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.
Serbia Out in 2019 FINA Worlds Water Polo Quarterfinals; Croatia, Hungary and Italy Advance to Semifinals
by MICHAEL RANDAZZO
23 July 2019, 08:30am
At 22 years old, Krisztian Manhercz is one of Hungary’s young stars.
Photo courtesy: Sportphoto.shop
Swimming World continues its coverage of the 2019 men’s and women’s water polo world championships. Stick with us for comprehensive coverage of this year’s most prestigious polo tournament.
In a surprising upset Tuesday, the favored Serbians—who have won almost every major water polo title the past five years—were eliminated from title contention at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships. Spain, which had not beaten Serbia in World Championship play since 2009, stunned the defending Olympic and European champions with a five-goal outburst in the second period, then hung on for a 12-9 victory.
It represents the first time the Serbians have not advanced to a World Championship semifinal since 2013—a debacle that marked the end of Dejan Udovicic’s tenure as head coach. This year’s squad—missing many of the “Golden Boys” who had fueled Serbia’s prolific success—was still expected to contend with Croatia for gold in Gwangju, South Korea. Now the Serbians can finish no better than fifth, while their arch-rivals will look to become the first men’s squad to win back-to-back FINA Worlds gold since the Spaniards accomplished the feat in 1998 and 2000.
For Spain, which will look to advance to the finals for the first time 2009, Alberto Munarriz Egana, Francisco Fernandez Miranda and Roger Tahull I Compte each delivered two goals apiece, while goalie Daniel Lopez Pinedo stopped 12 shots. Serbian Head Coach Dejan Savic got a game-high four goals—on seven shots—from Strahinja Rasovic but saw the rest of his team connected on only 4 of 22 attempts, a dismal 18% conversion rate. Certainly, Filip Filipovic, the great Serbian lefty, would have made an impact on this match, but he, as well as Olympians Andrija Prlainovic and Dusko Pijetlovic chose to skip Worlds.
In reality, this loss should come as little surprise. By virtue of its recent win in last month’s FINA World League Super Final, Serbia has already qualified for the 2020 Olympics, and therefore was playing for pride—and yet another gold. The winner of the 2019 FINA World Championship will claim one of the 12 men’s berths available for the Tokyo Games.
Croatia advanced to the semifinals for the sixth straight time with a 10-8 victory, beating back a determined German squad making its first appearance in the quarterfinals since 2011. Leading the way for Head Coach Ivica Tucak’s team was Maro Jokovic with three goals. Germany got three goals from Luuk Gielan and two from Julian Real, a member of the last squad to qualify for FINA Worlds, back in 2013.
Gertjan Kooij, Croatia’s Ivica Tucak looks for double
gold at FINA Worlds. Photo Courtesy: Gertjan Kooij
The Spaniards and Croatians will meet in the first semifinal on Thursday; filling out the other side of the bracket are Hungary and Italy. The Hungarians, behind hat tricks from Marton Vamos—including the game-winner with four seconds left—and Gergo Zalanki, as well as 12 saves from Viktor Nagy, held of a determined Australian side, taking a 10-9 decision. The Sharks got two goals apiece from Joe Kayes, Lachlan Edwards, Nathan Powers and Aidan Roach, as well as 13 saves from Joel Dennerley. But the Aussie goalie was unable to stop Vamos from six meters at game’s end, a miss that advanced the Hungarians to the semifinals for the second straight time. Head Coach Tamas Marcz, a member of the dominant Hungarian teams that won three straight Olympic golds from 2000 – 2008, has quickly rebuilt his squad into a top contender for FINA honors, and Hungary must be considered a medal threat at the upcoming Tokyo Games.
In the last round of quarterfinal play, the Italians held off the Greeks behind 11 saves from Marco Del Lungo and two scores apiece from Francesco Di Fulvio and Stefano Luongo to claim a 7-6 victory and the final semifinal spot opposite Hungary. The Greeks held a 6-5 lead midway through the third period, but Pietro Figlioli tied it with nineteen seconds to go in the period, and Di Fulvio gave his team the lead for good a minute into the fourth. The Italians will be looking to make their first appearance in the FINA Worlds final since 2011, when they captured gold with an 8-7 overtime win over Serbia.
The semifinals won’t be the same without Serbia, but the remaining combatants—Croatia, Hungary, Italy and Spain—won’t shed any tears for a Serbian side that has dominated the top podium for years.
USA Men win; will play Montenegro for 9th place
Following a 20-3 blowout of South Africa. the Americans will seek to finish in their highest position at FINA Worlds since a 7th place showing in 2015. Leading the way for Udovicic’s squad with four goals apiece were Ben Hallock and Alex Bowen. Alex Wolf and Drew Holland split time in the US cage, with each registering 9 saves.
USA’s Alex Bowen. Photo Courtesy: USA Water Polo
On Thursday Team USA will face Montengro—which has only sustained one loss all tournament—for ninth place. The Montenegrins advance with a 14-7 win over Japan. Nikola Murisic and Vladan Spaic each netted two goals apiece, while Dejan Lazovic stopped nine Japanese attempts.
This will be the most significant match between the two sides since a meeting in group play at the 2016 Rio Olympics, which the U.S. men lost 8-5. The two sides met earlier this month in the China Wenjiang International Water Polo Tournament, where the Americans scored an 8-4 win to take top honors.
Australians Win Mixed Synchro, Chinese Men Command 10m on Eighth Day of World Championships
by ERIN KEAVENY
20 July 2019, 09:52am
By Erin Keaveny, Swimming World Contributor.
Photo Courtesy: Steve Russell
Today, on the eighth and final day of springboard and platform diving, mixed three-meter synchro and men’s ten-meter platform concluded the diving competition at the 2019 FINA World Championships.
Mixed synchro, a non-Olympic event where teams are made up of one man and one woman, was the first event to take place.
With an extremely tight finish, the winning team was from Australia. Maddison Keeney, who won a bronze medal yesterday on individual 3m springboard, partnered with Matthew Carter for gold.
Jennifer Abel and Francois Imbeau-Dulac from Canada finished 0.78 points behind the Aussies. Tina Punzel and Lou Massenberg from Germany only 2.46 points the silver medal finishers.
There was not a Chinese team in this event.
The final event was men’s ten-meter platform.
Yang Jian won gold with an excellent performance and a massive score of 598.65. His final dive, a front four-and-a-half pike (109B), earned 114.8 points. The dive has an extremely high degree of difficulty at 4.1, and was likely the highest scoring dive of the meet.
Yang’s teammate Yang Hao followed close behind him with his own stunning performance. He received a perfect score on his reverse three-and-a-half tuck (307C), totaling 102.0 points. It was one of his final three dives, which all scored over 100 points. This is his third medal at a World Championships.
Russian diver Aleksandr Bondar earned the bronze medal. His highest scoring dives were in the fourth and fifth round, and both scored 99.0 points.
China, Great Britain, and the United States all qualified for the maximum number of Olympic spots in men’s ten-meter platform.
While Olympic diving at the World Championships has concluded, we pick back up with high diving on Monday, July 22, 2019.
Sarah Bacon First American in 14 Years to Medal at World Championships
by ERIN KEAVENY
13 July 2019, 07:48am
By Erin Keaveny, Swimming World Contributor.
Sarah Bacon wins Silver in Gwangju
Diving has officially started at the 2019 FINA Diving World Championships with women’s one-meter, men’s synchronized three-meter, and mixed synchronized ten-meter platform.
Mixed synchronized 10m was the first final event to finish. The Chinese team, made up of Lian Junjie and Si Yajie, held the lead for the entire competition. They dominated the field by 35 points. The team’s back three-and-a-half (207C) alone scored over 81 points.
Ekaterina Beliaeva and Viktor Minibaev from Russia took the silver medal, while Maria Jose Sanchez Morenoand Jose Balleza Isaias are bringing the bronze medal home to Mexico.
Women’s one-meter was the second event to wrap-up today. Chen Yiwen from China won gold. In an impressive performance she did not waver from the top spot. Her final dive, a front two-and-a-half pike (105B), earned 8s from the judges and 62.4 total points.
American Sarah Bacon earned silver, marking the first time in 14 years in which an American female diver claimed a medal at the World Championships. She was in sixth place after prelims. While she slowly improved her standing during finals, she did not rank as high as second until her last dive. Kim Suji from Korea came in third.
“I was a little nervous on my first dive,” said Bacon after prelims. “But after I did my first dive I was able to settle down and perform well the rest of the event.”
This is Bacon’s first international competition since Junior World Championships in 2014.
Finally, the Chinese team won the synchronized men’s three-meter, but it was not an easy win. Veteran divers Xie Siyi and Cao Yuan dropped down from first to seventh after their second dive, a reverse dive pike. The team only scored 45 points on their 301B receiving 6s from some judges.
The team made up for it by scoring 93 and 90 points on their last two dives, a back three-and-a-half tuck (201C) and a front four-and-a-half tuck (109C).
Jack Laugher and Daniel Goodfellow from Great Britain came in second, besting the Mexican team, made up of Juan Manuel Celaya Hernandez and Yahel Castillo Huerta, by one point.
Australian Coaches Back Mack Horton & Call On FINA To Back ISL Zero-Tolerance On Doping
by CRAIG LORD
23 July 2019, 01:03am
Mack Horton, left, keeps his distance to Sun Yang for the photo-op with bronze medallist
Gabriele Detti after medals in the 400 Free in Gwangju;
Photo courtesy: Patrick B. Kraemer
The Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) has called on FINA, the international federation, to follow the example of the International Swimming League and take a zero-tolerance approach to anti-doping “… rather than issue meaningless letters of warning against clean athletes who take a stand”.
In a statement issued a moment ago, ASCTA joined a chorus of athletes and coaches from around the world in backing the stance made by Mack Horton when he refused to step up on the podium next to China’s Sun Yang after the 400m freestyle final at the World Championships here in Gwangju, Korea.
Horton decided to make a stand against Sun’s presence at a championship at a time when an anti-doping case against him is pending at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
A tentative September date has been set for a hearing into the World Anti-Doping Agency‘s March challenge to a FINA Doping Panel hearing into troubling events that unfolded at an out-of-competition test near Sun’s home last September, the events surrounding which were revealed by the Sunday Times in January.
It was March before WADA lodged a case with the CAS to challenge a FINA Doping Panel ruling that let Sun go free but handed him a series of stern rebukes for his behaviour during four hours of argument with out-of-competition testers who called at his home on September 4 last year.
Last weekend, Sun’s lawyers protested their client’s innocence in a statement that said the Olympic 200m freestyle champion had requested that the CAS hold its hearing in public in the interests of transparency.
Horton’s silent protest has earned plaudits from international peers in the pool and on the deck, while in China, his stance has faced heavy criticism and abuse from fans of Sun Yang.
Now, ASCTA has issued a statement in which it notes the failure of sports organisations such as FINA to deal with a dark past, including allowing all GDR results to stand despite overwhelming evidence of almost two decades of systematic cheating.
FINA has long been criticised for having allowed, to this day, men such as Dr. Lothar Kipke to keep FINA honours given to them when they were members of the medical and anti-doping committees of the federation in the 1970s and 1980s. In the German doping trials of 1999-2000, Kipke and others were handed criminal convictions for their role in the abuse of minors during the 1970s and 1980s as part of the State Plan 14:25 systematic doping program.
Since then, the sport has lived under a cloud of doping controversy related to China in the 1990s and beyond and related to Russia, which in the lead-up to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games had the worst doping record of all nations in the pool for the previous decade. Russia was barred from official participation because of the growing crisis related to the revelations of Russian whistleblowers exposing corrupt practices at the heart of sport in the country:
In 2014, a unanimous vote by the FINA Media Commission in 2014 backed a joint call by Swimming World in the United States and the SwimVortex website in Europe for the ruling FINA Bureau to consider a reconciliation process and remove honours given to convicted criminals. The request was met with silence and lack of reply.
In 2018, the ISL, ahead of its inaugural Team Pro-League from October to December this year, revealed a policy of zero-tolerance for all athletes who have fallen foul of the WADA Code. A ban after one offence is possible under the WADA Code for the most serious of offences but most athletes are granted a second chance under the Code. The ISL says it will not allow any such thing in its professional league.
FINA yesterday issued a warning to Swimming Australia over Horton’s protest. In response, ASCTA has issued the following statement:
The Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) applaud and support the stance taken by Australian Dolphin Mack Horton to call out cheating in sport – and calls for meaningful and immediate action on anti-doping.
Speaking on behalf of the Board and CEO, ASCTA President and former Dolphin coach, Mr Tony Shaw commended Mack Horton for escalating the issue and effectively putting FINA on notice.
“When organisations like FINA who are entrusted to administer our sport and create an even playing field, can’t and don’t take care of clean athletes the result is athletes step in and make a stand, ” Mr Shaw said.
“For too long there has been an inadequate response from administrators which has put sport, in particular Swimming, in a state of crisis. From the East Germans in the ‘70s and ‘80s to China and Russia more recently, there has been repeated accusations of systemic cheating which has virtually gone unchecked.”
“It is time for zero tolerance for drug cheats. If someone is convicted for using performance enhancing drugs, there should be a life ban. This is the policy of the International Swimming League and FINA should follow suit.”
“Rather than issue meaningless letters of warning against clean athletes who take a stand, International Federations should look inwardly and deal with the issues rather than be complicit through inaction.
“ASCTA calls for meaningful and immediate action on anti-doping from FINA. The technology is available. It is their job to get on the front foot to protect the clean athletes of the world.”
Swimming World has asked FINA for a response to the ASCTA statement and demand. We will bring you the federation’s reply should we receive one.
Adam Peaty Storms to Top Seed in 50 Breaststroke Semifinals
by JOHN LOHN
23 July 2019, 05:34am
World Swimming Championships (Adam Peaty)
Gwangju, Day 3
Semifinals
Adam Peaty swims 50 Breast
Men’s 50 Breaststroke
A gold medal and world record already pocketed from the 100 breaststroke earlier in the World Championships, Great Britain’s Adam Peaty took the next step toward gold in the 50 breast with his latest dominant showing. Clocking 26.11, Peaty posted the fifth-fastest time in history and advanced to the final with a half-second margin over No. 2 qualifier, Felipe Lima of Brazil, who was timed in 26.62.
Peaty now owns the seven-fastest performances of all-time and, make no mistake, his primary competition in the final will be the clock. With Peaty so far ahead of the field, the main question is whether Peaty can lower his world record of 25.95. Peaty has twice cracked the 26-second barrier, his second-quickest effort sitting at 25.99.
While Lima advanced to the final as the second seed, his countryman Joao Gomes was fifth in 26.84, giving Brazil a chance to place a pair on the podium. Between the Brazilians were Italy’s Fabio Scozzoli (26.70) and Belarus’ Ilya Shymanovich (26.77). China’s Yan Zibei was sixth in 26.86, just ahead of the USA’s Michael Andrew in 26.88.
Russia’s Kirill Prigoda and Denmark’s Tobias Bjerg tied for eighth in 27.08, but Prigoda won a swimoff for the last spot in the final, 27.09 to 27.16.
1. Adam Peaty, Great Britain 26.11
2. Felipe Lima, Brazil 26.62
3. Fabio Scozzoli, Italy 26.70
4. Ilya Shymanovich, Belarus 26.77
5. Joao Gomes, Brazil 26.84
6. Yan Zibei, China 26.86
7. Michael Andrew, United States 26.88
8. Kirill Prigoda, Russia 27.08
Tobias Bjerg, Denmark 27.08
Women’s 200 Freestyle
Could an eighth straight medal, and fourth gold, be on the horizon for Italy’s Federica Pellegrini in the 200 freestyle? A medalist in the event at every World Championships since 2005, Pellegrini topped the semifinals of her prime event, going 1:55.14. That performance placed Pellegrini ahead of Australia’s Ariarne Titmus (1:55.36) and Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey (1:55.58), with Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom qualifying fourth in 1:55.70. Titmus is looking for her second gold medal of the week after winning the 400 free on Night One.
One of the most-anticipated events on the program heading into the meet, the 200 free suffered a blow to its status when Katie Ledecky and Emma McKeon bowed out due to illness, and Taylor Ruck withdrew to conserve energy for her hefty schedule. Taking advantage of the absence of those big guns, China’s Yang Junxuan moved into the final in fifth position, and behind a world junior record of 1:55.99.
Rounding out the field for the final were France’s Charlotte Bonnet (1:56.19), Canada’s Penny Oleksiak (1:56.41) and Japan’s Rio Shirai (1:56.82).
1. Federica Pellegrini, Italy 1:55.14
2. Ariarne Titmus, Australia 1:55.36
3. Siobhan Haughey, Hong Kong 1:55.58
4. Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden 1:55.70
5. Yang Junxuan, China 1:55.99
6. Charlotte Bonnet, France 1:56.19
7. Penny Oleksiak, Canada 1:56.41
8. Rio Shirai, Japan 1:56.82
Men’s 200 Butterfly
Hungary’s Kristof Milak left no doubt who the favorite is to capture the gold medal in the 200 fly, as the 19-year-old made a statement in the semifinals with a time of 1:52.96. That effort gave Milak a cushion of more than two seconds over the No. 2 qualifier, the United States’ Zach Harting (1:55.26). Milak was the silver medalist in the 100 fly at the World Champs in Budapest in 2017, and his first world crown can now be sensed.
Japan’s Daiya Seto, who has enjoyed a sterling season and will be among the medal contenders in the medley events, earned the third seed in the 200 fly with a time of 1:55.33, ahead of the 1:55.71 of Brazil’s Leonardo de Deus. Two-time world champion Chad le Clos of South Africa qualified fifth in 1:55.88, with Italy’s Federico Burdisso (1:55.92) and the Ukraine’s Denys Kesyl (1:55.95) in sixth and seventh.
Hungary’s Tamas Kenderesi and Bulgaria’s Antani Ivanov tied for eighth in 1:56.25, necessitating a swimoff for the last spot in finals.
1. Kristof Milak, Hungary 1:52.96
2. Zach Harting, United States 1:55.26
3. Daiya Seto, Japan 1:55.33
4. Leonardo de Deus, Brazil 1:55.71
5. Chad le Clos, South Africa 1:55.88
6. Federico Burdisso, Italy 1:55.92
7. Denys Kesyl, Ukraine 1:55.95
8. Antani Ivanov, Bulgaria 1:56.25
Tamas Kenderesi, Hungary 1:56.25
Sun Yang Awarded Gold Medal in 200 Free after Danas Rapsys Wins but is Disqualified
by ANDY ROSS
23 July 2019, 04:11am
FINA World Swimming Championships
Gwangju 2019
Sun Yang won the 200 Free Final despite not touching first.
Photo courtesy: Becca Wyant
Day Three Finals (Men’s 200 Free)
In a severe turn of events in the pool on Tuesday night at the 2019 FINA World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, China’s Sun Yang won the 200 free final with a 1:44.93. Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys, who originally touched first at 1:44.69 was disqualified for a false start. The DQ became official immediately after the race for movement on the blocks.
The large contingent of fans from China on the lane 8 side of the pool screamed and shouted in delight when the official results were flashed on the scoreboard, with the rest of the pool jeering and booing the outcome.
Sun has been the talk of the venue in Gwangju this week after his controversial past with doping. The controversy came to a forefront when Australia’s Mack Horton lodged a silent protest in the medal ceremony of the 400 free on Sunday night, much to the delight of majority of the athletes competing.
Had Rapsys’ win counted, it would have been the first medal of his career at the World Championships. He would have moved up to eighth all-time.
This is Sun’s third straight medal in this event at the World Championships and he also defends his gold from 2017. He Joins the likes of Michael Phelps (2005, 2007), Ian Thorpe (2001, 2003), Michael Gross (1982, 1986) as repeat winners at Worlds. He also joins Thorpe as winners of the 200 & 400 free in back to back World Championships.
“My victory was because of my hard work,” Sun said after the race. “I continued to keep fighting, I didn’t give up when I was in second place.”
“I was the only one to enter the 800 this morning, so I was very tired. I just slept for an hour and a half this afternoon.”
The silver medal went to Japan’s Katsuhiro Matsumoto at 1:45.22. It was his first individual medal in his career and the first one for Japan at the World Championships. Russia’s Martin Malyutin and Great Britian’s Duncan Scott each picked up the bronze medal at 1:45.63. It is the first medal for either swimmer at the World Championships in an individual event.
“I guess I’ve sort of got to celebrate off someone else’s misfortune,” Scott said after the race. “I’d liked to have done it outright but it’s my first ever individual worlds medal so I have got to be happy with that and try and move things on in the rest of the week because I’ve still got more events to come.”
“To be perfectly honest I’ve definitely got more in there time wise. I have done a lot of 1:45s and I’ve swum them a lot of different ways as well. Learning but then I’m just disappointed I wasn’t able to go in there and get a best time. It’s two years now and I’ve not really moved it on timewise. It’s good that I am now consistent and I have been consistently dropping 1:45s at major meets which is good but it’s now trying to move that on as well.”
Early leader Clyde Lewis of Australia finished in sixth at 1:45.78. He was leading the race through 150 meters but fell off big time on the final. He had a meteoric rise last night in the semifinals, swimming a huge best of 1:44.90 last night to move him up to 10th all-time.
1
SUN
Yang
CHN
1:44.93
2
MATSUMOTO
Katsuhiro
JPN
1:45.22
3
MALYUTIN
Martin
RUS
1:45.63
3
SCOTT
Duncan
GBR
1:45.63
5
MEGLI
Filippo
ITA
1:45.67
6
LEWIS
Clyde
AUS
1:45.78
7
KOZMA
Dominik
HUN
1:45.90
RAPSYS
Danas
LTU
DSQ
More controversy came about during the medal ceremony when Scott refused to take a photo with the medalists, shaking hands with Malyutin and Matsumoto, but refusing to make eye contact with Sun. Scott then took a photo with his medal alone but not with the other three medalists. He walked off after the ceremony was over and waved at the crowd.