2017 FINA World Championships: Day 7 Finals Live Recap

2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 7 from Budapest shapes up to be an exciting one, with six finals and three sets of semis on the schedule.

Notably, Caeleb Dressel will go for an epic double in the 50 free and 100 fly finals just 30 minutes apart.

Check out a full preview of finals here.

WOMEN’S 50 FLY – FINAL

  1. Sarah Sjostrom, SWE, 24.60
  2. Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED, 25.38
  3. Farida Osman, EGY, 25.39

Sarah Sjostrom accelerated away from the field to win gold by nearly eight tenths of a second in 24.60, breaking her championship record of 24.96 set in 2015.

Ranomi Kromowidjojo pulled up for silver in 25.38, and Egypt’s Farida Osman annihilated her African record for the third time to snag bronze in 25.39.

Despite missing the medals, Kelsi Worrell broke the American record for 4th in 25.48, and Penny Oleksiak broke the Canadian record for 5th in 25.66.

MEN’S 50 FREE – FINAL

  • World Record: Cesar Cielo, 20.91, 2009
  • Championship Record: Cesar Cielo, 20.91, 2009
  • Junior World Record: Yu Hexin, 22.00, 2014
  1. Caeleb Dressel, USA, 21.15
  2. Bruno Fratus, BRA, 21.27
  3. Ben Proud, GBR, 21.43

Caeleb Dressel got his night started on the right foot, winning 50 free gold in a new American and Championship record time of 21.15. He’ll swim the 100 fly and mixed 400 free relays later tonight, and could become the first person to ever win three Worlds golds in one day.

The 20-year-old moved up into 3rd on the all-time top performers list, and #1 in terms of textile performers, passing Florent Manaudou‘s 21.19 from 2015. His title was also the first for the U.S. since 2007.

Bruno Fratus was hot on his heels, winning silver in 21.27, and Ben Proud came in for bronze in 21.43. Vladimir Morozov was 4th in 21.46, and Pawel Juraszek broke his Polish record for 5th in 21.47.

WOMEN’S 200 BACK – FINAL

  • World Record: Missy Franklin, 2:04.06, 2012
  • Championship Record: Missy Franklin, 2:04.76, 2013
  • Junior World Record: Regan Smith, 2:07.19, 2017
  1. Emily Seebohm, AUS, 2:05.68
  2. Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 2:05.85
  3. Kathleen Baker, USA, 2:06.48

Emily Seebohm roared home in 31.38, successfully defending her 200 back world title in 2:05.68, a new Australian and Oceanian record. She wins Australia’s first gold medal of the meet.

Katinka Hosszu led with 50 to go, and held on for silver with a new national record of her own in 2:05.85. Kathleen Baker takes the bronze in 2:06.48, her second individual medal of the meet.

Coming in for 4th was another Australian, Kaylee McKeown, as she breaks Regan Smith‘s Junior world record from yesterday in 2:06.76. Canadians Kylie Masse (2:07.04) and Hilary Caldwell (2:07.15) ended up 5th and 6th.

WOMEN’S 50 BREAST – SEMI-FINALS

  1. Lilly King, USA, 29.60
  2. Yuliya Efimova, RUS, 29.73
  3. Katie Meili, USA, 30.12
  4. Ruta Meilutyte, LTU, 30.40
  5. Jennie Johansson, SWE, 30.41
  6. Sarah Vasey, GBR / Arianna Castiglioni, ITA, 30.46
  7. Rachel Nicol, CAN, 30.49

Lilly King and Yuliya Efimova powered their way to semi-final wins in the women’s 50 breast, setting up another showdown in lanes 4 and 5 tomorrow night.

King broke her own American record by six one-hundredths, clocking 29.60 for the top seed. Efimova was the only other woman under 30 seconds in 29.73.

Katie Meili is the front-runner for bronze after qualifying 3rd in 30.12, and then it’s very close between the next five, all separated by nine one-hundredths. World record holder Ruta Meilutyte and defending champ Jennie Johansson both successfully made it through in 4th and 5th.

MEN’S 100 FLY – FINALS

  1. Caeleb Dressel, USA, 49.86
  2. Kristof Milak, HUN, 50.62
  3. James Guy, GBR / Joseph Schooling, SNG, 50.83

It was just over half an hour after the 50 free, but it was also Caeleb Dressel needed. He left no doubt, out first in 23.31 and back in 26.55 to win gold in a mind boggling 49.86. That is the 2nd fastest swim in history, trailing only Michael Phelps‘ 49.82 from 2009. He passes Milorad Cavic‘s 49.95, also from 2009 for 2nd fastest performer ever.

Dressel is now well on his way to three golds in one night, which would be the first time that has ever been done. He sweeps the 100 free / 100 fly at Worlds for the first time in history, and now has five golds in Budapest.

Hungary’s Kristof Milak delighted the crowd once again, lowering his junior world record down to 50.62 for the silver medal. James Guy and Olympic champ Joseph Schooling tied for the bronze medal in 50.83.

This was the fastest field in history, with a mind blowing six swimmers sub-51 after only Schooling was last summer in Rio. On top of that, 7th place was 51.00. Laszlo Cseh took 5th in 50.92, and Li Zhuhao was 6th in 50.96.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE – SEMI-FINALS

  1. Sarah Sjostrom, SWE, 23.67 WR
  2. Pernille Blume, DEN, 24.05
  3. Simone Manuel, USA, 24.12
  4. Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED, 24.20
  5. Bronte Campbell, AUS, 24.43
  6. Anna Santamans, FRA, 24.54
  7. Liu Xiang, CHN, 24.56
  8. Aliaksandra Herasimenia, BLR, 24.59

Sarah Sjostrom nailed down her 4th individual LC world record in the 50 free semis, knocking Britta Steffen‘s 2009 mark of 23.73 off the books in a blistering 23.67. She drops over a tenth off her PB, 23.83, set earlier this year.

Olympic gold medalist Pernille Blume lowered her Danish record by two one-hundredths in 24.05, qualifying 2nd. Simone Manuel narrowly missed her PB (24.09) and the American record (24.07) for 3rd in 24.12, and 2012 Olympic champ Ranomi Kromowidjojo qualifies 5th in 24.20.

Defending champion Bronte Campbell advances in 5th, 24.43. Coming off 50 fly bronze, Farida Osman broke another African record in 24.62, just missing the final in 9th.

MEN’S 50 BACK – SEMI-FINALS

  • World Record: Liam Tancock, 24.04, 2009
  • Championship Record: Liam Tancock, 24.04, 2009
  • Junior World Record: Kliment Kolesnikov, 24.94, 2016
  1. Camille Lacourt, FRA, 24.30
  2. Junya Koga, JPN, 24.44
  3. Matt Grevers, USA, 24.65
  4. Xu Jiayu, CHN, 24.67
  5. Justin Ress, USA, 24.70
  6. Pavel Sankovich, BLR, 24.74
  7. Jeremy Stravius, FRA, 24.81
  8. Jonatan Kopelev, ISR, 24.84

Two-time defending champion Camille Lacourt led the way in the mens’ 50 back semis, clocking 24.30 to head into the final as the top seed. This is Lacourt’s last meet of his competitive career, and his lone event. He’ll be looking to go out with a bang tomorrow night.

Junya Koga won the second semi for the #2 seed in 24.44. Americans Matt Grevers (24.65) and Justin Ress (24.70) advance in 3rd and 5th, and Xu Jiayu moves on in 4th in 24.67. Grevers has won back-to-back silvers in this event.

WOMEN’S 800 FREE – FINAL

  1. Katie Ledecky, USA, 8:12.68
  2. Li Bingjie, CHN, 8:15.46
  3. Leah Smith, USA, 8:17.22

It wasn’t the most dominant performance of Katie Ledecky‘s career, but she got the job done in the 800 free in a time of 8:12.68. That gives her three straight World titles in the event, giving her three three-peats along with the 400 and 1500.

China’s Li Bingjie had an amazing swim, jumping into 3rd on the all-time performers list in 8:15.46 for silver, crushing her Asian record. Leah Smith also snapped her best time to win bronze in 8:17.22, her first time under 8:20.

Mireia Belmonte (8:23.30) and Boglarka Kapas (8:24.41) finished 4th and 5th.

MIXED 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

  • World Record: USA, 3:23.05, 2015
  • Championship Record: USA, 3:23.05, 2015
  • Junior World Record: CAN, 3:27.71, 2015
  1. United States, 3:19.60 WR
  2. Netherlands, 3:21.81 ER
  3. Canada, 3:23.55

The Americans obliterated the world record as expected, going 3:19.60 to break their 2015 mark by nearly 3.5 seconds. Dressel led off in 47.22, an incredible time that is his 2nd fastest performance ever, faster than he was leading off the 400 free relay. Nathan Adrian was 47.49, Mallory Comerford 52.71, and then Simone Manuel finished things off in 52.18.

Dressel earns his third gold of the night, a new record. He now has six total with the men’s medley relay tomorrow.

The Dutch broke the European record in 3:21.81, claiming silver. They had fast legs from Femke Heemskerk (52.33) and Ranomi Kromowidjojo (52.56). They also had a monster second leg from Kyle Stolk (47.80).

The Canadians came in for a second consecutive bronze in this event, clocking 3:23.55. Yuri Kisil (48.51), Javier Acevedo (48.68), Chantal van Landeghem (53.25) and Penny Oleksiak (53.11) were very consistent on all four legs.

Japan broke the Asian record in 4th (3:24.78), and Italy was 5th (3:24.89).

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bobo gigi
6 years ago

Quick comments

Women’s 50 fly. Sjöström on her own planet. Worrell knows when she has lost a medal. By swimming the mixed 4X100 free relay prelims in the morning. It was unnecessary.

Men’s 50 free. Dressel with the new fastest time ever swum in textile. Usual crazy fast start. Then he rests a little bit and keeps a last push for the last 10 meters. Fratus happy with silver. Proud third. Logical podium.

Women’s 200 back. Seebohm with her usual and very efficient conservative race strategy. 2nd straight title for her after 2015. But she had to fight against a very strong Hosszu. I didn’t expect that from the Hungarian after swimming the 200 free and the 200 fly. And… Read more »

swamfan
6 years ago

DRESSEL!!!!!!!
Also, Ledekcy had an incredible meet, but by her standards it was slightly “disappointing.” Which is perfectly understandable considering it’s a post-olympic year, she went to college which comes with a lot of changes, plus we can’t expect her to break her world records every time she swims- especially as she gets older.
However, if she had spent the past year across the bay at Cal instead of Stanford, everyone would be saying that McKeever has ruined Ledecky’s career.

Swim
6 years ago

Once again Dressel is swimmer of the meet!

Danjohnrob
6 years ago

I was depressed when Rio was over and the “Phelps Era” was in the record books, but this “Post-Phelps Era” is turning out to be AWESOME! I can NOT BELIEVE the times we are seeing! What an amazing meet, not just for the US, but for the swimming world! And can I please be the 100th person to comment on what a GREAT championship meet the Hungarians are running?

75M FREE
Reply to  Danjohnrob
6 years ago

I will look back on these 8 days very fondly.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  75M FREE
6 years ago

me too .

ERVINFORTHEWIN
6 years ago

this commentary section has reached 999 comments .

Tomek
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
6 years ago

1034 🙂

Robbos
6 years ago

Dressel also pulled Irvine (for us AUSSIES) for a flat 51, 2nd fastest Aussie of alltime, best textile, all good for the M4X100 Med, if only we had a breaststroker & an in form Larkin. Happy to be finalist.

Brownie
6 years ago

Dressel is the new goat

Robbos
Reply to  Brownie
6 years ago

You can’t be a new GOAT, you can only be THE GOAT.

Nathan
6 years ago

Congrats Seebohm Australia’s first gold medal?

Torchbearer
Reply to  Nathan
6 years ago

Great gold. I thought her 200m win in Kazan was the tactical swim of the meet- in her weaker event she was being able to beat much better credentialed Hoszu and Franklin with some very smart swimming. She was tactically brilliant again today – maybe she could teach a few of the other Australian 200m distance swimmers some secrets of tactical racing.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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