2016 Short Course World Championships: Day Five Finals Live Recap

2016 SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

• December 6th – December 11th, 2016
• Windsor, Ontario, Canada
• WFCU Centre
• SCM (25m)
• Prelims: 9:30 AM EST/Finals: 6:30 PM EST
• Start Lists/Results
• Live Stream ($)

Day five finals are jam-packed with action, starting with the men’s 4x50m medley relay. After that the women will contest the 200m IM final before Chad le Clos gets a crack at another title in the men’s 50m butterfly.

Hometown favorite Kylie Masse will get once more chance for an individual medal in Windsor in the 50 back final before the men take on the 400m IM. Add in the women’s 100m breaststroke and 4×200 freestyle relay and there’s plenty of medals on the line.

In-between the finals action will be plenty of semifinals that set up the final night of finals tomorrow.

MEN’S 4×50 MEDLEY RELAY – FINAL

• 2014 World Champion – 1:30.51: Brazil
• World Record – 1:30.51: Brazil, 2014
• Championship Record – 1:30.51: Brazil, 2014

GOLD: Russia  – 1:31.52

SILVER: USA – 1:31.97

BRONZE: Belarus – 1:32.49

The Russians took the win in the first event here on day five, going into the freestyle leg slightly ahead of the Americans before handing things off to Vlad Morozov who took absolute control of the race to give the Russians the easy win.

The Japanese led after the backstroke leg due to a 22.98 split by Junya Koga. Belarus was second, the Russians were third, the Americans fifth.

After the breaststroke leg the Japanese fell to fourth, with Belarus taking the lead at the halfway point. Ilya Shymanovich of Belarus dropped a swift 25.82 split to put them in the lead. Kirill Prigoda of Russia and Cody Miller also went well under 26-seconds to put their countries in the second and third spots respectively.

The Russians gained control after the butterfly leg as Belarus faded to third and Tom Shields put the Americans into second. Morozov’s huge 20.46 split gave the Russians the win in 1:31.52 as the Americans settled for silver in 1:31.97. Belarus was third.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINAL

• 2014 World Champion – 2:01.86: Katinka Hosszu, HUN 2014
• World Record – 2:01.86: Katinka Hosszu, HUN 2014
• Championship Record – 2:01.86: Katinka Hosszu, HUN 2014

GOLD: Katinka Hosszu – Hungary – 2:02.90

SILVER: Ella Eastin – USA – 2:05.02

BRONZE: Madisyn Cox – USA – 2:05.92

Katinka Hosszu dominated yet another race here in Windsor, claiming her fifth gold medal with an impressive 2:02.90 performance to win by over a body length over second place finisher Ella Eastin of the United States.

Hosszu’s time ranks as the fifth fastest performance ever in this event.

She was ahead right from the start, splitting a 26.82 on the fly leg to already put her way ahead of the remainder of the field. A 30.46 backstroke split put her even further ahead.

The only one somewhat close to her was Ella Eastin, who kept falling slightly behind after every leg of the race. On the breaststroke, Hosszu was a 35.75 to be just a bit faster, and on the freestyle a 29.87.

At the touch it was Hosszu with Eastin second in 2:05.02. Eastin’s American teammate Madisyn Cox was third overall in 2:05.93, closing the gap slightly with a huge 29.90 last 50.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINALS

• 2014 World Champion – 45.75: Cesar Cielo, BRA
• World Record – 44.94: Amaury Leveaux, FRA, 2008
• Championship Record – 45.51: Vladimir Morozov, 2014

Top eight:

1. Blake Pieroni – USA – 46.70
2. Simonas Bilis  – Lithuania – 46.73
3. Shinri Shioura – Japan – 46.77
4. Park Taehwan – Korea – 46.89
5. Luca Dotto – Italy – 47.12
6. Mehdy Metella – France – 47.16
7. Marius Kusch – Germany – 47.27
8. Thommaso D’Orsogna – Australia – 47.30

Leading the way into tomorrow night’s final is American Olympic gold medallist Blake Pieroni who managed to come back strong on the second semifinal in order to drop a 46.70.

Right beside him was Simonas Bilis of Lithuania who was a 46.73 to touch just three one-hundredths behind.

The leading times from the first semifinal took the third and fourth spots respectively as both Shinri Shioura of Japan and Park Taehwan of Korea swam sub 47-second 100s with times of 46.77 and 46.89.

The remaining finalists were all over 47-seconds with the cutoff being a 47.30. Michael Chadwick of the United States missed the final, finishing 16th in 47.96.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

• 2014 World Champion – 54.61: Sarah Sjostrom, SWE
• World Record – 54.61: Sarah Sjostrom, SWE, 2014
• Championship Record – 54.61: Sarah Sjostrom, SWE, 2014

Top eight:

1. Kelsi Worrell – USA – 55.80
2. Katinka Hosszu – Hungary – 55.82
3. Rikako Ikee – Japan – 56.68
4. Sarah Gibson – USA – 56.88
5. Katerine Savard – Canada – 56.93
6. Daiene Dias – Brazil – 57.10
7. Svetlana Chimrova – Russia – 57.16
8. Emily Washer – Australia – 57.44

Kelsi Worrell clocked in the fastest time tonight in the semifinals of the women’s 100m butterfly, winning the seconds semi by a huge margin in a time of 55.80. Worrell managed to take the top overall seed by just two one-hundredths as Katinka Hosszu won the first semifinal.

Just as Worrell dominated the second semifinal, taking down Japan’s Rikako Ikee by almost a full second, Hosszu did the same in the first semi.

Ikee took the third overall seed in 56.68 followed by Gibson of the United States in 56.88. Katerine Savard qualified fifth for Canada in a time of 56.93.

MEN’S 50 FLY FINAL

• 2014 World Champion – Chad Le Clos (RSA), 21.95
• World Record – Steffen Deibler (GER), 21.80, 2009
• Championship Record – Chad Le Clos (RSA), 21.95, 2014

GOLD: Chad le Clos – South Africa – 21.98

SILVER: Tom Shields – USA – 22.40

BRONZE: David Morgan – Australia – 22.47

Chad le Clos added another gold to his resume here in Windsor, taking the win by a huge margin in the men’s 50m butterfly in order to put up a time of 21.95. Le Clos won by almost half-a-second, edging way out in front on the second 25 as the remainder of the field fought to get their hands on the wall in a medal position.

After a slow start, Tom Shields looked like he wasn’t in the mix after the first 25, but a huge underwater off the wall moved up into medal contention. Shields ended up second in 22.40, passing David Morgan of Australia who grabbed the bronze in 22.47.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE- SEMIFINALS

• 2014 World Champion – 23.32: Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED
• World Record -23.24: Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED, 2013 & 2015
• Championship Record – 23.25: Marleen Veldhuis, NED, 2008      

Top eight:

1. Ranomi Kromowidjojo – Netherlands – 23.67
2. Jeanette Ottesen – Denmark – 23.99
3. Silvia Di Pietro – Italy – 24.04
4. Anna Santamans – France – 24.14
5. Brittany Elmslie – Australia – 24.17
6. Amanda Weir – USA – 24.18
7. Erika Ferraioli – Italy – 24.18
8. Madison Kennedy – USA – 24.18

World record holder Ranomi Kromwidjojo absolutely blasted the first semifinal of the women’s 50m freestyle, taking control right from the start and establishing herself as the leader with pure speed.

Kromowidjojo managed to clock in a 23.67, just four-tenths of a second shy of her world record that she set both in 2013 and 2015. The time gave her the top overall seed heading into tomorrow’s final.

The only other swimmer under 24-seconds was Jeanette Ottesen of Denmark. Ottesen threw down a 23.99 fir second overall and the semifinal 2 win.

Silvia Di Pietro of Italy was third in 24.04, followed by Anna Santamans and Brittany Elmslie.

Amanda Weir, Erika Ferraioli, and Madison Kennedy all tied for sixth to round out the top eight qualifiers.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• 2014 World Champion – 25.63: Filipe Franca Silva, BRA
• World Record – 25.25: Cameron van der Burgh: RSA, 2009
• Championship Record – 25.63: Filipe Franca Silva, BRA, 2014

Top eight:

1. Kirill Prigoda – Russia – 25.95
2. Felipe Lima – Brazil – 26.08
3. Giulio Zorzi – South Africa – 26.08
4. Felipe Franca Silva – Brazil – 26.10
5. Fabio Scozzoli – Italy – 26.11
6. Cody Miller – USA – 26.15
7. Cameron Van Der Burgh – South Africa – 26.20
8. Peter Stevens – Slovenia – 26.29

Kirill Prigoda of Russia was the fastest qualifier tonight for the men’s 50m breaststroke final, sporting a 25.95 at the touch in order to be the only swimmer under 26-seconds thus far.

Both Felipe Lima of Brazil and Giulio Zorzi of South Africa were 26.08 to tie for second overall. Felipe Lima was fourth overall with a 26.10, just behind the three leaders.

American Cody Miller broke a national record to head into the final in sixth with a 26.15. World record holder Cameron Van Der Burgh took the seventh seed with a 26.20 performance.

WOMEN’S 50 BACK FINAL

• 2014 World Champion – Etiene Medeiros (BRA), 25.67
• World Record – Etiene Medeiros (BRA), 25.67, 2014
• Championship Record – Etiene Medeiros (BRA), 25.67, 2014

GOLD: Etiene Medeiros – Brazil – 25.82

SILVER: Katinka Hosszu – Hungary – 25.99

BRONZE: Alexandra De Loof – USA – 26.14

Etiene Medeiros of Brazil was just off her world record time of 25.67 to repeat as the 50m backstroke champion with a time of 25.82.

After a tough lineup tonight, Katinka Hosszu still managed to get on the podium with a time of 25.99. Ali De Loof of the United States was the first swimmer above 256-seconds, taking the bronze in 26.14

MEN’S 400 IM – FINAL

• 2014 World Champion – 3:56.33: Daiya Seto, JPN
• World Record – 3:55.50: Ryan Lochte, USA: 2010
• Championship Record – 3:55.50: Ryan Lochte, USA: 2010

GOLD: Daiya Seto – Japan – 3:59.24

SILVER: Max Litchfield – GBR – 4:00.66

BRONZE: David Verraszto – Hungary – 4:01.56

Daiya Seto of Japan was absolutely unstoppable after the butterfly leg, emerging as the clear leader after the 100-meter wall and never relinquishing that lead. He toyed with the world record for the next 200-meters, just slightly behind it as he turned onto freestyle.

Seto couldn’t match Ryan Lochte’s last 100 split from when he set the world record in 2010, and ended up falling off the pace, but still claiming gold in 3:59.24.

The real race was for second as Josh Prenot and David Verraszto were battling throughout the entire race. Over the last 100, Max Litchfield put himself into the mix. Charging over the last 25, he got his hand on the wall ahead of both Verraszto and Prenot to finish second in 4:00.66.

Verraszto held on for third in 4:01.56 as Prenot settled for a spot off the podium less than four-tenths behind in 4:01.94.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST FINAL

• 2014 World Champion – Alia Atkinson (JAM), 1:02.36
• World Record – Ruta Meilutyte (LTU)/Alia Atkinson (JAM), 1:02.36
• Championship Record – Alia Atkinson (JAM), 1:02.36, 2014

GOLD: Alia Atkinson – Jamaica – 1:03.03

SILVER: Lilly King – USA – 1:03.35

BRONZE: Molly Hannis – USA – 1:03.89

Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson worked her walls magnificently in the women’s 100m breaststroke in order to take down 2016 Olympic champion Lilly King and defend her 2014 World Championship title.

Atikinson clocked in at 1:03.03 to claim the win as King rushed in for the silver medal with a time of 1:03.35. Sneaking in for the bronze was Molly Hannis of the United States in 1:03.89.

WOMEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

• 2014 World Champion – 7:32.85: Netherlands
• World Record – 7:32.85: Netherlands, 2014
• Championship Record – 7:32.85: Netherlands, 2014

GOLD: Canada – 7:33.89

SILVER: USA – 7:38.65

BRONZE: Russia – 7:39.93

The first 200 proved to be a battle between Leah Smith of the United States, Brittany Elmslie of Australia, and Katerine Savard as Canada as all three swimmers battled to give the best start for their country.

Elmslie got the touch at the 200 wall with Smith and Savard trailing not far behind.

Taylor Ruck jumped in after Savard for Canada and threw down an unbelievable 1:51.69 split to back up the 200 bronze she won earlier in the meet. Her split put the Canadians almost a full-second ahead of the Americans as Kennedy Goss dove in for the third leg.

Goss split a 1:54.62 to build the Canadians lead to a two-second margin over the Canadians.

In went 100m freestlye co-Olympic champion Penny Oleksiak who brought home the gold with a time of 1:52.05.