Double-Dip Finish for Team USA as Regan Smith and Medley Relay Take Down World Records (Race Video)
by JOHN LOHN
28 July 2019, 09:20am
World Swimming Championships (Regan Smith)
Gwangju 2019, Day 8 finals
Women’s 400 Medley Relay
Attention swim fans, there’s a two-for-one deal in Lane Four.
In a little less than four minutes, the United States produced a pair of world records in the 400 medley relay to punctuate the World Championships in the grandest of fashions. Not only did the American squad crack the world record in the relay, thanks to a time of 3:50.40, teenage phenom Regan Smith notched her second global standard of the week with a backstroke leadoff of – get this – 57.57.
After Smith obliterated the world mark of 58.00 to jumpstart the United States, Lilly King, Kelsi Dahlia and Simone Manuel flourished on their legs to help Team USA lop more than a second off the previous world record of 3:51.55. King on breaststroke (1:04.81) and Manuel on freestyle (51.86) produced the fastest splits on their legs while Dahlia (56.16) had the second-fastest butterfly leg.
When Smith blasted the world record in semifinals of the 200 backstroke, chatter immediately started about the possibility of the 17-year-old handling the leadoff leg of the medley relay. Ultimately, that was the decision made by the American coaching staff, who felt the hot hand of Smith couldn’t be ignored.
Surging right from the start, Smith nearly led by a second by the backstroke turn and continued to pour on the speed down the final length to wipe .43 off Kathleen Baker’s world record from last summer. More, Smith’s outing left no doubt about a United States golden finish, as the Stars & Stripes participated in more of a coronation than a battle with Australia, which edged the U.S. in the first two women’s relays of the week.
The Aussies easily claimed the silver medal as Minna Atherton, Jessica Hanson, Emma McKeon and Cate Campbell touched in 3:53.42. Canada, buoyed by Maggie MacNeil’s fly leg of 55.56, picked up the bronze medal, with Italy well back in fourth in 3:56.50.
While the American men (Caeleb Dressel excluded) were not sharp in Gwangju, the U.S. women were strong throughout the eight-day meet, Smith and Manuel emerging as the team’s stars. For Smith, any remaining anonymity has evaporated and her profile will undoubtedly become tied to the hype attached to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Not only will Smith be the favorite for gold in both backstroke events heading into the Olympic year, her wide-ranging skill set is geared toward the adoption of a heavy program for the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha. Smith, too, is a world-class performer in the butterfly events, and could also provide a boost to the 800 freestyle relay.
Smith’s backstroke performance is difficult to comprehend, as it sits nearly a half-second faster than the previous world mark and .53 ahead of the personal best by 100 backstroke world champion Kylie Masse of Canada. Her world record of 57.57 traveled at the rate of what East German legend Roland Matthes managed for the male world record in 1969.
“After what I did in the 200 back, I was feeling really confident and really excited, and I had a really good feeling going in,” Smith said. “I was super, super happy when I finished.”
Heading into her senior year at Lakeville North High School in Minnesota, Smith went into Worlds viewed as a contender for gold in the 200 backstroke. But the moment she stopped the clock in 2:03.35 in the semifinals of that event, in the process erasing Missy Franklin’s 2012 world record, everything changed. She was no longer a contender for gold, but instantly became one of the sport’s highest-profile athletes. Yes, things can change that quickly.
Photo Courtesy:
Upon returning from the World Championships, Smith is expected to compete at the United States National Championships at Stanford University. If she stays true to her plan, Smith will have the opportunity to contest additional events while in peak form. Of course, she’ll have to deal with the impact of travel and the time-zone difference between Korea and California. Obviously, Smith will be a major attraction.
On the flip side of Smith, Manuel was a known commodity when the week began, but the veteran sprinter turned in the best meet of her career in Gwangju. Strengthening her identity as one of the most clutch performers in the sport, Manuel opened her night by winning gold in the 50 freestyle, in the process edging heavyweights Sarah Sjostrom and Cate Campbell. The victory marked the fourth time since 2016 in which Manuel claimed a global title in a sprint event after not entering the final as the favorite. She previously pulled off the feat in the 100 freestyle at the Rio Olympics and at the 2017 and 2019 World Champs.
In addition to winning each of her individual events, Manuel added gold in the mixed 400 freestyle relay and claimed three silver medals in relay action. Manuel’s hardware haul made her the first female athlete to win seven medals at a single World Championships. Despite the record-breaking performance, Manuel was clipped for Swimmer of the Meet honors by Sjostrom, who won five solo medals. The Swede raised her career total of World Championships medals to 16.
“When I touched the wall, I didn’t know we broke the world record,” Manuel said. “I really didn’t hear anything. I turned around, and I had to squint (at the scoreboard). To start it off with a world record from Regan really pumped us all up. We definitely wanted to finish off the meet on a good note. I think we’re really happy with that swim.”
After Smith handed Team USA a 1.49-second advantage on backstroke, King extended the United States’ lead at the halfway point of the race to 2.76 seconds. Dahlia and Manuel took care of matters the rest of the way, giving the Americans their 14th gold medal of the competition. The U.S. finished with 27 medals.
bell used the meet as preparation for the next Olympiad.
“I’ve been pleased with all of my performances,” Campbell said. “To get a podium on both of my individuals and have some really good relay swims shows that I’m in a really strong place. My focus was always kind of on next year. We had a little bit of an upheaval earlier in the year moving to Sydney and I probably had a bit more time off at the end of last year than I would usually, so I’m really encouraged by the swims I’ve managed to put together and it’s good to be racing an eight-day program again.”
Results
1. United States 3:50.402. Australia 3:53.423. Canada 3:53.584. Italy 3:56.505. China 3:57.116. Japan 3:58.147. Sweden 3:58.398. Great Britain 3:59.38
Caeleb Dressel Pops 21.18 50 Free, Just Half-Hour After WR
by DAVID RIEDER
26 July 2019, 04:21am
World Swimming Championships Caeleb Dressel
Gwangju 2019
Day Six Semifinals
Photo Courtesy: Patrick B. Kraemer
After the first two semifinals of the evening at the World Swimming Championships produced world records in the men’s 100 fly and women’s 200 back, action came back to Earth just a smidge with action in the men’s 50 free and women’s 50 fly.
Men’s 50 Freestyle
Caeleb Dressel had just 30 minutes to recover after setting a world record in the men’s 100 fly, but he quickly got back in the pool and led the way in the 50 free semifinals with a 21.19, just four hundredths short of his lifetime best of 21.15 that he swam on his way to a world title in the event two years ago in Budapest. Only three men, Cesar Cielo, Fred Bousquet and Ben Proud have been quicker, with only Proud having done so (21.11) in textile.
Dressel will reverse the order of his two events in finals, with the 50 free proceeding the 100 fly. Two years ago, Dressel became the first man to win world titles in three separate events in one night, with the mixed 4×100 free relay at the end of the session. Dressel should have the opportunity to go for gold in all three again Saturday.
In the short turnaround he had between his two races, Dressel was allowed to use the diving well to cool down.
Finishing well behind Dressel, Brazil’s Bruno Fratus (21.53) and Great Britain’s Proud (21.56) qualified second and third, respectively. The rest of the field finished in a tight pack between 21.60 and 21.77, with the group led by Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev (21.60) and completed by the USA’s Michael Andrew (21.77).
Finalists
Caeleb Dressel (USA), 21.19
Bruno Fratus (BRA), 21.53
Ben Proud (GBR), 21.56
Kristian Gkolomeev (GRE), 21.60
Vladimir Morozov (RUS), 21.65
Pawe Juraszek (POL), 21.69
Shinri Shioura (JPN), 21.74
Michael Andrew (USA), 21.77
Women’s 50 Fly
Sarah Sjostrom also had to handle multiple races in the Friday evening session, as she returned for the women’s 50 fly semis just over an hour after winning bronze in the 100 free. While Sjostrom couldn’t defend her 100 free world record, she should have no trouble dealing with the field in the 50 fly, as she now holds the 15 quickest performances in history in the event. Her 24.79 from the semis is the fifth-fastest mark ever, while no other woman has ever cracked 25.
The Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo, the silver medalist in the event two years ago in Budapest, qualified second in 25.54, followed closely by France’s Marie Wattell (25.56) and the USA’s Kelsi Dahlia (25.59). Egypt’s Farida Osman, the Budapest bronze medalist, qualified fifth in 25.79.
Finalists
Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 24.79
Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 25.54
Marie Wattell (FRA), 25.56
Kelsi Dahlia (USA), 25.59
Farida Osman (EGY), 25.79
Penny Oleksiak (CAN), 25.93
Brianna Throssell (AUS), 25.93
Jeanette Ottesen (DEN), 26.01
Rylov Holds Off Challenge By Olympic Champion Murphy To Retain Title: Greenbank Takes Bronze
by LIZ BYRNES
26 July 2019, 05:26am
FINA World Swimming Championships
Gwangju 2019
Photo Courtesy: Patrick Kraemer
Day Six Finals (Men’s 200m backstroke)
Evgeny Rylov held off a challenge from Olympic champion Ryan Murphy to retain his 200m backstroke title in Gwangju.
The Russian led from the start and it soon became a duel between him and Murphy and although the American made some inroads, Rylov was in no mood to surrender his title and reasserted his lead on the final length to win in 1min 53.50secs.
Murphy took silver in 1:54.12 with Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank executing a perfectly-timed race to take bronze in 1:55.85.
It was Rylov’s second medal of the meet after he won silver in the 100m backstroke, a race in which Murphy was locked out of the medals by 0.01secs after a second-50 blast.
The American was in second for the entirety of the race and was just 0.06secs adrift at the first turn but Rylov powered away on the second 50.
Murphy made up some ground on the penultimate length with a 28.91 blast and a battle was on the cards at the final turn only for Rylov to pull away to win by 0.72secs for his third successive medal in this event.
Murphy didn’t try to hide his disappointment at his campaign in South Korea, saying: “I’m not necessarily feeling great at this meet. My mentality going through that is I’ve got to approach this as if I am running through a brick wall, be ready to put myself through that type of pain so in the race I didn’t hold back. I put myself in a good position. The last 50 wasn’t there tonight but I wouldn’t have done anything differently there.”
Next up is the 4x100m medley relay in the penultimate event of the programme on Sunday in which the United States are defending champions.
“I’m actually starting to feel better as the week goes on,” he said. “I think in the individual 100 back, I just spun at the beginning.
“In the medley relay (mixed relay) I was a little bit better but I think I was pretty soft in the turn, pretty soft in that breakout off the turn so those are two areas I’m going to target for the relay.”
It was Greenbank’s first senior international medal and follows a difficult transition from a successful junior career in which he broke the world junior record en-route to gold at the European Games in Baku in 2015.
The 21-year-old is coached by Mel Marshall, the former Olympian who has guided Adam Peaty through a timewarp.
He said: “We have a really good group down in Loughborough. We’ve got James Wilby, Molly Renshaw, Max Litchfield here as well. It’s a really good group.”
Greenbank set a new personal best of 0.04secs to remain third on the British all-time list behind James Goddard, who set the national record back in 2010 at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, and Craig McNally.
“I’m really pleased with that,” he said. “A little PB and to be in the medals at World Championships is a dream come true.
“Those guys (Rylov and Murphy) are heroes of mine really. And to race in there with those competitors, I’m really really pleased to hold my own and hopefully catch up a little bit next year. It was a great experience.”
Regan Smith Shatters Missy Franklin’s 200 Back World Record In 2:03.35
by DAVID RIEDER
26 July 2019, 04:37am
World Swimming Championships (Regan Smith)
Gwangju 2019
Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
Day Six Semifinals
Women’s 200 Backstroke
Regan Smith of the United States looked impressive in the women’s 200 back prelims when she broke her own world junior record with a 2:06.01, but as it turns up, that was just the beginning. Smith looked like a world title contender, but few expected she would shatter Missy Franklin’s world record. Smith did just that, recording a monumental 2:03.35 to take down the 2:04.06 Franklin set on her way to Olympic gold in 2012.
Smith’s splits: 29.06, 1:00.37, 1:31.84, 2:03.35Franklin’s splits: 29.53, 1:00.50, 1:32.16, 2:04.06
The outcome of the semifinal was never in doubt, as Smith stormed ahead of the field just as she had in the preliminary round. And what resulted was the fastest swim ever recorded by a whopping seven tenths, after Smith had entered the race ranked No. 9 all-time in the event.
“I’m in shock. I really don’t believe it. I didn’t think I’d ever do that. It’s crazy but I am very happy with what I was able to do,” Smith said. “I really just wanted to get myself in a good lane for tomorrow night’s final and I just hoping to slip under 2:06, that was my goal. If I (went) 2:05-mid or something, that would (have been) amazing. I exceeded my expectations and I’m super super happy.”
Previously, Smith won just a single senior-level international medal, a bronze in the 200 back at Pan Pacs in 2018. Smith made her international debut at the 2017 World Championships, where she finished eighth in the 200 back, and she later took down the world junior record in the 100 back. Smith didn’t have the opportunity to swim the 100 back in Gwangju, but she recorded a 58.45 last month that was faster than the gold medal-winning time in the event this week.
The U.S. World Championships team was selected last year, with Smith missing out on berths in both the 100 back and 200 fly by one spot. After her world record-breaking performance, Smith could still end up with another race in the Gwangju beyond the 200 back final, should the U.S. coaches elect to swim Smith on the leadoff leg of the 4×100 medley relay Sunday evening.
Behind Smith, Canada’s Kylie Masse took second in 2:06.57 to qualify for lane five in the final, while Italy’s Margherita Panziera took third in 2:06.62. Panziera and Masse had ranked second and third in the world, respectively, prior to Smith’s record-shattering swim.
A second Canadian, Taylor Ruck, got into the final, while two Australians, Minna Atherton and Kaylee McKeown, and two Hungarians, Katinka Hosszu and Katalin Burian, rounded out the top eight. American Kathleen Baker, the 100 back world record-holder and last year’s Pan Pacs champion, ended up ninth in 2:09.68.
Finalists
Regan Smith (USA), 2:03.35 WR
Kylie Masse (CAN), 2:06.57
Margherita Panziera (ITA), 2:06.62
Minna Atherton (AUS), 2:07.38
Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2:07.48
Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2:08.19
Taylor Ruck (CAN), 2:08.42
Katalin Burian (HUN), 2:09.40
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.
LEAVE A REPLY