2022 FINA World Cup – Indianapolis: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2022 FINA WORLD CUP – INDIANAPOLIS

• Thursday, November 3 – Saturday, November 5, 2022
• Indiana University Natatorium, Indianapolis, IN
• SCM (25 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results (Omega)
• Live Stream

Day 3 Finals Heat Sheet

It’s the last session of finals in Indianapolis, which also marks the last session of the 2022 FINA World Cup. There’s a $100,000 bonus on the line tonight for the overall winners of the series, as well as a few more Triple Crowns still up for grabs.

We’ll start the session with Matt Sates‘, the 2021 overall men’s winner, taking his last shot at a Triple Crown with the men’s 400 IM. Sates has won this event handily over the last two stops, but has looked tired so far in Indianapolis. He’ll try to hold of Hubert Kos and newcomer Duncan Scott. Bobby Finke will also be in the field, and we know he’ll charge over the freestyle leg.

The women’s 800 freestyle is next, and we’ll be back on world record watch with Katie Ledecky in the water. Ledecky almost broke this world record last weekend as she took out her 1500 freestyle, so there’s a pretty good chance she breaks it tonight. Also keep an eye on the world junior record: Katie Grimes and Summer McIntosh are both capable of downing that. On Day 2, Grimes broke the world junior record in the 1500 freestyle–one of three world junior records the Sandpipers of Nevada reset that day.

The other two world junior records–the girls’ 200 freestyle and 100 back–were broken in a span of 12 minutes by Bella Sims. Sims is primarily known for her freestyle talents, but she’s shown off (or maybe found) her backstroke skill at the this meet. She’s the second seed in the 200 back, where’s she’ll have a rematch with Beata Nelson, Kylie Masse, and Ingrid Wilm. She’s also slated to race the 200 IM, the last event of the session.

MEN’S 400 IM – Finals

• World Record: 3:54.81, Daiya Seto (JPN), 2019
• World Jr Record: 3:56.47, Ilya Borodin (RSF), 2021
• World Cup Record: 3:57.25, Daiya Seto (JPN), 2018
• US Open Record: 3:54.81, Daiya Seto (JPN), 2019

PODIUM:

1. Matt Sates (RSA) – 4:04.12
2. Finlay Knox (CAN) – 4:07.09
3. Ikari Yuki (JPN) – 4:07.13

“I’m so tired,” Matt Sates said when he was asked after the race about the huge program that he’s taken on over the last three weeks. The results agree with him; he was about 1.5 seconds slower than he was at the first two stops, but he was able to secure his Triple Crown in the 400 IM. His win was never really in doubt, as he built his lead on the butterfly leg and maintained a gap of about 1.8 seconds through the middle 100. He extended that lead over the freestyle leg, and touched in 4:04.12 to earn the win.

Canada’s Finlay Knox swam in the slower heats this morning, but the 4:07.09 he posted there was good enough to earn second overall, just .04 seconds ahead of Ikari Yuki.

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – Fastest Heat

• World Record: 7:59.34, Mireia Belmonte Garcia (ESP), 2013
• World Jr Record: 7:59.44, Wang Jianjiahe (CHN), 2018
• World Cup Record: 7:59.34, Mireia Belmonte Garcia (ESP), 2013
• US Open Record: 8:04.77, Lotte Friis (DEN), 2011

PODIUM:

1. Katie Ledecky (CLB) – 7:57.42 WR
2. Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 8:07.12
3. Leah Smith (USA) – 8:12.01

Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh wasted no time getting out ahead not only of the rest of the field, but also the world record line. It came as little surprise to see Ledecky under world record pace so early, as she was just off breaking the 800 free world record during her 1500 free swim last weekend.

Ledecky eventually separated herself from McIntosh, who nevertheless stayed ahead of the world record line until 400 meters to go, when Belmonte began to outpace her. At one point, Ledecky was about three second ahead of the WR line, but the line began to creep up on her as well. It didn’t matter though, she still had more than enough room, as she broke the record by almost 2 full seconds. “I was putting a lot of pressure on myself after last week,” Ledecky said post-race, “so having all these fans here to cheer me on meant a lot.”

McIntosh maintained her second place, touching just under 10 seconds behind Ledecky. Leah Smith rounded out the podium in 8:12.01.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – Finals

• World Record: 54.59, Kelsi Dahlia (USA), 2021
• World Jr Record: 55.39, Claire Curzan (USA), 2021
• World Cup Record: 54.84, Kelsi Dahlia (USA), 2018
• US Open Record: 55.35, Kelsi Dahlia (USA), 2019

PODIUM:

1. Louise Hansson (SWE) – 55.45
2. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 56.48
3. Alex Shackell (CLB) – 56.63

Louise Hansson backed up her win in the 50 fly last night with a win here in the 100. She was in control from the start of the race, touching at the 25-meter mark just ahead of Beryl Gastaldello. She extended her lead from there, and ended up winning by just over a second. Hansson was just a tenth off the U.S Open record, which Kelsi Dahlia set in 2019. This makes two wins in the 100 fly on the series for Hansson, who won in Berlin with a 55.33.

Gastaldello was able to get her hands on the wall second, while teenager Alex Shackell, who swims for Carmel Swim Club, took third in 56.63.

MEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – Finals

• World Record: 21.75, Nicholas Santos (BRA), 2018/Szebasztian Szabo (HUN), 2021
• World Jr Record: 22.34, Andrei Minakov (RUS), 2020
• World Cup Record: 21.75, Nicholas Santos (BRA), 2018
• US Open Record: 22.06, Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2019

PODIUM:

1. Dylan Carter (TTO) – 21.99 US Open
2. Chad Le Clos (RSA) – 22.77
3. Marius Kusch (GER) – 22.46

Dylan Carter completes his third Triple Crown of the meet with his win in the 50 fly. He’s also swept the 50 backstroke and 50 freestyle over the course of the FINA World Cup. He got it done in US Open record fashion, breaking Caeleb Dressel‘s mark and taking the record under 22 seconds for the first time. He was also only .01 off his lifetime best 21.98, which also stands as the Trinidad and Tobago national record.

Chad Le Clos, who won the 200 fly last night, showed off his sprinting ability by taking second in this race. Germany’s Marius Kusch touched third in 22.46. Ilya Kharun finished fourth, only .01 seconds behind Kusch. His time of 22.47 is a new Canadian record, his third in as many days.

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – Finals

• World Record: 1:58.94, Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2020
• World Jr Record: 2:00.03, Missy Franklin (USA), 2011
• World Cup Record: 1:59.35, Daryna Zevina (UKR), 2016
• US Open Record: 1:59.57, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2015

PODIUM:

1. Beata Nelson (USA) – 2:00.43
2. Bella Sims (CLB) – 2:01.64
3. Katie Grimes (CLB) – 2:02.34

Beata Nelson earned her Triple Crown in the women’s 200 back, taking first here in 2:00.43. Like she did in Toronto, she was once again flirting with the world record line for much of the race. She flipped at the 150-meter mark just .01 seconds ahead, and though she lost touch with it over the final 50, it was still enough to take the win.

“I’ve been 2:00 so many times,” said Nelson, “but I know I’m moving in the right direction.” This swim was faster than she was in Toronto by .07 seconds.

Newfound backstroker Bella Sims took second here in the 200 back after her win and world junior record in the 100 on night 2. Her Sandpiper and Olympic teammate Katie Grimes was third in 2:02.34. This was Grimes’ second swim of the evening, as she also raced in the 800 free.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – Finals

• World Record: 48.33, Coleman Stewart (USA), 2021
• World Jr Record: 48.90, Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2017
• World Cup Record: 48.84, Shaine Casas (USA), 2022
• US Open Record: 48.92, Matt Grevers (USA), 2015

PODIUM:

1. Shaine Casas (USA) – 49.40
2. Kacper Stokowski (POL) – 49.63
3. Ryan Murphy (USA) – 49.67

He was well off the World Cup record of 48.84 that he set in Toronto last weekend, but Shaine Casas was still able to get the win and secure a Triple Crown in the 100 backstroke. That makes it three Triple crowns in three events, as we just saw Carter and Nelson earn their own.

Casas dominated this race in Toronto, but he was much closer to the field here. He and Kacper Stokowski were battling it out in lanes 2 and 3, with Stokowski .01 seconds ahead at the final turn. Casas turned on the jets over the closing meters, separating himself not only from Stokowski but from a charging rest of the field.

Stokowski, who swims collegiately at NC State, was able to hold on for second, touching .04 seconds ahead of Ryan Murphy, who closed strong on the final 25 meters.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – Finals

• World Record: 28.56, Alia Atkinson (JAM), 2018
• World Jr Record: 28.81, Benedetta Pilato (ITA), 2020
• World Cup Record: 28.56, Alia Atkinson (JAM), 2018
• US Open Record: 28.90, Lilly King (USA), 2019

PODIUM:

1. Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 28.70 US Open
2. Lilly King (USA) – 29.16
3. Andrea Podmanikova (CZE) – 29.89

Ruta Meilutyte makes it four Triple Crowns in four events as she wins the women’s 50 breaststroke. It’s her second Triple Crown as well, as she also completed her sweep of the 100 breaststroke earlier this meet. She was a tenth off her European record of 28.60 that she set in Berlin, but she still cracked the US Open record by two-tenths.

That record used to belong to Lilly King, who finished second in this race behind Meilutyte. She was almost a half-second back, as she posted a 29.16. Andrea Podmanikova touched third in 29.89.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – Finals

• World Record: 2:00.16, Kirill Prigoda (RUS), 2018
• World Jr Record: 2:03.23, Akihiro Yamaguchi (JPN), 2012
• World Cup Record: 2:00.48, Daniel Gyurta (HUN), 2014
• US Open Record: 2:02.33, Cody Miller (USA), 2015

PODIUM:

1. Nic Fink (USA) – 2:02.70
2. Reece Whitley (CLB) – 2:04.74
3. Brendan Fischer (CLB) – 2:05.72

Nic Fink earns his triple-triple. With his win in the 200 breaststroke, he’s now gone 9-for-9, winning all the breaststroke events at the 2022 FINA World Cup. After prelims, the sweep looked a little in jeopardy, after Fink posted the eighth-fastest time, just barely qualifying for finals. He left no doubt here though: as outside smoke, he established his lead early and never looked back.

Fink and Carter were tied in the overall World Cup standings coming into today. They both won their events, so it will come down to who’s swim earned them more FINA points to determine who the 2022 winner will be.

Reece Whitley, who’s had a good showing over the World Cup circuit, earned second just over two seconds behind Fink. Whitley is using his fifth year of NCAA eligibility at Cal, where he helped them win a team national championship last year. Brendan Fischer touched third a second behind Whitley in 2:05.72.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – Finals

• World Record: 50.25, Cate Campbell (AUS), 2017
• World Jr Record: 51.45, Kayla Sanchez (CAN), 2018
• World Cup Record:50.58, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
• US Open Record: 51.37, Cate Campbell (AUS), 2019

PODIUM:

1. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 51.00 US Open Record
2. Madi Wilson (AUS) – 51.54
3. Abbey Weitzeil (USA) – 51.63

Siobhan Haughey took the win in the women’s 100 free, earning her second triple crown of the World Cup series. She got better and better in this race as the series went on–her 51.00 tonight was the fastest she’s been over these last three weeks. It’s also a new US Open record, bettering the 51.37 that Cate Campbell set in 2019. This is the sixth Triple Crown in as many events this session.

Madi Wilson had a strong back-half to get the better of Abbey Weitzeil, 51.54 to 51.63. Wilson posted a lifetime best in the 200 free to take second on night 2, and this time is just off her lifetime best of 51.40.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – Finals

• World Record: 1:39.37, Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009
• World Jr Record: 1:40.65, Matt Sates (RSA), 2021
• World Cup Record: 1:39.37, Paul Biedermann (GER), 2009
• US Open Record: 1:41.58, Alexander Graham (AUS), 2019

PODIUM:

1. Kieran Smith (CLB) – 1:41.78
2. Danas Rapsys (LTU) – 1:41.89
3. Drew Kibler (CLB) – 1:41.93

It was a thrilling race in the men’s 200 freestyle, as the podium came down to the final touch. Kieran Smith had led the whole race, even flirting with the world record line through the first 100. However, the field caught him on the final 50 and there were four men in contention for the podium: Smith, Danas Rapsys, Drew Kibler, and Kyle Chalmers.

Smith held on for the win, .11 seconds ahead of Rapsys. The Florida pro came into this weekend without a World Cup win and he now has three. Kibler rounded out the podium in 1:41.93, out-touching Chalmers by .04 seconds, 1:41.93 to 1:41.97. Chalmers split 25.92 on the last 50 compared to Kibler’s 26.02, but the Australian ran out of room to chase Kibler down.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – Finals

• World Record: 2:01.86, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2014
• World Jr Record: 2:04.48, Yiting Yu (GHN), 2021
• World Cup Record: 2:02.13, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2014
• US Open Record: 2:04.18, Melanie Margalis (USA), 2019

PODIUM:

1. Beata Nelson (USA) – 2:04.92
2. Sydney Pickrem (CAN) – 2:05.87
3. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 2:06.22

Beata Nelson picked up her second Triple Crown of the session with her win in the 200 IM. Earlier in the session, she won the 200 back as well. This was a new lifetime best for her, getting under the mark of 2:05.08 that she set while earning the win in Toronto last weekend. With that time, Nelson keeps hold of the top time in the world this season.

Nelson took over the race on the during the backstroke leg and maintained it the rest of the way, keeping ahead of Sydney Pickrem. Like in Toronto, Pickrem used her breaststroke skills to pull herself into podium position.

In her second race of the night, Sims was keeping close to Nelson through the first 100, but as in the morning, her breaststroke split (38.96) was the slowest in the field. That allowed Anastasia Gorbenko to pull ahead of her into third, which is where she finished. Sims touched fourth in 2:06.90.