2022 Mare Nostrum Tour Monaco – Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2022 MARE NOSTRUM TOUR

• Saturday, May 21 – Sunday, May 22, 2022
• Swimming Pool Prince Albert II, Monaco
• Mare Nostrum Central
• SwimSwam Men’s Preview/Women’s Preview
• Results
• Live Stream

The 2nd finals session of the 2022 Mare Nostrum stop in Monaco is here, and with it we’ll see finals of the men’s 400 IM, women’s 400 free, men’s 100 fly, women’s 200 fly, men’s 200 back, women’s 100 back, men’s 100 breast, women’s 200 breast, men’s 200 free, women’s 100 free, women’s 200 IM, and the men’s and women’s 50s of all 4 strokes.

MEN’S 400 IM – FINALS

• GOLD – Matt Sates (RSA) – 4:12.74
• SILVER – Max Litchfield (GBR) – 4:17.43
• BRONZE – Hubert Kos (HUN) – 4:18.43

South African young gun Matt Sates got the job done tonight in his first of two races tonight. Sates opened up a big lead on fly, but Max Litchfield and Hubert Kos both closed on him during the backstroke leg, making things nearly even at the halfway point of the race. Sates would then re-grow his lead on the breast leg, and expand it even further on freestyle, as he tore home for a 4;12.74. The swim stands as a season best for Sates, currently placing him 12th in the world this year.

In the race for 2nd, Litchfield and Kos were all but tied at the 200m mark, but Litchfield would pull away from Kos on the breaststroke leg, splitting 1:13.81 to 1:15.16.

WOMEN’S 400 FREE – FINALS

• GOLD – Ajna Kesely (HUN) – 4:11.79
• SILVER – Leonie Kullmann (GER) – 4:13.11
• BRONZE – Caitlin Deans (NZL) – 4:14.34

Though she ended less than 1.5 seconds ahead of the field, Hungary’s Ajna Kesely appeared to be in control of this race from start to finish, slightly out-splitting all other swimmers on each 50 of the swim. She was maintaining 31-mid splits through the first 250m of the race, but then floated up to 32-points for the 6th and 7th laps.

Coming in 2nd was Germany’s Leonie Kullmann, who swam a 4:13.11. She was keeping up with Kesely through the first 200 of the race, flipping just 0.54 seconds behind, but she was unable to keep up with Kesely’s pace on the 3rd 100. New Zealand’s Caitlin Deans took 3rd with a 4:14.34, finishing 4 seconds ahead of the 4th place finisher.

MEN’S 100 FLY – FINALS

• GOLD – Noe Ponti (SUI) – 51.76
• SILVER – Chad Le Clos (RSA) – 51.79
• BRONZE – Szebastian Szabo (HUN) – 52.33

Noe Ponti and Chad le Clos swam virtually stroke for stroke from start to finish, with Ponti grabbing the slimmest of leads on the first 50, splitting 24.01 to le Clos’ 24.05. That margin would essentially stay the same, as Ponti would then lead le Clos into the finish, 51.76 to 51.79. For Ponti, the swim was just off his season best of 51.52, which he swam in March. The swim marks a season best for le Clos, landing him 22nd in the world this year.

Szebastian Szabo was right with Ponti and le Clos at the 50 mark, but the Hungary faded a bit down the final 50 of the race, and Ponti and le Clos would ultimately finish half a second ahead of him.

Finishing just off the podium was the American duo of Coleman Stewart (52.38) and Michael Andrew (52.40). Andrew was leading at the 50 mark, splitting a 23.85, which was the only sub-24 split in the field. He then split 28.55 on the 2nd 50, marking the 2nd-slowest 2nd 50 split in the field.

WOMEN’S 200 FLY – FINALS

• GOLD – Zsuzsanna Jakabos (HUN) – 2:08.88
• SILVER – Dalma Sebestyen (HUN) – 2:08.97
• BRONZE – Lilou Ressencourt (FRA) – 2:11.31

Despite France’s Lilou Ressencourt leading at the 100 mark of the race, it would be Hungarian duo Zsuzsanna Jakabos and Dalma Sebestyen who would win the women’s 200 fly decisively. In a repeat of yesterday’s 400 IM final, Jakabos would win Gold, with Sebestyen right behind for a close 2nd.

The pair was incredible on the final 50 of the race, with Jakabos splitting 33.31 and Sebestyen 33.41. For context, Ressencourt was 35.53 on the final 50. The swims were season bests for both Jakabos and Sebestyen, putting them 15th and 19th in the world this year respectively.

MEN’S 200 BACK – FINALS

• GOLD – Pieter Coetze (RSA) – 1:58.71
• SILVER – Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA) – 1:58.91
• BRONZE – Roman Mityukov (SUI) – 1:59.35

In a thrilling race, Pieter Coetze ran down France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard on the back half, giving South Africa their 3rd medal of the session, and their 2nd Gold. Ndoye-Brouard and Switzerland’s Roman Mityukov took the early lead, flipping at the 100m mark in 58.17 and 58.28 respectively. A poor 3rd 50 from Ndoye-Brouard (31.25) would see him slip from 1st to 2nd behind Mityukov.

USA’s Sam Stewart was 3rd at the 100 turn (58.56), but couldn’t hold on, and would finish 4th in 1:59.99.

WOMEN’S 100 BACK – FINALS

• GOLD – Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 59.73
• SILVER – Pauline Mahieu (FRA) – 1:00.24
• BRONZE – Simona Kubova (CZE) – 1:01.23

Canada’s Ingrid Wilm was in control of this final, posting the fastest split in the field on both 50s of the race. Going out in 29.61, Wilm was exceptional on the back half, splitting 30.12, just 0.51 seconds slower than her 1st 50. France’s Pauline Mahieu was 29.71 on the first 50, but came home in 30.53, finishing in a comfortable 2nd. Simona Kubova picked up the Czech Republic’s first medal of the night, taking 3rd with a 1:01.23.

Dutch sprinter Maaike de Waard looked promising on the first 50, splitting 29.71, the same as Mahieu, but didn’t have it coming home, splitting 32.02 on the 2nd lap. de Waard would take 4th with a 1:01.73.

MEN’S 100 BREAST – FINALS

• GOLD – Arno Kamminga (NED) – 59.10
• SILVER – Michael Andrew (USA) – 59.97
• BRONZE – Lucas Matzerath (GER) – 1:00.65

Arno Kamminga, to no one’s surprise, won the men’s 100 breast tonight after putting together a phenomenal 2nd 50. Kamminga and American Michael Andrew were in a battle through the first 50, with Kamminga splitting 27.91 to Andrew’s 28.07. As he is want to do, Kamminga just kept his speed going through the 2nd 50, splitting 31.19, while Andrew faded to 31.90.

The 59.10 comes in just off Kamminga’s season best of 58.52. Michael Andrew holds the 2nd-fastest time in the world this year with a 58.51.

WOMEN’S 200 BREAST – FINALS

• GOLD – Lydia Jacoby (USA) – 2:25.98
• SILVER – Sophie Hansson (SWE) – 2:26.47
• BRONZE – Lisa Mamie (SUI) – 2:27.31

Although Lydia Jacoby hasn’t yet matched her time from her Gold medal performance in the 100 breast at the Tokyo Olympics last summer, the teenage star keeps improving in the 200 breast. After posting a lifetime best of 2:26.60 at the U.S. International Team Trials last month, Jacoby bettered her time again, swimming a 2:25.98 for Gold here. She split the race well, swimming 33.14 on the first 50, then splitting 37.74, 37.99, and 37.11 on the final 3 50s.

Sophie Hansson gave Jacoby a race, touching just 0.06 seconds behind at the 100m mark, but Jacoby would slightly out-split her on each of the final two 50s.

MEN’S 200 FREE – FINALS

• GOLD – Matt Sates (RSA) – 1:46.69
• SILVER – Fernando Scheffer (BRA) – 1:47.48
• BRONZE – Kregor Zirk (EST) – 1:48.24

After winning the 400 IM in decisive fashion, South African star Matt Sates put together a great final 50 to pull away from the field, swimming a 1:46.69. Sates was locked in a tight race with Brazil’s Fernando Scheffer through the first 150m of the race, with Scheffer leading during the middle 100. Sates would then throw down a speedy 26.81 on the final 50, while Scheffer split 27.91 on the final 50, resulting in Sates overtaking the lead and ultimately finishing nearly a second ahead of Scheffer.

Scheffer, the Bronze medalist in the 200 free at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics last summer, picks up Brazil’s first medal of the session with his swim.

WOMEN’S 100 FREE – FINALS

• GOLD – Tessa Giele (NED) – 54.57
• SILVER – Barbora Janickova (CZE) – 55.72
• BRONZE – Laura Littlejohn (NZL) – 55.88

Tessa Giele from the Netherlands was fully in control of this final of the women’s 100 free, swimming a 54.57 to touch the wall first by over a second. Giele was explosive off the start, splitting 26.18 on the first 50, then coming home in 28.39.

Czech swimmer Barbora Janickova kept it close on the first 50, splitting 26.45, but was much slower on the back half, coming home in 29.27.

Dutch sprint star Kim Busch was probably the favorite in this field, but finished 4th with a 56.07. Busch has a personal best of 54.05 in the LCM 100 free, although she’s primarily a 50 freestyler (24.67).

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINALS

• GOLD – Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 2:12.22
• SILVER – Maria Ugolkova (SUI) – 2:12.55
• BRONZE – Dalma Sebestyen (HUN) – 2:13.18

Netherlands went back-to-back in the past two events, with Marrit Steenbergen swimming a 2:12.22. Steenbergen took the lead on the final 50, splitting a speedy 30.84. She also led the field on the breaststroke leg, splitting a 37.64.

Switzerland’s Maria Ugolkova was great on the front half of the race, splitting 28.58 on fly and 33.94 on back for a 1:02.52 on the first 100. She would hang on for a close 2nd, swimming a 2:12.55.

In her 2nd final of the session, Dalma Sebestyen took 3rd with a 2:13.18. Despite coming in 2nd in the 200 fly earlier in the session, Sebestyen had the 5th-fastest fly split in the field in this race.

Another Hungarian, Zsuszanna Jakabos, who won the 200 fly earlier in the session, swam a 2:15.36, finishing 5th.

MEN’S 50 FLY – FINALS

• GOLD – Nicholas Santos (BRA) – 22.83
• SILVER – Michael Andrew (USA) – 23.14

42-year-old Nicholas Santos is still defying age, tearing to a 22.83 to win the 50 fly over Michael Andrew, who was competing in his 3rd race of the night. Santos’ swim was exactly 0.10 seconds off the 22.73 he swam at the Brazil Swimming Trophy, which stands as the #2 time in the world this year. Andrew has been 22.87 already this year.

WOMEN’S 50 FLY – FINALS

• GOLD – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 25.26
• SILVER – Farida Osman (EGY) – 25.87

In her first of two finals tonight, superstar Sarah Sjostrom swam a 25.26 to handily beat out Farida Osman in the 50 fly. For Osman, the swim of 25.87 marks a season best, bringing her to #9 in the world this year. Sjostrom’s time was jsut off the 25.03 she swam at the Stockholm Open in April.

MEN’S 50 BACK – FINALS

• GOLD – Pieter Coetze (RSA) – 24.81
• SILVER – Yohann Ndoye-Brouard – 24.96

South Africa has had a fantastic day at this meet, as Pieter Coetze picked up his 2nd Gold medal of the session. Coetze clocked a 24.81 in the 50 back, which ties him for 12th in the world this year. In a rematch of the 200 back earlier in the session, France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard was right with him, swimming a 24.96.

WOMEN’S 50 BACK – FINALS

• GOLD – Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 27.63
• SILVER – Mimosa Jallow (FIN) – 27.88

After winning the 100 back earlier in the session, Canada’s Ingrid Wilm posted a 27.63 to win the 50 back, putting herself 10th in the world this year. Mimosa Jallow took 2nd in a new season best of 27.88.

MEN’S 50 BREAST – FINALS

• GOLD – Joao Gomes (BRA) – 27.10
• SILVER – Arno Kamminga (NED) – 27.19
• BRONZE – Lucas Matzerath (GER) – 27.23

In the only 3-person 50 final of the day, Brazil’s Joao Gomes swam a 27.10 to win the 50 breast over 100 breast champion Arno Kamminga. Gomes has been 26.62 already this year, a time which he swam at the Brazil Trophy in April.

WOMEN’S 50 BREAST – FINALS

• GOLD – Lara Van Niekerk (RSA) – 29.90
• SILVER – Sophie Hansson (SWE) – 30.93

Lara Van Niekerk continues to be a force in women’s breaststroke, swimming under 30 seconds again in the 50 breast. She handily beat Sophie Hansson, touching 1.03 seconds ahead of her. With the swim, Niekerk also broke the Monaco Mare Nostrum Record in the event. The overall Mare Nostrum Record is a 29.88 from Ruta Meilutyte in 2015.

MEN’S 50 FREE – FINALS

• GOLD – Bruno Fratus (BRA) – 21.49
• SILVER – Thom de Boer (NED) – 21.70

Bruno Fratus roared to a new season best of 21.49, winning Gold in the 50 free tonight. The swim lands the Tokyo 2020 Bronze medalist at 3rd in the year this year. Additionally, the swim was faster than the 21.57 seconds Fratus swam to win Bronze in tokyo. Thom de Boer also clocked a season best for 2nd tonight.

WOMEN’S 50 FREE – FINALS

• GOLD – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 24.08
• SILVER – Geertruida Van Roon (NED) – 24.90

Sarah Sjostrom bettered the 24.11 she swam in semifinals, getting into the wall for Gold tonight with a 24.08. Impressively, the swim came shortly after Sjostrom won the 50 fly in 25.26. It also marks the #2 performance in the world this year, behind only China’s Liu Xiang. Geertruida Van Roon significantly bettered her semifinals time, dipping under 25 seconds for a 24.90 and a Silver medal.