2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
- Friday, July 29 – Wednesday, August 3, 2022
- Birmingham, England
- Sandwell Aquatic Center
- Start Times
- Prelims: 10:30 am local / 5:30 am ET
- Finals: 7:00 pm local / 2:00 pm ET
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- Event Schedule
- Entry List (PDF)
- Live Results
The finals session on day three of the 2022 Commonwealth Games brings action in the women’s 50 free, men’s 200 fly, women’s 200 breast, men’s 100 breast SB8, women’s 100 back SB8, women’s 100 back, men’s 100 breast, and the women’s 4×200 free relay finals. There will also be action in the semifinals of the men’s 50 back, women’s 50 fly, and men’s 100 free.
The women’s 50 free will be a showdown between Meg Harris, Shayna Jack, and Emma McKeon, the three Aussies that are favored to sweep the podium. Then, the men’s 200 fly will see action between defending champion Chad Le Clos and 400 IM champ Lewis Clareburt. Then, in the 200 breast, we will see if Tatjana Schoenmaker can challenge her own world record after dropping a 2:21.76 swim in the heats.
Kylie Masse and Kaylee McKeown will have a faceoff in the 100 back as the top two seeds, and Adam Peaty will look to reclaim the throne in the 100 breast after missing the World Championships due to a foot injury. Finally, we will conclude the night with the women’s 4×200 free relay, where a stacked Aussie team with the likes of Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan will be racing the clock.
MEN’S 50 BACK SEMIFINALS
- World Record: 23.71 — Hunter Armstrong, United States (2022)
- Commonwealth Record: 24.04 — Liam Tancock, Great Britain (2009)
- Commonwealth Games Record: 24.62 — Liam Tancock, England (2010)
Top 8:
- Pieter Coetze (RSA) — 24.81
- Andrew Jeffcoat (NZL) — 24.82
- Ben Armbruster (AUS) — 25.21
- Bradley Woodward (AUS) — 25.25
- Scott Gibson (SCO)/Javier Acevedo (CAN) — 25.29
- N/A
- Joe Small (WAL) — 25.36
- Srihari Nataraj (IND) — 25.38
In the first semifinals, Andrew Jeffcoat won in a time of 24.82, which breaks his previous New Zealand record of 24.82 set in February of this year by 0.01 of a second. 100 back bronze medalist Bradley Woodward followed suit, touching second in 25.25.
However, it was 100 back champion Pieter Coetze who swam the fastest time in the semifinals, clocking a 24.81 to win the second semi. Mitch Larkin, the man with the fastest entry time, finished eleventh in 25.53 and will miss the final.
After finishing top 8 in the 100 back, India’s Srihari Nataraj once again made another final, clocking a 25.38 time to finish eighth overall in the semifinals.
WOMEN’S 50 FLY SEMIFINALS
- World Record: 24.43 — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2014)
- Commonwealth Record: 25.20 — Francesca Halsall, Great Britain (2014)
- Commonwealth Games Record: 25.20 — Francesca Halsall, England (2014)
Top 8:
- Emma McKeon (AUS) — 26.02
- Erin Gallagher (RSA) — 26.17
- Maggie MacNeil (CAN) — 26.19
- Holly Barratt (AUS) — 26.28
- Alex Perkins (AUS) — 26.29
- Helena Gasson (NZL) — 26.36
- Harriet Jones (WAL) — 26.39
- Katerine Savard (CAN) — 26.42
Emma McKeon improved a significant amount from her heats time of 26.52, clocking a 26.02 to win the first semifinals. Finishing behind her was Erin Gallagher, who clocked a 26.17 to break her old South African record time of 26.24 that was set back in 2019. In the second semifinal, Maggie MacNeil out-touched Holly Barratt by 0.09 seconds, swimming a time of 26.19.
McKeon, MacNeil, Barratt and Gallagher look to be the favorites to medal in this event come time for finals.
MEN’S 200 FLY FINAL
- World Record: 1:50.39 — Kristof Milak, Hungary (2022)
- Commonwealth Record: 1:52.96 — Chad Le Clos, South Africa (2012)
- Commonwealth Games Record: 1:54.00 — Chad Le Clos, South Africa (2018)
Podium:
- Lewis Clareburt (NZL) — 1:55.60
- Chad Le Clos (RSA) — 1:55.89
- James Guy (ENG) — 1:56.77
After winning the 400 IM last night, Lewis Clareburt picked up a title in the 200 fly, lowering his best time of 1;56.76 that he had set in prelims to clock a 1:55.60 tonight. Prior to the meet, he had a personal best of 1:57.24. Chad Le Clos and James Guy had been leading the pack by a significant margin for the majority of the race, but Clareburt came home in a 30.42 (the fastest closing split of the entire field) to overtake them both on the final 50.
Le Clos took silver, which was his 18th Commonwealth Games medal. He now ties sharpshooters Phillip Adams and Mick Gault as the athlete with the most Commonwealth medals of all time.
WOMEN’S 100 BACK S8 FINAL
- World Record: 1:08.04 — Alice Tai, Great Britain (2019)
Podium:
- Alice Tai (ENG) — 1:13.64
- Tupou Neiufi (NZL) — 1:17.91
- Lily Rice (WAL) — 1:23.06
Tupou Neiufi had been leading by 0.04 seconds at the 50 meter mark, but world record holder Alice Tai charged home in a 36.84 back half split to win in a time of 1:13.64, beating out the field by over four seconds in front of a home crowd. After skipping the World Championships this year and withdrawing from the Olympics due to an elbow injury last year, Tai wins her second Commonwealth Games gold medal after taking 100 back S9 gold in 2018.
In January 2022, Tai had her right leg amputated below her knee due to the pain she experienced in her right foot.
MEN’S 100 BREAST SB8 FINAL
- World Record: 1:07.01 — Andrei Kalina, Ukraine (2008)
Podium:
- Joshua Wilmer (NZL) — 1:14.12
- Timothy Hodge (AUS) — 1:14.19
- Blake Cochrane (AUS) — 1:18.97
After 100 back S9 champion Timothy Hodge led for the majority of the race, 17-year-old Joshua Wilmer beat him out in the final few meters and won by 0.07 seconds in a time of 1:14.12. After Clareburt’s gold in the 200 fly, Wilmer takes home New Zealand’s second gold medal of the night. It was a full Oceania podium, with Hodge’s teammate Blake Cochrane winning bronze in 1:18.97.
WOMEN’S 50 FREE FINAL
- World Record: 23.67 — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2017)
- Commonwealth Record: 23.78 — Cate Campbell, Australia (2018)
- Commonwealth Games Record: 23.78 — Cate Campbell, Australia (2018)
Podium:
- Emma McKeon (AUS) — 23.99
- Meg Harris (AUS) — 24.32
- Shayna Jack (AUS) — 24.36
As expected, the Aussies dominated this event, sweeping the gold, silver, and bronze medal positions. Defending Olympic champion Emma McKeon won in the only sub-24 time, clocking a 23.99 that is the second-fastest time in the world this year, just 0.01 seconds Sarah Sjostrom’s 23.98 time that won the World Championships this year. That win was McKeon’s eleventh Commonwealth Games gold medal, as she becomes the athlete with the most Commonwealth games gold medals of all time.
Meg Harris took silver in 24.32, improving upon the 24.38 best time that she set to win bronze at Worlds. Shayna Jack won the bronze with a time of 24.36, just a bit off her personal best of 24.14.
MEN’S 100 FREE SEMIFINALS
- World Record: 46.91 — Cesar Cielo, Brazil (2009)
- Commonwealth Record: 47.04 — Cameron McEvoy, Australia (2016)
- Commonwealth Games Record: 47.98 — Brent Hayden, Canada (2012)
Top 8:
- Kyle Chalmers (AUS) — 47.36
- Tom Dean (ENG) — 47.83
- William Yang (AUS) — 48.38
- Ruslan Gaziev (CAN) — 48.54
- Josh Liendo (CAN) — 48.54
- Duncan Scott (SCO) — 48.78
- Jacob Whittle (ENG) — 48.82
- Zac Incerti (AUS) — 48.91
After being slightly off form in the morning, Kyle Chalmers dominated the first semifinal of the 100 free, destroying Brent Hayden’s Games record and swimming a season-best time of 47.36. Tom Dean broke 48 seconds for the first time in this race, resetting his best time of 48.06 to clock a 47.83 and finish second behind Chalmers. British record holder Lewis Burras was well off his best time of 47.63, putting up a 49.96 and missing the finals.
William Yang also went a best time, improving upon his 48.55 from trials to go 48.38 today and take the third-fastest time out of semifinals.
The second semifinal was considerably slower, with Ruslan Gaziev slightly touching out teammate Josh Liendo 48.54 to 48.69.
WOMEN’S 200 BREAST FINAL
- World Record: 2:18.95 — Tatjana Schoenmaker, South Africa (2021)
- Commonwealth Record: 2:18.95 — Tatjana Schoenmaker, South Africa (2021)
- Commonwealth Games Record: 2:20.72 — Leisel Jones, Australia (2006)
Podium:
- Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA) — 2:21.96
- Jenna Strauch (AUS) — 2:23.65
- Kaylene Corbett (RSA) — 2:23.67
Although she was slower than her prelims time of 2:21.76, Tatjana Schoenmaker still won this 200 breast race comfortably in 2:21.96. She was out in 1:07.80, over a second faster than she went out in the morning, but paid for it on the back half of the race and closed in 37.94. That final 50 split was considerably slower than her 36.41 final 50 from the morning. Either way, both her prelims and finals times were faster than the 2:22.41 time that Lilly King swam to win at the World Championships.
Worlds silver medalist Jenna Strauch, who had stayed closed to Schoenmaker in the first half of the race, won yet another silver medal here at the Commonwealth Games. She was a bit slower than her Worlds finals time of 2:23.65. Rounding out the podium was Schoenmaker’s teammate Kaylene Corbett, who won her first-ever major international medal.
WOMEN’S 100 BACK FINALS
- World Record: 57.45 — Kaylee McKeown, Australia (2021)
- Commonwealth Record: 57.45 — Kaylee McKeown, Australia (2021)
- Commonwealth Games Record: 58.63 — Kylie Masse, Canada (2018)
Podium:
- Kaylee McKeown (AUS) — 58.60
- Kylie Masse (CAN) — 58.73
- Medi Harris (WAL) — 59.62
In a repeat of Olympics last year, Kaylee McKeown beat out Kylie Masse for gold after Masse was leading at the 50 meter mark. Although she was over a second slower than her best time, McKeown broke Masse’s 2018 Commonwealth Games record time of 58.63 by 0.03 seconds. Masse touched second in 58.73, a few tenths slower than the 58.40 she swam at the World Championships.
Medi Harris stayed close with McKeown and Masse throughout the entire race, taking bronze with a 59.62 to win Wales’ second swimming medal of the night.
MEN’S 100 BREAST FINALS
- World Record: 56.88 — Adam Peaty, Great Britain (2019)
- Commonwealth Record: 56.88 — Adam Peaty, Great Britain (2019)
- Commonwealth Games Record: 58.59 — Adam Peaty, England (2018)
Podium:
- James Wilby (ENG) — 59.25
- Zac Stubblety-Cook (AUS) — 59.52
- Sam Williamson (AUS) — 59.82
The audience was roaring prior to the start of the 100 breast final, mainly because Adam Peaty, their hometown hero and the most dominant breaststroker in the history of the sport was competing. However, it was another Englishman who took victory this time around.
For the first time since 2013, Peaty has lost a 100 breast race at a major international meet. In fact, he didn’t even get onto the podium today. After Peaty was leading at the 50-meter mark, it was his British teammate James Wilby who overtook him in the home stretch of the race, winning in a time of 59.52 while Peaty faded to fourth and put up a 59.86.
Peaty’s season has largely been affected by a broken foot, which caused him to miss the World Championships earlier this year.
Zac Stubblety-Cook finished second, closing in a 31.10 final 50 (the fastest back half of the field) and swimming a 59.52 that is just 0.01 off his best time of 59.52. His teammate Sam Williamson took bronze with a time of 59.82. This was Williamson’s first time under the one minute barrier.
WOMEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY FINAL
World Record: 7:40.33 — China (2021)Commonwealth Record: 7:41.29 — Australia (2021)Commonwealth Games Record: 7:48.04 — Australia (2018)
Podium:
- Australia — 7:39.29 (WORLD RECORD)
- Canada — 7:51.98
- England — 7:57.11
Summer McIntosh’s 1:55.24 leadoff put Canada into first place position at the 200-meter mark, but that did not last long. It was Australia’s Madi Wilson (1:56.27), Kiah Melverton (1:55.40), Mollie O’Callaghan (1:54.80), and Ariarne Titmus (1:52.82) who ended up winning in a world record time of 7:39.29. They smashed China’s previous world record time of 7:40.33 that was set at the Olympic games last year.
Most notably, Titmus’s 1:52.82 anchor leg is the fastest 200 free split in history, surpassing Federica Pelligrini‘s 1:53.45 by a significant margin. Prior to today, Pelligrini’s 1:52.98 flat start world record had been faster than any 200 free rolling split ever recorded.
All-Time Top Relay Splits, Women’s 4×200 Free Relay:
- Ariarne Titmus, Australia — 1:52.82 (2022)
- Federica Pellegrini, Italy – 1:53.45 (2009)
- Sarah Sjostsrom, Sweden – 1:53.64 (2014)
- Katie Ledecky, United States – 1:53.67 (2022)
- Katie Ledecky, United States – 1:53.74 (2016)
- Katie Ledecky, United States – 1:53.76 (2021)
- Katie Ledecky, United States – 1:53.84 (2018)
- Katie Ledecky, United States – 1:54.02 (2017)
This world record was a good redemption swim for the Aussies, who had failed to take gold at the 2020 Olympics due to questionable lineup decisions and finished second to the United States at the World Championships this year without Titmus. At both the 2019 World Championships and the 2020 Olympics, Titmus had always been the one leading off, so her 1:52.82 was her first-ever rolling split swum at a major international meet.
Van selm’s split on 200 free relay? Girls at the British Summer Champs went faster. She is tapered and has been picked for Europeans, also Hope’s split on the relay 2.01 another one that has been picked for Europeans
Didn’t manage to wake up at 4am last night (morning..) and had to catch up on 7plus replays which I hope never to have to do again.
Wanted to watch the whole session but had to watch individual events which were synched out of order. So it was like first event said ‘can we win a third gold medal?’ and I’m like *sigh* spoilers…
And then like two ads – the SAME TWO ADS – at the start of each event replay 🙁
Record channel 70 overnight and then 72 I think from 6am onwards
I thought I saw whole sessions on 7plus?
So comparing Titmus’ 200m free PB to her split today (on the left is her pb splits and the right the relay splits)
26.81 26.32
28.74 (55.55) 28.77 (55.09)
29.09 (1:24.64) 28.96 (1:24.05)
28.45 (1:53.09) 28.77 (1:52.82)
It’s impossible to objectively compare those first 50s due to the relay start but otherwise she was ever so slightly faster in the middle 100 but wasn’t able to match her flying final 50 she swam last year. Nevertheless my coach commentary says this was a superior swim to what she put up in the individual event.
Your coach theory would be off. Even the most conservative flying start is worth more than 27 hundredths of a second. Also relay swims are easier especially if you are in the lead by so much with all that clean water.
That final comment was in reference to the individual swim here at the commenwealth games. Her 1:53.09 was clearly the better swim than this split.
Congratulations to the Aussie girls on their world record.Also a congrats to our Canadian girls down 3 out of 4 of their regular swimmers.Our first 2 swimmers were 15 and 16 years old.Well done girls, you were great.
Blistering swim by AT. I don’t know if we will ever see it, but it would be great to see the 4×2 order being:
MOC, fastest form swimmer, Mckeon, Titmus.
MOC seems a bit inconsistent in rolling starts (bar her one fast 100m split at world)”s). Also, swimming next to someone like Sunmer would be great for her to pace against. As well as the other girls have been swimming, I think Mckeon is the only other that could dip into low 154 territory in the relay.
This combination and the race scheduled at the start of a meet would put the record out of reach for a while I suspect.
I fear the best of McKeon’s 200 is behind. Particularly looking to Paris, she is likely to repeat her three sprint individual events (50/100Free and 100Fly) as well as likely to be on the 100 free relay, medley relay and mixed medley relay.
To give her her best chance at being the world leading sprinter we need, I think McKeon is better off not worrying about the 200. MOC and AT seem locks for the Paris relay. I’m not certain we can’t get two other women in 1:54 territory before then.
Only 19 swimmers have been 1.54 or better.
Canada has 3 swimmers in this category, one with a bullet to improve even more McIntosh, but maybe one on the decline Ruck.
China has 2 & a few solid swimmers.
US has 3 but 2 has retired but has 3 young girls Weinstein especially only 15 years old, Sims & Gemmill together with Ledecky.
Then there are the Aussies, with 3 but Mckeon PBs here maybe behind her, but they have 2 big game changers in Titmus & MOC & a host that could push into the 1.54s.
Ruck is not declining. I’d say she’s getting back in shape after some hard years. She’s clearly not back to her 1.54 form, but to say she’s declining at 22 is just wrong imo
Thanks Calvin, I have not really follow her swimming career, just seeing the times as an 18 year till now.
she’s not declining right now but has definitely declined since her 2018 peak
I agree, the only way I seeing McKeon swimming the 200 relay again is the emergence of a new 100butterfly star in the ranks, which would take some of the burden off her. Shame we can’t convert any of our 100FR stars to butterfly!
Amazing swims by the AUS women. I can’t find the splits for CAN and ENG. Can someone post them?
CAN – S.McIntosh 1:55.24; E.Jansen 1:57.83; M-S.Harvey 1:59.65; K.Savard 1:59.26
ENG – F.Colbert 1:57.85; T.van Selm 2:02.60; A.Wood 1:58.99; F.Anderson 1:57.67
Thank you, Observer!
Interesting that 16-year old Ella Jansen had the second fastest split for the Canadians. The absence of Oleksiak and Ruck (and the departure of Sanchez) provided an opportunity for the young Canadian to gain experience swimming in the final of an international event. She could be an important relay piece for Paris if she continues to develop.
Really pleased how New Zealand so well at these games so far, pity about Sevens Results but overall the cyclists and swimmers are coming through well.
The British coaches have a selection headache for the men’s medley relay. Wilby won the 100BS but Peaty swam a faster time in the semi-final. All other things being equal I would select Peaty – you have to show faith with those who have delivered for you in the past. But who knows what Peaty’s state of mind is right now? What happened might have fired him up or it might have deflated him. The British coaches have a big judgement call to make.
Peaty’s been dancing. Give the relay spot to the guy who did the work this year and earned it.
Give the spot to the guy who is gonna swim the fastest. What happens in the race is what matters and what work you did is irrelevant.