Kevin Cordes set a new American Record in the 50m breast in the semifinals of the 2015 FINA World Aquatics Championships.  His time of 26.76 broke the previous record of 26.86, set by Mark Gangloff at the 2009 World Aquatics Championships in Rome.
In an interesting twist, Gangloff set that American Record while swimming it the same final where Cameron van der Burgh set the world record that Adam Peaty officially (pending verification) broke today swimming with Cordes swimming right next to him.
Coming into this meet, Cordes previously had the fifth-fastest time among US men with a 27.33, which he swam at the 2014 Summer Nationals. Â He had lowered his previous best already in the preliminaries, where he swam a 26.93, which gave him the second-fastest time ever for US men, and made him and Gangloff the only US swimmers to break 27 seconds in this event.
Cordes, who destroyed the record books in short course yards during his four years at the University of Arizona, recently moved to Singapore to train with former Bolles School coach Sergio Lopez, who is now the head coach of Singapore Swimming.  While at Bolles, Lopez helped trained rising stars like sprint freestylers Caeleb Dressel and Santo Condorelli, butterflier Joseph Schooling, and backstroker Ryan Murphy. However, Lopez himself was actually a bronze medalist in the 200 breaststroke at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, and the early indications are that the move to Singapore is paying dividends for Cordes.
Although Cordes did not qualify for the USA in the 100 breast for this meet, due in part to a disqualification at last summer’s Pan Pacific Championships, his strong 50 breast, plus lackluster performances by teammates Nic Fink and Cody Miller, who both failed to make finals in the 100 breast, increases the likelihood that the USA coaches will buck tradition and put Cordes on the 4×100 medley relay on the final day of the meet. Â Last summer Cordes split a 58.64, less than a tenth of a second off what Eric Shanteau swam on the 2009 world record-setting medley relay in Rome.
Notably, this is only the third men’s American Record to be broken since the end of the supersuited era in 2009.  Ryan Lochte set a new world record in the 200 IM, and Michael McBroom set the AR in the 800 free at the 2013 World Championships.  Both of those men will be swimming those respective events this week.
U got to swim cordes, the USA will win the med relay with him! Lose it without him?
Unlike many, I’ve always been team Kevin. Why does everyone want to hop on the Cordes train now that he is swimming fast? If I were him, I would tell all you cruel doubters, ” Bye Felicia”!
Haha. 🙂 I don’t think anyone deserves the hate Kevin’s received the past 2 years. I knew he had something special in him, he’s now showing his potential, after two years of off and on performances.
Mixed medley – something like Murphy / Cordes / Stewart / Manuel in prelims?
If McLaughlin swims well and is feeling up to it after semis of the 200, put her on there for finals. Or you could just put her on prelims. Or put Neal or Vreeland or Weitzeil on the anchor leg – with Murphy and Cordes leading off, there should be little question about the team making finals. But I’d like to see both Murphy and Cordes on there for prelims, just to make sure we see what they can give us if needed for the 400 medley at the end of the meet.
yes. agreed
You put Fink/Miller on this relay, not Cordes.
MHM. The past doubters are on Kevin’s side now. ?
I see Kevin going 26.70 in finals, getting a bronze medal, with Peaty and VDB going 26.4-26.5.
I also think Cordes will go 2:06 high-2:07 low. Possible securing himself a gold medal in the 200
You are aware that your prediction for the 200 would qualify as the World Record?
Yes I am. Are you aware that there were 5 swimmers going 2:07, and 6 going 2:08 last year? This year before the 200 Breast, there’s 1 swimmer already at a 2:07, and 7 going a 2:08. NOT counting Yamaguchi (the current world record holder), Ryo Tateishi, (the Olympic bronze medalist), Jameison (this year, in 2014 he was a 2:07.7), or Gyurta last year. The world record is on THIN ice right now. I never said he’d win, but there is a possibility of that. I think the whole field might be 2:08, or under. With a few guys going 2:06. Balandin took off .6 in his 100, who knows what he’ll do in the 200.
wasn’t Kevin broke the 200 breast AR last year? this 50 breast should be forth.
Gi – not in long course meters. Eric Shanteau still holds that one in 2:07.42. Cordes was 2:07.86.
Kevin broke the US Open record in the 200 breast last year with his swim at Nationals. As Braden mentioned, Shanteau still has the AR from Rome 2009.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWqQPQQ6Hzc
Very late start for Cordes and still came up ahead on the pullout. Looking forward to seeing the finals swim. A great story to lift the men’s team following some disappointing performances.
Very happy for him.
I didn’t like the bashing of the last 2 years.
He’s gonna silence the critics of his many detractors this week.
Really too bad he couldn’t swim the 100 breast, his best event for the future in my opinion. Stupid selection rules. I’m sure he had a 58 in him.
At least we’ll see him in the medley final.
By far the best US breaststroker of the moment.
The work with Sergio Lopez starts to pay off and next year he will be even stronger.
Agreed. How many potential medal contenders does the USNT office have to leave off the roster before they change this selection process?
Provide another incentive to make a push for the NT in 2014. Maybe guarantee 2 years on the NT with the results from US Nats/Pan Pacs or a major financial bonus if not a two year NT deal. Something to get people to train for 2014 without sacrificing the most important aspect of the USNT which is dominance on the world stage.
I agree wholeheartedly. Compared to the rest of the performances by the USMNT, this swim by Cordes has been a diamond among an immense number of mediocre performances.
Isn’t “USMNT” usually used for the soccer team, no?
We gotta remember Cordes had an off year and got beat at NCAAs in the 200. I hope the .6 drop in the 50 translates, but I’m skeptical. Looks like Sergio has him going though! 2016 will be his year!