2022 FINA World Cup – Berlin: Day 1 Prelims Live Recap

2022 FINA WORLD CUP – BERLIN

• Friday, October 21 – Sunday, October 23, 2022
• Europa-Sportpark, Berlin, Germany
• SCM (25 meters)
• Start Times
  • Prelims: 8:30 am local / 2:30 am ET
  • Finals: 7:00 pm local / 1:00 pm ET
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results (Omega)
• Live Stream (FINA YouTube)

The 2022 FINA World Cup is finally here. This morning (or night, depending on where you’re located), we have the first prelims session of the Berlin stop of the Cup. Session One features heats of the women’s 400 free, men’s 400 free, women’s 50 back, men’s 200 back, women’s 200 fly, men’s 100 fly, women’s 200 breast, men’s 100 breast, women’s 50 free, men’s 50 free, women’s 100 IM, and men’s 100 IM.

The women’s 400 free ought to be a thrilling event, with Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey, the top seed, going up against the USA’s Paige Madden in the fastest heat this morning. Both women, along with American Hali Flickinger, who is in the second-fastest heat, have been under 4:00 in the event before. Germany’s Isabel Gose, a rising women’s distance star, is in Flickinger’s heat and has been 4:00.33 before.

Flickinger is also pulling double duty, as she’s the top seed in the women’s 200 fly this morning as well. We’ll have to wait to see whether Flickinger ends up racing both events this morning, and in the event she does stick with racing both, if she’ll swim both in finals.

The men’s 400 free features a fantastic field. In total, there are eight swimmers in the field entered under 3:40. Those swimmers include Felix Auboeck (3:35.90), Danas Rapsys (3:36.23), Antonio Djakovic (3:36.83), Marco de Tullio (3:37.83), Matt Sates (3:37.92), Luc Kroon (3:38.33), Kieran Smith (3:38.61), and Henrik Christiansen (3:39.42).

We’ll also see Canada’s Kylie Masse in her first competition since moving to Spain to train under longtime coach Ben Titley. Masse is the top seed in the women’s 50 back this morning and is notably seeded under the World Cup Record.

American Nic Fink is also entered under the World Cup Record in the men’s 100 breast, coming in as the top seed with a 55.56. That time is just under the record mark of 55.61. Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi is the second seed this morning, entering at 55.63.

Women’s 400 free – HEATS

• World Record: 3:53.92, Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – 2018
• World Junior Record: 3:53.97, Wang Jianjiahe (CHN) – 2018
• World Cup Record: 3:53.97, Wang Jianjiahe (CHN) – 2018

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Isabel Gose (GER) – 4:03.01
2. Hali Flickinger (USA) – 4:05.61
3. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 4:05.90
4. Valentine Dumont (BEL) – 4:06.59
5. Barbora Seemanova (CZE) – 4:07.75
6. Katja Fain (SLO) – 4:08.20
7. Maddy Gough (AUS) – 4:08.22
8. Imani de Jong (NED) – 4:08.39

Germany’s Isabel Gose handled the field this morning by well over two seconds, speeding to a 4:03.01 to secure the top time of the heats. She had a bit of a race with American Hali Flickinger, but was able to pull away from Flickinger when all was said and done. For her part, Flickinger posted the second-fastest time of the morning with a 4:05.61.

Notably, fellow American Paige Madden, who competed in the fastest of the circle-seeded heats, was unable to crack 4:10 this morning, and did not make it into the top eight.

Top-seeded Siobhan Haughey had a solid swim this morning, posting the third-fastest time in the field with a 4:05.90.

Australia’s Maddy Gough was able to clip her entry time of 4:08.50, clocking a 4:08.22 in the second-fastest heat this morning. That swim was enough for Gough to earn a spot in the final tonight.

Men’s 400 free – HEATS

• World Record: 3:32.25, Yannick Agnel (FRA) – 2012
• World Junior Record: 3:37.92, Matt Sates (RSA) – 2021
• World Cup Record: 3:32.77, Paul Biedermann (GER) – 2009

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Danas Rapsys (LTU) – 3:41.51
2. Matt Sates (RSA) – 3:41.53
3. Kieran Smith (USA) – 3:42.85
4. Jon Joentvedt (NOR) – 3:43.24
5. Luc Kroon (NED) – 3:43.65
6. Henrik Christiansen (NOR) – 3:44.24
7. Marwan Elkamash (EGY) – 3:44.28
8. Kregor Zirk (EST) – 3:44.50

Though they didn’t swim directly against each other this morning, Danas Rapsys and Matt Sates were neck-and-neck, posting the top two times of the heats. Their overall times were just 0.02 seconds apart, but they swam slightly different races. Rapsys was out a touch faster than Sates on the first half of the race, while Sates had the superior closing speed, particularly on the final 125 meters of the race.

American Kieran Smith made it back for the final tonight, swimming a 3:42.85 to give himself a middle lane for the final.

Germany’s Lucas Martens, a rising distance superstar, notably missed out on the top eight this morning, swimming a 3:44.85 to finish ninth overall.

Women’s 50 back – HEATS

• World Record: 25.27, Maggie MacNeil (CAN) – 2021
• World Junior Record: 26.13, Olivia Smoliga (USA) – 2012
• World Cup Record: 25.81, Kira Toussaint (NED) – 2021

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 26.35
2. Kylie Masse (CAN) – 26.49
3. Louise Hansson (SWE) – 26.58
4. Mary-Ambre Moluh (FRA) – 26.66
5. Beata Nelson (USA) – 26.70
6. Maaike de Waard (NED) – 26.73
7. (TIE)Simona Kubova (CZE)/Linnea Mack (USA) – 26.78

In the first of the fast heats, Caroline Pilhatsch and Alicja Tchorz tied at 26.79, which at the time looked like it would be enough for them to sneak into the final. However, they both ended up just 0.01 seconds off what it took to make it into the top eight.

It was Canada’s Ingrid Wilm who posted the top time of the morning in the next heat, swimming a 26.35. She won her heat over Louise Hansson and Beata Nelson, both of whom also made it into the final.

The final heat was very tight, seeing Canadian Kylie Masse get her hand on the wall first in 26.49. That would stand as the second-fastest swim of the morning, giving Canada the top two seeds for tonight’s final. Right behind Masse were Mary-Ambre Moluh, Maaike de Waard, Simona Kubova, and Linnea Mack, all of whom made it back as well.

American Erika Brown was set to race in the first of the fast heats but did not swim the race.

Men’s 200 back – HEATS

• World Record: 1:45.63, Mitch Larkin (AUS) – 2015
• World Junior Record: 1:48.02, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) – 2017
• World Cup Record: 1:46.11, Arkady Vyatchanin (RUS) – 2009

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Shaine Casas (USA) – 1:52.29
2. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA) – 1:53.38
3. Radoslaw Kawecki (POL) – 1:54.05
4. Javier Acevedo (CAN) – 1:54.13
5. Tomas Franta (CZE) – 1:54.24
6. Hubert Kos (HUN) – 1:54.69
7. David Gerchik (ISR) – 1:54.76
8. Filip Kosinski (POL) – 1:54.86

American Shaine Casas pulled away from the second-fastest heat this morning, motoring to the fastest swim of prelims with a 1:52.29. At that point, he was the only swimmer in the field to dip under 1:54 this morning. That was until the next heat, when France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard clocked a 1:53.38, landing himself as the second-fastest swimmer of the morning.

Canada’s Javier Acevedo won the first of the fast heats, swimming a 1:54.13, which put him fourth overall this morning.

Women’s 200 fly – HEATS

• World Record: 1:59.61, Mireia Belmonte (ESP) – 2014
• World Junior Record: 2:02.96, Suzuka Hasegawa (JPN) – 2017
• World Cup Record: 2:00.78, Liu Zige (CHN) – 2009

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Helena Bach (DEN) – 2:06.11
2. Laura Lahtinen (FIN) – 2:06.65
3. Ilaria Cusinato (ITA) – 2:06.67
4. Hali Flickinger (USA) – 2:06.83
5. Lana Pudar (BIH) – 2:09.69
6. Lotte Hosper (NED) – 2:10.22
7. Amina Kajtaz (CRO) – 2:10.41
8. Zsuzsanna Jakabos (HUN) – 2:10.44

Helena Bach led the way this morning, swimming a 2:06.11 to win the first of the fast heats. The top end of the top eight this morning was tightly packed, seeing Laura Lahtinen, Ilaria Cusinato, and Hali Flickinger all swim 2:06s as well.

Behind that top four, there was a huge gap to Lana Pudar, who posted the fifth-fastest time of prelims with a 2:09.69.

Notably star French sprinter Marie Wattel is seeded to race in the slow heat of the 200 fly this morning, though it remains to be seen whether she’ll actually compete in the race. Given her speed in the 100 fly, Wattel could turn out to be a factor here.

Men’s 100 fly – HEATS

• World Record: 47.78, Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 2020
• World Junior Record: 49.53, Li Zhuhao (CHN) – 2017
• World Cup Record: 48.48, Evgenii Korotyshkin (RUS) – 2009

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Marius Kusch (CLB) – 49.88
2. Noe Ponti (SUI) – 50.04
3. Chad le Clos (CLB) – 50.17
4. Tom Shields (USA) – 50.21
5. Jakub Majerski (POL) – 50.49
6. Stanislas Huille (FRA) – 50.76
7. Jan Sefl (CZE) – 50.77
8. Matteo Rivolta (ITA) – 50.96

Finishing as the only swimmer in the field under 50 seconds, Marius Kusch swam a 49.88 this morning to take the top seed for tonight’s final in the 100 fly. Noe Ponti was right behind, swimming a 50.04 to post the #2 time of the morning.

American 31-year-old Tom Shields had a strong swim this morning, clocking a 50.21 to finish fourth overall. safely qualifying for tonight’s final. Shields was part of a group of veterans to make the final, with five of the top eight swimmers in prelims being born in 1993 or earlier. Chad le Clos, 30, was third overall this morning, swimming a 50.17. Czech Replublic’s Jan Sefl was the oldest swimmer in the field to advance, swimming a 50.77 at the age of 32 to take seventh overall. Italian 30-year-old Matteo Rivolta was eighth this morning with a 50.96.

Women’s 200 breast – HEATS

• World Record: 2:14.57, Rebecca Soni (USA) – 2009
• World Junior Record: 2:16.88, Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS) – 2021
• World Cup Record: 2:15.42, Leisel Jones (AUS) – 2009

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Tes Schouten (NED) – 2:20.89
2. Thea Blomsterberg (DEN) – 2:22.25
3. Kristyna Horska (CZE) – 2:22.74
4. Abbie Wood (GBR) – 2:22.80
5. Clara Rybak-Andersen (DEN) – 2:23.19
6. Charlotte Bonnet (FRA) – 2:23.64
7. Lisa Angiolini (ITA) – 2:23.67
8. Sienna Robinson (GBR) – 2:23.73

Tes Schouten blew away her entry time of 2:24.04, tearing to a 2:20.89 to not only win her heat, but post the fastest time of the morning as well. She was well over a second faster than Thea Blomsterberg, who was second this morning.

Top seed Sophie Hansson did not make it into the top eight this morning, swimming a 2:24.88. Similarly, Israel’s Anastasia Gorbenko, who was one of three swimmers in the field who has been under 2:20, was 2:24.66 this morning, also failing to make it into the top eight.

Men’s 100 breast – HEATS

• World Record: 55.28, Ilya Shymanovich (BLR) – 2021
• World Junior Record: 56.66, Simone Cerasuolo (ITA) – 2021
• World Cup Record: 55.61, Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) – 2009

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Reece Whitley (USA) – 57.06
2. Nic Fink (USA) – 57.28
3. Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) – 58.04
4. Bernhard Reitshammer (AUT) – 58.38
5. Matej Zabojnik (CZE) – 58.62
6. Federico Poggio (ITA) – 58.65
7. Dawid Wiekiera (POL) – 58.67
8. Andrius Sidlauskas (LTU) – 58.86

American Reece Whitley was hidden in heat 1 of the men’s 100 breaststroke with a “no time” entry, but snuck into the top qualification slot anyway with a 57.06. That ties him with Will Licon as the 6th-fastest American ever in the event in his first official short course meters race.

Whitley is currently in his 5th year of racing at Cal. After initially indicating that he was going to retire after last year and focus on graduate school, he made a surprise announcement that he would return to use his bonus season of eligibility for the Golden Bears.

Nic Fink qualified 2nd in 57.28, which was 1.7 seconds slower than his personal best. This is Fink’s first official racing since June’s World Championship meet. He was the only swimmer in the field to crack 58 seconds this morning, with Italian Nicolo Martinenghi clocking the second-fastest time with a 58.04.

Tonight, we may see a much closer race between Fink and Martinenghi, both of whom are capable of swimming significantly faster than they did this morning.

Notably, Huseyin Sakci was a little off this morning, swimming a 59.59, which put him in 13th place.

Women’s 50 free – HEATS

• World Record: 22.93, Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) – 2017
• World Junior Record: 23.69, Anastasiya Shkurdai (BLR) – 2020
• World Cup Record: 22.93, Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) – 2017

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Katarzyna Wasick (POL) – 23.92
2. Michelle Coleman (SWE) – 24.11
3. Madi Wilson (AUS) – 24.17
4. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 24.28
5. Erika Brown (USA) – 24.33
6. Marie Wattel (FRA) – 24.39
7. (TIE) Silvia di Pietro (ITA)/Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 24.44

30-year-old Katarzyna Wasick is continuing to be a force in women’s sprint events on the world stage. She was the only swimmer this morning under 24 seconds, clocking a 23.92 to grab the top seed for tonight’s final.

France was the only country to have two swimmers in the top eight, seeing Beryl Gastaldello finish fourth in 24.28, and Marie Wattel sixth in 24.39.

After scratching the 50 back earlier in the session, American Erika Brown swam a 24.33 to advance to the final tonight with a fifth-place finish.

Men’s 50 free – HEATS

• World Record: 20.16, Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 2020
• World Junior Record: 20.98, Kenzo Simons (NED) – 2019
• World Cup Record: 20.48, Vladimir Morozov (RUS) – 2018

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Dylan Carter (TTO) – 21.08
2. Florent Manaudou (FRA) – 21.22
3. Kyle Chalmers (AUS) – 21.30
4. Karol Ostrowski (POL) – 21.37
5. Maxime Grousset (FRA) – 21.40
6. Vladyslav Bukhov (UKR) – 21.41
7. Thom de Boer (NED) – 21.53
8. Kenzo Simons (NED) – 21.60

A swim-off will be required to determine the eighth-place finisher. Dutchmen Jesse Puts and Stan Pijnenburg both swam 21.62 in the heats to tie for ninth

They were part of a larger effort by the Netherlands’ sprinters. Thom de Boer and Kenzo Simons made it into the top eight, just edging out their countrymates for spots in the final.

Dylan Carter was the fastest performer this morning, swimming a 21.08. Carter will have his hands full tonight, as Florent Manaudou and Kyle Chalmers were right behind him this morning.

Women’s 100 IM – HEATS

• World Record: 56.51, Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2017
• World Junior Record: 57.59, Anastasiya Shkurdai (BLR) – 2020
• World Cup Record: 56.51, Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 2017

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Beata Nelson (USA) – 58.68
2. Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 59.40
3. Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) – 59.54
4. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 59.63
5. Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 59.68
6. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 59.73
7. Emelie Fast (SWE) – 59.74
8. Louise Hansson (SWE) – 59.80
9. Alicja Tchorz (POL) – 59.96

It took just under 1:00 to make it into tonight’s final. Coincidentally, the women’s 100 IM also features a ton of swimmers who have already qualified for a final tonight, so it will be interesting to see if they stick with all their races tonight, or pick and choose which finals to race in.

Beata Nelson was fairly dominant this morning, swimming a 58.68 to touch first by nearly a second. The rest of the field was very tightly packed, seeing second and eighth place separated by just 0.40 seconds.

She was the only swimmer in the field to finish under 59 seconds. Ruta World breaststroke champion Meilutyte came from outside of the circle-seeded heats to qualify 2nd in 59.40.

Men’s 100 IM – HEATS

• World Record: 49.28, Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 2020
• World Junior Record: 50.63, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS) – 2018
• World Cup Record: 50.26, Vladimir Morozov (RUS) – 2018

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 52.63
2. Bernhard Reitshammer (AUT) – 52.90
3. Javier Acevedo (CAN) – 53.24
4. Matt Sates (RSA) – 53.27
5. Yakov Toumarkin (ISR) – 53.50
6. Nikola Miljenic (CRO) – 53.54
7. Mikel Schreuders (ARU) – 53.82
8. Markus Lie (NOR) – 53.91

Italy’s Thomas Ceccon handled the 100 IM this morning, swimming a 52.63 to finish first. Bernhard Reitshammer, who already finished third in the 100 breast this morning, was back in action here, taking second in the 100 IM. Similarly, Javier Acevedo, who already qualified for the 200 back final, was third in the 100 IM this morning.

Matt Sates, who was second in the 400 free earlier, took fourth in the 100 IM, setting him up for a tough double tonight as well.

Surprisingly, American Shaine Casas, the fastest swimmer in history in the 100 yard IM, finished just 9th in prelims in a time of 53.92. That left him out of the final by .01 seconds.