2022 Short Course World Champs: Day 5 Finals Live Recap

2022 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 5 Finals Heat Sheets

The fifth finals session of the 2022 SC World Champs in Melbourne will feature finals of the 4×50 medley relays, 400 IM, 800 free, and 50 free. There will also be semifinals of the 100 fly and 50 breast.

Jordan Crooks could make history tonight in the men’s 50 free final. Crooks clocked a 20.31 in semifinals last night, leading the field by a wide margin. His semifinals time was just 0.15 seconds off the World Record in the event, so it feels like Crooks could make a run at that mark tonight.

Similarly, the race between Emma McKeon and Katarzyna Wasick in the women’s 50 free final should be a thriller. Wasick has been phenomenal in the event all fall, while McKeon has already split 22.6 and 22.7 on relays at this meet.

Gregorio Paltrinieri won the men’s 1500 earlier in the meet and comes into the men’s 800 free as the top seed tonight.

WOMEN’S 4×50 MEDLEY RELAY

  • World Record: 1:42.38 – United States, 2018/Sweden, 2021
  • Championship Record: 1:42.38 – United States, 2018/Sweden, 2021
  • 2021 Champion: 1:42.38 – Sweden

RESULTS:

  1. GOLD: Australia – 1:42.35 (World Record)
  2. SILVER: United States – 1:42.41
  3. BRONZE: Sweden – 1:42.43
  4. Canada – 1:43.56
  5. Netherlands – 1:43.72
  6. France – 1:43.96
  7. Japan – 1:45.29
  8. Czech Republic – 1:46.40

As has been the case throughout the week, another relay World Record has gone down. It was an incredibly tight race between Australia, the USA, and Sweden at the top, with the Aussies finishing just 0.06 seconds ahead of the US and 0.08 seconds ahead of Sweden.

Australia got out to a great start, as Mollie O’Callaghan led off in a new Canadian women’s 50 back record of 25.49, which was also the fastest backstroke split in the field. Chelsea Hodges then split 29.11 on breast, Emma McKeon was 24.43 on fly, and Madi Wilson anchored in 23.32.

The American touched just off their own World Record mark, fueled in large part by a 22.72 anchor split from Kate Douglass. Claire Curzan was solid on the lead-off, splitting 25.75, while Torri Huske provided a 24.94 fly split. Lilly King clocked a 29.00 on the breast leg for the Americans.

Sweden, who shared the previous WR with the US, was fueled by a scorching 24.06 fly split from Sara Junevik, which was by far the fastest fly split in the field.

MEN’S 4×50 MEDLEY RELAY

  • World Record: 1:30.14 – Italy, 2021
  • Championship Record: 1:30.51 – Brazil, 2014/RSF, 2021
  • 2021 Champion: 1:30.51 – RSF

RESULTS:

  1. GOLD: Italy – 1:29.72
  2. SILVER: United States – 1:30.37
  3. BRONZE: Australia – 1:30.81
  4. Japan – 1:31.28
  5. France – 1:31.41
  6. Germany – 1:31.79
  7. China – 1:33.13
  8. Netherlands – 1:33.43

Yet another relay World Record went down tonight, as the Italians were on fire, breaking 1:30 for the first time ever in the 4×50 medley relay. Lorenzo Mora was great on the lead-off, splitting 22.65, then Nicolo Martinenghi was 24.95 on breast, Matteo Rivolta was 21.60 on fly, and Leonardo Deplano anchored in 20.52. Rivolta and Martinenghi’s splits were the fastest in the field in their strokes.

The Americans came in second, clocking a 1:30.37, which was also under the previous Championship Record. Ryan Murphuy (22.61), Nic Fink (25.24), Shaine Casas (22.13), and Michael Andrew (20.39) teamed up for a new American Record in the event.

Australia’s Isaac Cooper led off in 22.66, then Grayson Bell split 25.92, Matthew Temple split 21.75 on fly, and Kyle Chalmers anchored in 20.48. The Aussies’ 1:30.81 marks a new Oceanic Record in the event.

Japan came in fourth tonight, swimming a 1:31.28. That time marks a new Asian Record in the event.

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

  • World Record: 7:23.42, Grant Hackett (AUS), 2008
  • Championship Record: N/A
  • World Junior Record: 7:36.00

RESULTS:

  1. GOLD: Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy) – 7:29.99 (Championship Record)
  2. SILVER: Henrik Christiansen (Norway) – 7:31.48
  3. Logan Fontaine (France) – 7:33.12
  4. Shogo Takeda (Japan) – 7:33.78
  5. David Johnston (United States) – 7:34.33
  6. Joris Bouchaut (France) – 7:35.12
  7. Marwan El-Kamash (Egypt) – 7:36.01
  8. Charlie Clark (United States) – 7:37.54

Gregorio Paltrinieri set the Championship Record, albeit kind of by default, en route to winning the men’s 800 free tonight. Paltrinieri swam a 7:29.99 after getting out to an early lead. He never really pulled away from eventual silver medalist Henrik Christiansen, who stayed within two seconds of the leader throughout the race. Paltrinieri also negative split the race, going 3:45.81 on the first 400, then coming home in 3:44.18.

Christiansen has had a very good week here in Melbourne, having won two silver medals. He also negative split the race tonight, going 3:46.52 on the first 400m, then coming home in 3:44.96.

France’s Logan Fontaine grabbed the bronze medal with a 7:33.12. France had the best performance in terms of both their swimmers, as Joris Bouchaut came in sixth with a 7:35.12.

Japan’s Shogo Takeda clocked a personal best of 7:33.78 for fourth, finishing just off the podium. The does, however, mark a new Asian Record in the event.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

  1. Torri Huske (United States) – 55.23
  2. Louise Hansson (Sweden) -55.78
  3. Maggie MacNeil (Canada) – 55.83
  4. Angelina Kohler (Germany) – 56.23
  5. Claire Curzan (United States) – 56.37
  6. Alexandria Perkins (Australia) – 56.39
  7. Maaike de Waard (Netherlands) – 56.40
  8. Katerine Savard (Canada) – 56.44

American Torri Huske led semifinals of the women’s 100 fly by half a second, clocking a 55.23. Huske was out fast, as she’s prone to doing, splitting 25.48 on the first 50 of the race.

Huske’s teammate at Stanford University, Claire Curzan, also qualified for the final, posting a 56.37 for the fifth-fastest time in the field. Curzan is notably the World Junior Record holder in the event with a 55.39.

Sweden’s Louise Hansson swam a 55.78 for second, while Maggie MacNeil clocked a 55.83 for third. MacNeil and Huske notably tied for gold in the women’s 50 fly earlier in the meet. MacNeil also won the women’s 50 back in a new World Record last night.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

  • World Record: 47.78, Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2020
  • World Junior Record: 49.53, Li Zhuhao (CHN), 2017
  • Championship Record: 48.08, Chad le Clos (RSA), 2016
  • 2021 Champion: 48.87, Matteo Rivolta (ITA)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

  1. Chad le Clos (South Africa) – 48.98
  2. Matteo Rivolta (Italy) – 49.07 (Tie)
  3. Noe Ponti (Switzerland) – 49.07 (Tie)
  4. Marius Kusch (Germany) – 49.20
  5. Ilya Kharun (Canada) – 49.65
  6. Simon Bucher (Austria) – 49.72
  7. Matthew Temple (Australia) – 49.73
  8. Youssef Ramadan (Egypt) – 49.79

Chad le Clos touched in 48.98 to lead the field in the men’s 100 fly semifinal tonight. Le Clos was out the fastest tonight, splitting 22.66 on the first 50. Le Clos holds the Championship Record at 48.08, a time which he swam back in 2016.

Matteo Rivolta and Noe Ponti tied for second tonight, swimming 49.07s.

Ilya Kharun was fifth with a 49.65, touching just off the World Junior Record of 49.53.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – FINALS

  • World Record: 4:18.94 – Mireia Belmonte (ESP), 2017
  • World Junior Record: 4:21.49, Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2022
  • Championship Record: 4:19.86, Mireia Belmonte (ESP), 2014
  • 2021 Champion: 4:25.55, Tessa Ciepulcha (CAN)

RESULTS:

  1. GOLD: Hali Flickinger (United States) – 4:26.51
  2. SILVER: Sara Franceschi (Italy) – 4:28.58
  3. BRONZE: Waka Kobori (Japan) – 4:29.03
  4. Leah Smith (United States) – 4:29.18
  5. Zsuzsanna Jakabos (Hungary) – 4:32.10
  6. Cyrielle Duhamel (France) – 4:32.40
  7. Ilaria Cusinato (Italy) – 4:32.68
  8. Tessa Cieplucha (Canada) – DQ

Hali Flickinger won her first individual World title of her career, speeding to a 4:26.51 to win gold in the women’s 400 IM. Flickinger left no doubt, leading the race wire-to-wire. She established a big lead on the fly leg, splitting 1:00.06, which was over two seconds faster than everyone else in the field. Flickinger actually expanded her lead on the backstroke leg as well.

Italy’s Sara Franceschi was sitting in third and fourth through the first half of the race, then moved into second on the breast leg. She was able to maintain her position through the freestyle leg, winning the silver medal.

Waka Kobori grabbed the bronze medal, swimming a 4:29.03.

The U.S. nearly got two swimmers on the podium, as Leah Smith swam a 4:29.18 for fourth place. Smith was the fastest swimmer in the field on the final 100, splitting 59.82, but she fell just short of winning a medal.

MEN’S 400 IM – FINALS

  • World Record: 3:54.81 – Daiya Seto (JPN), 2019
  • World Junior Record: 3:56.47, Ilya Borodin (RSF), 2021
  • Championship Record: 3:55.50, Ryan Lochte (USA), 2010
  • 2021 Champion: 3:56.26, Daiya Seto (JPN)

RESULTS:

  1. GOLD: Daiya Seto (Japan) – 3:55.75
  2. SILVER: Carson Foster (United States) – 3:57.63
  3. BRONZE: Matt Sates (South Africa) – 3:59.21
  4. Alberto Razzetti (Italy) – 4:00.45
  5. So Ogata (Japan) – 4:02.21
  6. Jake Foster (United States) – 4:02.51
  7. David Schlicht (Australia) – 4:04.33
  8. Richard Nagy (Slovakia) – 4:05.57

Japan’s Daiya Seto has been great this week in Melbourne, picking up another gold medal tonight, this time in the men’s 400 IM. Seto narrowly missed Ryan Lochte’s Championship Record of 3:55.50, which has stood since 2010. Seto, Carson Foster, and Matt Sates were trading the lead throughout the first half of the race, then Seto, the 200 breast gold medalist, pulled away with the race on the breast leg.

Foster won silver while Sates took bronze.

Italy’s Alberto Razzetti was in fourth for nearly the entire race, ending up firmly in fourth at the finish.

Jake Foster, Carson’s brother, came in sixth with a 4:02.51.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

  • World Record: 28.56, Alia Atkinson (JAM), 2018
  • World Junior Record: 28.81, Benedetta Pilato (ITA), 2020
  • Championship Record: 28.81, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2014
  • 2021 Champion: 29.34, Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

  1. Ruta Meilutyte (Lithuania) – 28.37 (World Record)
  2. Lilly King (United States) – 28.86
  3. Lara van Niekerk (South Africa) – 29.27
  4. Tang Qianting (China) – 29.28
  5. Imogen Clark (Great Britain) – 29.30
  6. Benedetta Pilato (Italy) – 29.42
  7. Anna Elendt (Germany) – 29.52
  8. Veera Kivirinta (Finland) – 29.80

After getting DQ’d in the women’s 100 breast final the other night, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte came back with a vengeance, speeding to a new World Record of 28.37. She also led semifinals by a massive margin, touching 0.49 seconds ahead of Lilly King, who was the second-fastest swimmer in semis.

King was also just off the Championship Record of 28.81, swimming a 28.86. Notably, Benedetta Pilato was the Championship Record holder as well as the World Junior Record holder, and came in sixth tonight with a 29.42.

Lara van Niekerk swam a 29.27, setting a new African Record. Similarly, Tang Qianting was fourth with a 29.28, breaking the Asian Record in the event.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

  • World Record: 24.95, Emri Sakci (TUR), 2021
  • World Junior Record: 25.85, Simone Cerasuolo (ITA), 2021
  • Championship Record: 25.41, Cameron van der Burgh (RSA), 2018
  • 2021 Champion: 25.53, Nic Fink (USA)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

  1. Nicolo Martinenghi (Italy) – 25.60
  2. Nic Fink (United States) – 25.64
  3. Simone Cerasuolo (Italy) – 25.66
  4. Yan Zibei (China) – 25.80
  5. Michael Andrew (United States) – 25.81 (Tie)
  6. Qin Haiyang (China) – 25.81 (Tie)
  7. Adam Peaty (Great Britain) – 25.85
  8. Huseyin Sakci (Turkey) – 26.04

The men’s 50 breast semifinals were very tight, seeing Nicolo Martinenghi, Nic Fink, and Simone Cerasuolo all finish within 0.06 seconds of each other. Of note, Italy is set up very well for tomorrow’s final, as they’ll have two swimmers racing in the middle of the pool. Martinenghi also split 24.95 on the 4×50 medley relay at the beginning of the session tonight, which ties the World Record in the men’s 50 breast.

With the top three all swimming 25.6s tonight, the Championship Record of 25.41 could be in jeopardy tomorrow night.

China’s Yan Zibei swam a personal best of 25.80 for fourth tonight, marking a new Chinese Record, as well as a new Asian Record.

World Record holder Huseyin Sakci nearly missed the final, finishing eighth tonight with a 26.04. It was an off swim for Sakci, whose World Recor of 24.95 was set last December.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FREESTYLE – FINALS

  • World Record: 22.93 – Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 2017
  • World Junior Record: 23.69 – Anastasiya Shkurdai (BLR), 2020
  • Championship Record: 23.08 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2021 checked
  • 2021 Champion: 23.08 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE)

RESULTS:

  1. GOLD: Emma McKeon (Australia) – 23.04 (Championship Record)
  2. SILVER: Katarzyna Wasick (Poland) – 23.55
  3. BRONZE: Anna Hopkin (Great Britain) – 23.68
  4. Julie Jensen (Denmark) – 23.71
  5. Michelle Coleman (Sweden) – 23.72
  6. Meg Harris (Australia) – 23.73
  7. Erika Brown (United States) – 23.76
  8. Melanie Henique (France) – 23.90

Emma McKeon ended up winning this race handily, speeding to a new personal best of 23.04. Not only did McKeon touch first by 0.51 seconds, she set a new Championship Record and a new Oceanic Record in the process.

Katarzyna Wasick had a bit of a down performance, taking second in 23.55. She just didn’t have the same speed as McKeon from the start, flipping at the 25m turn 0.26 seconds behind McKeon.

Great Britain’s Anna Hopkin rounded out the podium with a 23.68, leading a very tight field of finishers from fourth-eighth.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

  • World Record: 20.16 – Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2020
  • World Junior Record: 20.98 – Kenzo Simons (NED), 2019
  • Championship Record: 20.26 – Florent Manaudou (FRA), 2014
  • 2021 Champion: 20.45 – Benjamin Proud (GBR)

RESULTS:

  1. GOLD: Jordan Crooks (Cayman Islands) – 20.46
  2. SILVER: Ben Proud (Great Britain) – 20.49
  3. BRONZE: Dylan Carter (Trinidad & Tobago) – 20.72
  4. Szebasztian Szabo (Hungary) – 20.84
  5. Maxime Grousset (France) – 20.90
  6. Florent Manaudou (France) – 20.91
  7. Kyle Chalmers (Australia) – 20.92
  8. Lewis Burras (Great Britain) – 20.95

Jordan Crooks was a touch off his semifinals performance of 20.31, but he managed to get his hand on the wall first tonight. The gold medal marks the first World Championships medal for the Cayman Islands.

Ben Proud and Crooks were tied at the 25m turn, then Crooks edged Proud slightly on the second length. Proud still put together a good swim, taking second in 20.49.

Dylan Carter won another medal for himself, touching third in 20.72.

100 free gold medalist Kyle Chalmers was seventh tonight in 20.92.

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Boxall's Railing
1 year ago

Huske splits 24.9 and then takes out her 100 fly in 25.4 later in the session. C’mon, you have to figure out how to put together your exchange/swim for the relays!

Elle
1 year ago

Who is the male FINA TV commentator that interviews the swimmers after the races?

Coco
Reply to  Elle
1 year ago

John Mason

anon
1 year ago

If something like ISL comes back… how fun would a 4 round SKINS 4X50 MR be where every swimmer has to swim each stroke once

Do underdogs go optimal strokes first to knock a favorite out? The strategy would be so fun

Last edited 1 year ago by anon
Swimmer.thingz
Reply to  anon
1 year ago

Really interesting idea!!

Waterbear13
Reply to  anon
1 year ago

I don’t think there would be any strategy at all. The differential between the strokes is too much to overcome. Everyone would just swim Fr/Fly/Bk/Br in that order. There is no one capable of reliably making it out of the first round swimming fly/bk against freestylers. Similarly the dive is too big an advantage of Fly vs. Bk and no one will ever swim breast outside the last round. Perhaps a random drawing dictating the order for the field could be interesting. But that just creates a “random handicap.”

The only “strategy” may be if instead of SKINS it was perhaps a cumulative time of 4×50 each stroke and you were hoping to catch a good draft on a… Read more »

anon
Reply to  Waterbear13
1 year ago

I meant each individual round is a 4X50 MR. You keep the same 4 swimmers and compile a different ordered 4X50 each round with the constraint that each swimmer has to swim a different leg

Last edited 1 year ago by anon
TribeFan
1 year ago

Announcers dis’d US women on slow relay exchanges in the 2medley. Fact check….exchanges were within .04 of the Aussies in aggregate. And they have all the data available.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  TribeFan
1 year ago

Women’s 4 x 50 meter medley relay
Relay exchange reaction times
SWE – 0.29
NED – 0.41
FRA – 0.60
JPN – 0.62
CAN – 0.69
CZE – 0.70
AUS – 0.83
USA – 0.87

The USA was dead last in the relay exchange reaction times.

Meathead
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

America needs to hire a coach to focus on this

Awsi Dooger
Reply to  Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

I still don’t understand that result. One of the strangest of the week. When I saw the lineup I was certain that was a world record by a half second or more, especially with Douglass anchoring. Then as the race played out instead of anticipated ferocity they were seemingly stuck on the blocks, and not firing hard once they reached the water. Douglass did great. Curzan wasn’t bad. I think she overachieved a little bit in 50 backstroke. Huske was the shocker. That’s one relay record that will still be very soft exiting Melbourne.

Troyy
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

And what a great ferocity Mollie brought to this relay !

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

Tokyo 2021 Olympics
Women’s 4 x 100 meter medley relay
Relay exchange reaction times

AUS – 0.49
JPN – 0.64
CAN – 0.66
ROC – 0.80
ITA – 0.87
SWE – 0.94
CHN – 0.95
USA – 1.05

So much for lessons learned from the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.

Talk about deja vu.

Last edited 1 year ago by Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
McG
1 year ago

Am I the only one who prefers watching SC meters to LCM? It’s more exciting to watch. I’ve really enjoyed these SC Worlds.

Scotty
Reply to  McG
1 year ago

Lol no

Steve Nolan
Reply to  McG
1 year ago

Not on this stream! It’s just a pile of pixels in most races 100m and down.

Bob
Reply to  McG
1 year ago

Yes..you are the only person who prefers sc meters to LCM.

McG
Reply to  Bob
1 year ago

I guess. Maybe I’m biased since I always hated LCM as a swimmer.

Islandgirl
Reply to  McG
1 year ago

agree!!!

Landen
Reply to  McG
1 year ago

Don’t get the hate this comment got- I fully agree

uwk
1 year ago

Dylan Carter for bronze! So happy for him

PFA
1 year ago

I think it is about safe to make this call now. Unless someone at their National meet breaks Hackett’s WR I think his record is set to become the oldest WR in history by next summer. While it’s also older then Phelps 4 IM record, it’s more likely that record will go down first at this point. Either way Grant Hackett has another longevity record to his name.

Riccardo
Reply to  PFA
1 year ago

Should be Thorpe’s 400. That record going down by .01 still feels unjust.

Last edited 1 year ago by Riccardo
Matteo
Reply to  Riccardo
1 year ago

What’s interesting is that if it were not for the supersuits, Hackett would hold the oldest world record for that event regardless. His 2001 mark of 7:25.28 still hasn’t been beaten with regular suits.

Sub13
Reply to  Matteo
1 year ago

And ironically it was only beaten by Hackett himself in a suit. He robbed himself of having the longest standing WR of all time by an extremely large margin.

Meathead
1 year ago

I’d like to start off saying TH and LK have had outstanding meets, truly great swimming. With that said, we gotta fix these relay starts. Both TH and LK swam faster in individual 50’s (24.9 vs 24.6 for TH, 29.0 vs. 28.8 for LK)

Relay starts should be .5-1.0 of improvement.

I’ve done a lot of thinking on this…might simply come down to not everyone can pull off a start where the sequence is one foot on wedge, with the other behind it, hop over the wedge and go.

Go back to the 1980’s, before step up starts existed. People would do 2 feet up, and drop time from their individual flat start times. Step up starts were… Read more »

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Meathead
1 year ago

Am I the only one that’s not a fan of this initial thing taking over the comments?? Someone was talking about “KD” the other day and I legit never figured out who it was.

(It was Kate Douglass.)

Bo Swims
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Lol – Canadians be like KD=Kraft Dinner 😂

Awsi Dooger
Reply to  Steve Nolan
1 year ago

Initials are slop

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Meathead
1 year ago

There is a difference between a relay start and relay exchanges. The issue is not relay starts but relay exchanges. The blame lies with the coaching staff. It’s called practice, practice, practice! This issue stems back to the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.