2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
- Meet site
- Competition Schedule
- FinaTV Live Stream
- Entry Lists
- Results
We’re on to day 7 finals at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju. Swimmers are gearing up to compete for individual medals in the women’s 50 fly, men’s 50 free, men’s 100 fly, women’s 200 back, and women’s 800 free . We’ll also see a relay final tonight as swimmers compete in the mixed 4×100 free relay. Semifinals tonight include the women’s 50 free, women’s 50 breast, and men’s 50 back.
The USA’s Caeleb Dressel is 2-for-2 in individual golds so far and has an individual double tonight in the 50 free and 100 fly. Dressel was just 3 hundredths shy of his own American Record in the 50 free semis and looks to become the first man to ever break 21 in textile. His 21.18 last night was done after the 100 fly semis, so he’ll be a bit fresher for the 50 free this time as that event comes first. Then he’ll look for a 4th individual gold and to defend another title as he steps up for the 100 fly shortly after. He already owns the World Record now with his 49.50 from last night and is 1.5 seconds ahead in seed times.
Teenage phenom Regan Smith, also of the USA, set a World Record in the 200 back semifinals. Smith blew away the field and her best time as she became the first woman to break 2:04 in 2:03.35. Smith will compete in her first ever Worlds final tonight and is the heavy favorite to win gold here.
World Record holders Sarah Sjostrom (50 fly) of Sweden, Lilly King (50 breast) of the USA, and Kliment Kolesnikov (50 back) of Russia will compete in the semis of their respective stroke 50s. American distance legend Katie Ledecky, the 800 free World Record holder and 2-time Olympic champion, returns to the pool for an individual final tonight after scratching the 1500 free final and 200 free prelims due to illness earlier in the meet. Teammate Leah Smith and Ledecky qualified 1-2 for the final, but Australia’s Ariarne Titmus, who topped Ledecky in the 400 free on day 1, is also in this race.
WOMEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2014, 24.43
- World Junior Record: Rikako Ikee (Japan), 2017, 25.33
- World Championships Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2014, 24.43
- 2017 Defending World Champion: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 24.60
Medalists:
- GOLD- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 25.02
- SILVER- Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 25.35
- BRONZE- Farida Osman (EGY), 25.47
It was a close battle for gold until Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom surged ahead in the final 15 meters, earning her 3rd-straight title in this event with a 25.02. The Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo repeated as the silver medalist in 25.35, while Farida Osman earned Egypt’s first medal of the meet in 25.47 for bronze.
The USA’s Kelsi Dahlia was 4th in this race for the 2nd Worlds in a row, this time just a hundredth short of the podium. Dahlia tied her American Record tonight in 25.48. She’s now swum that time on 3 occasions. She set the exact same mark at the 2017 Worlds meet and 2018 U.S. Nationals. France’s Marie Wattel, who set the French Record in semis, was 5th tonight in 25.50.
MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: Cesar Cielo (Brazil), 2009, 20.91
- World Junior Record: Michael Andrew (United States), 2017, 21.75
- World Championships Record: Cesar Cielo (Brazil), 2009, 20.91
- 2017 Defending World Champion: Caeleb Dressel (United States), 21.15
Medalists:
- GOLD- Caeleb Dressel (USA), 21.04
- (TIE) SILVER- Bruno Fratus (BRA), 21.45
- (TIE) SILVER- Kristian Gkolomeev (GRE), 21.45
Caeleb Dressel‘s signature start got him the early lead as he earned gold for the USA in his first of 3 events tonight. Dressel took down his own American Record and Championship Record in 21.04, making him the 3rd fastest performer in history. Behind him, there was a tie between Brazil’s Bruno Fratus and Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev for silver in 21.45. Fratus had shoulder surgery in Fall 2018 and just returned to competition this March.
Russia’s Vlad Morozov was the first man off the podium with a 21.53 for 4th place. Great Britain’s Ben Proud, the 4th fastest man ever in this race, finished a couple hundredths back with a 21.55 for 5th. The USA’s Michael Andrew put up a 21.62 for 6th.
WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINALS
- World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2017, 23.67
- World Junior Record: Rikako Ikee (Japan), 2017, 24.33
- World Championships Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2017, 23.67
- 2017 Defending World Champion: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 23.69
Finals Qualifiers:
- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 24.05
- Cate Campbell (AUS), 24.07
- Pernille Blume (DEN), 24.14
- Simone Manuel (USA), 24.21
- Mariia Kameneva (RUS), 24.33
- Anna Hopkin (GBR), 24.34
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 24.38
- (TIE 8TH) Liu Xiang (CHN), 24.46
- (TIE 8TH) Bronte Campbell (AUS), 24.46
Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom and the Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo were back on the blocks very shortly after earning their 50 fly medals. Both women earned a spot in the 50 free final, with Sjostrom once again coming out on top with a 24.05. Kromowidjojo took the 7th spot for finals in 24.38.
Australia’s Cate Campbell won the first semis heat in 24.07. Her sister, Bronte Campbell, will have to swim off for the last spot in finals with China’s Liu Xiang later in the session as they tied for 8th in 24.46.
Simone Manuel (USA), who won the 100 free title last night, was 2nd in her heat to Sjostrom, qualifying 4th with a 24.21. Manuel is the reigning 100 free Olympic champion as well, but we’ve also got the reigning 50 free Olympic champion in the mix. Denmark’s Pernille Blume was the 3rd qualifier for finals with a 24.14. Manuel’s teammate Abbey Weitzeil wound up 10th through semis with a 24.58.
Great Britain’s Anna Hopkin became the 2nd fastest British swimmer in history as she qualified 6th for the final in 24.34.
WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS
- World Record: Lilly King (USA), 2017, 29.40
- World Junior Record: TARGET TIME, 2013, 29.86
- World Championships Record: Lilly King (USA), 2017, 29.40
- 2017 Defending World Champion: Lilly King (USA), 29.40
Finals Qualifiers:
- Lilly King (USA), 29.84
- Yuliya Efimova (RUS), 30.12
- Benedetta Pilato (ITA), 30.17
- Martina Carraro (ITA), 30.23
- Alia Atkinson (JAM), 30.61
- Ida Hulkko (FIN), 30.91
- Jessica Hansen (AUS), 30.92
- Anna Elendt (GER), 31.10
The USA’s Lilly King is the top seed going into finals and the only woman under 30 in the semis round as she dominated her heat by over half a second in 29.84. Russia’s Yuliya Efimova, the 200 breast champion here, was the 2nd seed as she won her heat in 30.12. The rivalry continues as they battle next to each other in finals tomorrow. King won the 100 breast here, but Efimova took the 200 (where King was disqualified).
Italian 14-year-old Benedetta Pilato became the first Italian woman under 30 in prelims, but was a couple tenths shy of her Italian Record tonight as she finished in 30.17. Teammate Martina Carraro, the 100 breast Italian Record holder, was the 4th qualifier in 30.23. Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson, the silver medalist in this race in 2015, qualified 5th in 30.61.
MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2019, 49.50
- World Junior Record: Kristof Milak (Hungary), 50.62
- World Championships Record: Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2019, 49.50
- 2017 Defending World Champion: Caeleb Dressel (United States), 49.86
Medalists:
- GOLD- Caeleb Dressel (USA), 49.66
- SILVER- Andrei Minakov (RUS), 50.83
- BRONZE- Chad Le Clos (RSA), 51.16
The USA’s Caeleb Dressel gets it done again. Dressel was out a couple of tenths slower than his World Record pace from semis, but was still way ahead of the field. He continued to extend his lead through the back half, defending his title in 49.66. That was the 2nd fastest swim in history, just over a tenth shy of his World Record from last night. He now joins Crocker, Phelps, and Le Clos as the 4th man to earn repeat titles in this race.
Russia’s Andrei Minakov lowered the Russian Record again to take silver in 50.83. South Africa’s Chad Le Clos, an Olympic butterfly champion who earned back-to-back World titles in this race in 2013 and 2015, earned the bronze in 51.16. Kristof Milak of Hungary was just off the podium in 51.26. He was a few tenths slower than his 50.95 from semis. Milak won the 200 fly earlier in the meet, shattering Michael Phelps’ World Record in the process. Both Phelps’ fly World Records have been erased here as Dressel broke his 100 fly mark.
France’s Mehdy Metella was 5th to the wall in 51.38. Great Britain’s James Guy, who earned bronze in this race in 2017, took 7th tonight in 51.62.
WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: Regan Smith (USA), 2019, 2:03.35
- World Junior Record: Regan Smith (USA), 2019, 2:03.35
- World Championships Record: Regan Smith (USA), 2019, 2:03.35
- 2017 Defending World Champion: Emily Seebohm (Australia), 2:05.68
Medalists:
- GOLD- Regan Smith (USA), 2:03.69
- SILVER- Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2:06.26
- BRONZE- Kylie Masse (CAN), 2:06.62
Regan Smith flipped in 59.4, almost a full second under World Record pace. That split, to the feet, would have made the final in the 100 back earlier in the meet. Still nearly a second under her World Record pace at the final turn, she fell off that pace on the final 50, but dominated the field as she put up the 2nd fastest time in history. Smith earned her first ever individual Worlds title in 2:03.69.
It was a 1-2 finish for the teenagers in this race as Australia’s Kaylee McKeown nabbed silver in 2:06.26. Canada’s Kylie Masse, the 100 back World Champion, earned the bronze in 2:06.62. Italy’s Margherita Panziera nearly ran down Masse at the finish, but came up just short as she missed the podium by hundredths in 2:06.67. Canada’s Taylor Ruck rounded out the top 5 in 2:07.50. Australia also had 2 in that final with Minna Atherton (2:08.26) finishing 6th.
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, an Olympic and Worlds medalist in this race, finished a distant 8th in 2:10.08 behind teammate Katalin Burian (2:08.65). Hosszu was 7th at the 50 and trailed the whole race after.
MEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS
- World Record: Kliment Kolesnikov (Russia), 2018, 24.00
- World Junior Record: Kliment Kolesnikov (Russia), 2018, 24.40
- World Championships Record: Liam Tancock (Great Britain), 2009, 24.04
- 2017 Defending World Champion: Camille Lacourt (France), 24.35
Finals Qualifiers:
- Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 24.35
- Robert Glinta (ROU), 24.53
- Evgeny Rylov (RUS), 24.56
- Ryan Murphy (USA), 24.64
- Zane Waddell (RSA), 24.72
- Xu Jiayu (CHN), 24.73
- Michael Andrew (USA), 24.76
- Apostolos Christou (GRE), 24.86
Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov, the World Record holder in this race, topped semis in 24.35 ahead of Olympic backstroke finalist Robert Glinta (ROU) in 24.53. Qualifying 6th overall and touching 3rd in that heat was China’s Xu Jiayu (24.73), the World Champion in the 100 back.
We’ll also see the 200 back champion in the final, with Russia’s Evgeny Rylov qualifying 3rd in 24.56. Rylov topped heat 1 over the USA’s Ryan Murphy (24.64). The other American in this race, Michael Andrew, qualified 7th in 24.76. Andrew is now the first man in history to make the Worlds final in all 4 stroke 50s.
South Africa’s Zane Waddell made it into the final with a 24.72. Greece also got one into the final as Apostolos Christou took 8th in 24.86. France’s Jeremy Stravius, a Worlds silver medalist in this race in 2013, finished 11th in 24.98.
WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: Katie Ledecky (United States), 2016, 8:04.79
- World Junior Record: Katie Ledecky (United States), 2017, 8:11.00
- World Championships Record: Katie Ledecky (United States), 8:07.39
- 2017 Defending World Champion: Katie Ledecky (United States), 8:07.39
Medalists:
- GOLD- Katie Ledecky (USA), 8:13.58
- SILVER- Simona Quadarella (ITA), 8:14.99
- BRONZE- Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 8:15.70
After a rocky start to the World Championships, Katie Ledecky finally won gold for the USA. Earlier in the meet, Ledecky was upset in the 400 free, taking silver in that race. She then scratched the 1500 free final and 200 free prelims due to illness. This was her last chance at a gold medal, and she got the job done. Ledecky took it out with the lead, but Italy’s Simona Quadarella overtook that lead after the 400. It was a close race throughout the back half. Quadarella, the 1500 free World Champion, had a small lead going into the final 50, but Ledecky turned it on to take the win in 8:13.58. That gives Ledecky her 4th-straight title in the event.
Quadarella earned the silver in 8:14.99, a new Italian Record. Australia’s Ariarne Titmus blasted a 28.89 final 50 to secure the bronze in a new Australian Record time of 8:15.70. Titmus lowered her former record from 2018 Pan Pacs by over a second. The German Record, which stood for 32 years, also went down as Sarah Kohler took 4th in 8:16.43. Team USA’s Leah Smith finished behind her with an 8:17.10 for 5th.
MIXED 4×100 FREE RELAY – FINAL
- World Record:
USA, 2017, 3:19.60 - World Junior Record: Canada, 2017, 3:26.65
- World Championships Record:
USA, 2017, 3:19.60 - 2017 Defending World Champion: USA, 3:19.60
Medalists:
- GOLD- USA, 3:19.40
- SILVER- Australia, 3:19.97
- BRONZE- France, 3:22.11
The USA and Australia were nearly dead even with their leadoffs as Caeleb Dressel clocked in at 47.34 to edge out Kyle Chalmers (47.37) by a nail. Zach Apple then picked up the lead for the Americans on the 2nd leg with a 47.34 of his own. Australia then took over the lead as Emma McKeon split a 52.06 on the 3rd leg. It came down to Simone Manuel and Bronte Campbell (52.36), as Manuel split a 52.00 to earn the USA a gold in a new World Record time of 3:19.60. Australia’s 3:19.97 was a new Australian Record.
Splits:
- USA- Dressel 47.34, Apple 47.34, Comerford 52.72, Manuel 52.00
- AUS- Chalmers 47.37, Lewis 48.18, McKeon 52.06, B. Campbell 52.36
- FRA- Mignon 48.44, Metella 47.78, Bonnet 52.87, Wattel 53.02
The race for bronze was tight between France and Canada. The Canadians were in 8th at the halfway mark, while France’s Mehdy Metella split a 47.78 on the 2nd leg to put them in 4th. Marie Wattel (53.02) anchored for France to pull them ahead of Russia (3:22.72) for the bronze. Canada was just off the podium in 4th a 3:22.54. They nearly caught France as Penny Oleksiak split a 52.00 on the anchor. Notably, Oleksiak tied for the fastest split of the field with Manuel. The two also tied for Olympic gold in 2016. Russia wound up behind them in 5th, highlighted by a 47.31 split by Vlad Morozov on the 2nd leg.
WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – SWIMOFF
- World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2017, 23.67
- World Junior Record: Rikako Ikee (Japan), 2017, 24.33
- World Championships Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2017, 23.67
- 2017 Defending World Champion: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 23.69
- Bronte Campbell (AUS), 24.36
- Liu Xiang (CHN), 24.53
Bronte Campbell dropped a tenth from her semi-final swim in 24.36 to win the swim-off with Liu Xiang and advance to tomorrow’s final in the women’s 50 free.
Campbell won the 2015 World title in this event and has now made four consecutive finals dating back to 2013.
FINALS QUALIFIERS
- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 24.05
- Cate Campbell (AUS), 24.07
- Pernille Blume (DEN), 24.14
- Simone Manuel (USA), 24.21
- Mariia Kameneva (RUS), 24.33
- Anna Hopkin (GBR), 24.34
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 24.38
- Bronte Campbell (AUS), 24.46*
Liu Xiang (CHN), 24.46
*swim-off winner
Where’s Michael Andrew? What an absolute farce he turned out to be! 2020 is gonna be one for the ages. Love to see Caeleb give 200 IM a serious go. Andrew will be nowhere near an Olympic event.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKHkPBU9RwM
In the final of all 4 50s. Outside of the records it has probably been the most impressive thing I’ve seen this meet.
That is a farce now?
He is probably the most versatile sprinter we have seen.
Guys have been similar in SCM and SCY, but to do this LCM where it is more about stroke proficiency than skills is incredible.
He has 12 months now to turn one or two of these swims into elite 100m swims. Tough but not unachievable.
Gassing during a single 50 is not the most impressive thing we’ve seen this week
Caleb is the next Michael!
Noone will be.
Ok since everyone is talking about Michael Andrew and USRPT:
The Andrew’s did not invent “USRPT”. Interval training has been around forever and has been utilized by swimmers of all distances for awhile. The Andrew’s simply decided that Interval training was the most beneficial way to train a swimmer and embraced far more than anyone else and came up with a fancy name for it.
So when you here comments like “Sjostrom does some USRPT in practice”, don’t think “man the Andrew’s changed the sport”. She would’ve been doing intervals anyway because that’s training
There is interval training and then there is USRPT. or ultra short race pace interval training. And yes in swimswam interview Sarah said her favorite set is race pace butterfly 25’s like MA does
You have no idea what you are talking about.
USRPT doesn’t remotely resemble traditional interval training
Where is Bobo GiGi? Miss him.
Maybe he made a boo-boo and was dumped by his GiGi? 🙂
I’ve been wondering the same thing. Maybe since the French team doesn’t have much to offer, he’s been doing other things. He’ll be back for 2020, stronger than ever.
He commented on Caeleb and Regan’s individual posts.
Yes, and congrats to Titmus for her 200, 400, 800m PBs, and a relay PB….cant ask for more than that.
Does anyone know if Hosszu is injured or ill ? She was very uncharacteristically out of the hunt in the 200 back final after being 5th in qualifying. Perhaps she is tired so took it easy before the 400IM ?
Hungarian TV interviewed Burian after the race but not Hosszu.
That would be my guess too, she may have lost motivation if she cannot be in the medal race, but we shall see tomorrow
Shes fine….did you see her 200im?
I think her back has been a little off. I see some bouncing up and down movement in her stroke. She can fix that
She doesn’t recover from a race as fast as she used to. She can do great for the first 3-4 days of a meet, but after that she starts feeling the effects.
Shortly? We don’t know anything.
Longer one? We see it tomorrow.
The 200 fly times and 200back times are comparable on women’s side at the elite level. If we saw the Regan Smith performances on the 200 butterfly side, we’d be optimistic about the chances of 2:01.8 going down in the near future.
Remember when Ariana Kukor’s 200IM record was considered the strongest record in the books?
200 fly is probably the weakest women’s event right now. It woukd take an enormous talent, equivalent to the level of Smith in the 200 back and Milak on the men’s 200 fly.
Still, a time like 2.03.35 seems like miles away in the 200 fly and would still be 1.5 secs short of Liu Zige.
I think you missed the point of my post, but ok
hmm 2:01.8 is objectively more whack than Franklin’s 2:04.0…the 2:01 was under like the most perfect conditions possible (Zige at her peak anyway, in a Jaked (or whatever comparable brand), in clean water in essentially a timed final at her national champs (having not had to deal with World’s type competitive prelim-semi-final). I get your point but it’s not apples to apples really..i think smith’s performance is indeed more impressive..if that’s what you mean?
Put another Campbell on the barbie. This is good eating. One more to go
Bronte won the swim off… she ain’t too devastated!
That’s good. So we can cook both of them in the finals tomorrow like usual
LOL!
Now that’s freakin’ hilarious!
Best line of the morning.
Tosser.