. Kathleen Baker, United States 27.622. Etiene Medeiros, Brazil 27.693. Georgia Davies, Great Britain 27.724. Kaylee McKeown, Australia 27.735. Olivia Smoliga, United States 27.766. Caroline Pilhatsch, Austria 27.777. Kira Toussaint, Netherland 27.788. Daria Vaskina, Russia 27.79
Women’s 200 Butterfly
Hali Flickinger and Katie Drabot provided the United States with a boost by securing the top-two positions for the final, Flickinger leading the way in 2:06.25 and Drabot following in 2:06.59. In what has been a relatively slow events through two rounds, Flickinger and Drabot have looked sharp, especially Flickinger, who was sub-2:06 in the prelims. They should find a challenge with the medals on the line from the Hungarian pair of Boglarka Kapas(2:07.33) and Liliana Szilagyi (2:07.83).
Great Britain’s Alys Thomas was the fastest performer in the world last year and moved into the final as the sixth seed, going 2:08.26. She was just behind Germany’s Franziska Hentke, who touched in 2:08.14. Hentke was the bronze medalist in the 200 fly in 2017.
Finalists
1. Hali Flickinger, United States 2:06.252. Katie Drabot, United States 2:06.593. Boglarka Kapas, Hungary 2:07.334. Liliana Szilagyi, Hungary 2:07.835. Franziska Hentke, Germany 2:08.146. Alys Thomas, Great Britain 2:08.267. Svetlana Chimrova, Russia 2:08.308. Laura Stephens, Great Britain 2:09.06
Men’s 200 Individual Medley
A ninth straight world title for the United States is well within reach as Chase Kalisz cruised through his semifinal of the short medley, clocking 1:57.34 for the fourth seed. En route to winning the second semifinal, the defending world champion did only what was needed to advance. The United States, thanks to a streak put together by Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Kalisz, has not lost the 200 IM at the World Champs since 2001.
Switzerland’s Jeremy Desplanches (1:56.73) and Germany’s Philip Heintz (1:56.95) moved into the final as the top seeds, with Japan’s Daiya Seto qualifying third ahead of Kalisz in 1:57.10. Earlier in the night, Seto picked up a silver medal in the 200 butterfly. Aussie Mitch Larkin (1:57.45) fell in behind Kalisz while sixth went to Great Britain’s Duncan Scott (1:57.83).
Finalists
1. Jeremy Desplanches, Switzerland 1:56.732. Philip Heintz, Germany 1:56.953. Daiya Seto, Japan 1:57.104. Chase Kalisz, United States 1:57.345. Mitch Larkin, Australia 1:58.456. Duncan Scott, Great Britain 1:57.837. Abrahm Devine, United States 1:57.918. Wang Shun, China 1:57.98
Rhiannan Iffland Remains Undefeated At World Championships With Exciting Finish
by ERIN KEAVENY
23 July 2019, 10:00am
By Erin Keaveny, Swimming World Contributor.
Photo Courtesy: Dean Treml
Rhiannan Iffland, the most decorated woman in high diving history, defended her world championship title this morning, July 23, 2019 in an extremely close competition.
Despite her accolades, the Australian diver did not command the competition like one might expect.
The first and second rounds started yesterday, and Iffland started out strong. Her first dive was the highest scoring dive in the round. Iffland’s second and most difficult dive did not go as well. She only received fives from the judges, and dropped down into fifth place.
This morning, Iffland’s third dive brought her up to fourth place. Her final dive, an inward triple with a half twist tuck (5461C) was exceptional. She earned 98.9 points on the dive, reclaiming her spot as the queen of high diving by the skin of her teeth.
Iffland only won by 0.15 points. Adriana Jimenez from Mexico claimed silver. She had been in first after the second round. Her performance was extremely consistent, she simply did not have any dives that scored nearly as high as Iffland’s in round four.
Jessica Macaulay from Great Britain earned the bronze medal, only 2.5 points behind Jimenez.
This is Iffland’s second gold at a World Championships. She has only been involved in the sport since 2016.
The final diving event takes place tomorrow, Jul 24, with the conclusion of men’s high diving.