2022 Short Course World Champs: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2022 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Tuesday, December 13 to Sunday, December 18, 2022
• Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre, Melbourne, Australia
• SCM (25m)
• Prize Money
• Meet Site
• Meet Schedule
• How To Watch
• Meet Roster Index
• Psych Sheets (Updated)
• Live Results

DAY 1 FINALS HEAT SHEET

The first finals session of the 2022 Short Course World Championships will feature finals of the women’s 400 free, men’s and women’s 200 IM, men’s 1500 free, and men’s and women’s 4×100 free relay alongside semifinals of the 50 fly and 100 back.

After a fantastic prelims performance, New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather heads into the final of the women’s 400 free as the top seed. With World Record holder Li Bingjie pulling out of the event, the lane is clear for Fairweather to earn her first world title. She’ll be pushed by Australia’s Lani Pallister and the United States’ Erin Gemmell.

American Kate Douglass led prelims of the women’s 200 IM with a 2:04.39. It sounds sort of crazy, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Douglass, or her teammate Alex Walsh, take a stab at the World Record of 2:01.86 tonight.

Daiya Seto (Japan) was the top swimmer in prelims of the men’s 200 IM, followed closely by the USA’s Carson Foster.

WOMEN’S 400M FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 3:51.30 – Li Bingjie, CHN (2022)
• World Junior Record: 3:52.80 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2022)
• Championship Record: 3:53.92 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2018)
• 2021 Champion: 3:55.83 – Li Bingjie

PODIUM:

1. GOLD: Lani Pallister (Australia) – 3:55.04
2. SILVER: Erika Fairweather (New Zealand) – 3:56.00
3. BRONZE: Leah Smith (USA) – 3:59.78
4. Miyu Namba (Japan) – 4:01.13
5. Katja Fain (Slovenia) – 4:01.46
6. Erin Gemmell (USA) – 4:01.82
7. Waka Kobori (Japan) – 4:02.14
8. Leah Neale (Australia) – 4:03.45

After leading prelims, Erika Fairweather established the early lead in tonight’s final, staying just a tiny bit ahead of Lani Pallister through the first 250m. Fairweather and Pallister separated themselves from the rest of the field early on and they would continue to separate through the back half.

Pallister inched ahead of Fairweather early in the back half of the race, then really began to open up a lead on the final 100. In the end, the race came down to that last 100, where Pallister split 58.57 to Fairweather’s 59.33.

For both Pallister and Fairweather, the swims marked lifetime bests. Fairweather is now closing in on the New Zealand Record of 3:55.16, which is held by Lauren Boyle. Additionally, this marks Fairweather’s first World Champs medal of her career. This also marks Pallister’s first individual World Championships gold medal of her career.

Leah Smith ended up winning the bronze medal, working her way into third place right around the middle of the race, and holding that position through the finish. This bronze marks Smith’s sixth SC World Championships medal of her career, and her 13th overall World Championships medal.

WOMEN’S 50M BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 24.38 – Therese Alshammar, SWE (2009)
• World Junior Record: 24.55 – Claire Curzan, USA (2021)
• Championship Record: 24.44 – Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED (2021)
• 2021 Champion: 24.44 – Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Maggie MacNeil (Canada) – 24.78
2. Zhang Yufei (China) – 24.79
3. Torri Huske (USA) – 24.86
4. Maaike de Waard (Netherlands) – 24.92
5. Melanie Henique (France) – 24.92
6. Claire Curzan (USA) – 24.96
7. Beryl Gastaldello (France) – 25.06
8. Sara Junevik (Sweden) – 25.13

In a very tight semifinal of the women’s 50 fly, there were six swimmers under 25 seconds, setting up what should be a fantastic final. Canada’s Maggie MacNeil clocked a 24.78 to lead the field, finishing just 0.03 seconds off her personal best, which also stands as the Canadian Record.

China’s Zhang Yufei was 0.01 second behind MacNeil, taking the second seed for finals with a 24.79. Coincidentally, Yufei’s personal best is the same as MacNeil’s, 24.75. Her personal best is also the Chinese Record in the event. That being said, we’ll be on record watch for those two tonight.

American Torri Huske clipped her personal best of 24.88, taking third this morning in 24.86. Fellow American Claire Curzan, the World Junior Record holder (24.55) and American Record holder (24.55), also made the final, swimming a 24.96 for sixth place.

Placing 11th was Kiwi Helena Gasson, who set a new New Zealand National Record in a time of 25.38, lowering her previous mark of 25.50 set in August 2021.

MEN’S 50M BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 21.75 – Nicholas Santos, BRA (2018)
• World Junior Record: 22.34 – Andrei Minakov, RUS (2020)
• Championship Record: 21.81 – Nicholas Santos, BRA (2018)
• 2021 Champion: 21.93 – Nicholas Santos, BRA

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Szebasztian Szabo (Hungary) – 21.90
2. Dylan Carter (Trinidad & Tobago) – 22.02
3. Noe Ponti (Switzerland) – 22.04
4. Nicholas Santos (Brazil) – 22.08
5. Chad le Clos (South Africa) – 22.09
6. Marius Kusch (Germany) – 22.14
7. Tzen Wei Teong (Singapore) – 22.18
8. Ilya Kharun (Canada) – 22.28 (WJR) (swim-off required)
9. Daniel Zaitsev (Estonia) – 22.28 (swim-off required)

Szebasztian Szabo was the only swimmer to dip under 22 seconds tonight, claiming the top seed for tomorrow’s final with a 21.90. It’s a great semifinals swim for Szabo, who shares the World Record with Nicholas Santos at 21.75. Speaking of Santos, the 42-year-old veteran made it through to the final, swimming a 22.08 for fourth place. Santos has indicated that these World Championships will be his final meet before retiring from competitive swimming. He got the job done this morning, setting himself up with a great opportunity at a medal and maybe even a title tomorrow night.

Dylan Carter has been swimming very well all year, and carried that momentum into this fall. He swam a 22.02 for second this morning, putting himself right in the middle of the pool tomorrow for the final. Noe Ponti was right behind Carter.

Ilya Kharun, who trains in the USA but represents Canada internationally now, broke the WJR with a 22.28. Though he broke the WJR, Kharun isn’t yet guaranteed a spot in the final, as he tied Estonia’s Daniel Zaitsev for eighth tonight. The pair will have a swim-off later in the session to determine who will advance to the final tomorrow night.

Zaitsev’s performance also marks an Estonian Record in the event.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINALS

• World Record: 2:01.86 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2014)
• World Junior Record: 2:04.48 – Yu Yiting, CHN (2021)
• Championship Record: 2:01.86 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2014)
• 2021 Champion: 2:04.29 – Sydney Pickrem, CAN

PODIUM:

1. GOLD: Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:02.12
2. SILVER: Alex Walsh (USA) – 2:03.37
3. BRONZE: Kaylee McKeown (Australia) – 2:03.57
4. Marrit Steenbergen (Netherlands) – 2:04.94
5. Sydney Pickrem (Canada) – 2:05.22
6. Abbie Wood (Great Britain) – 2:07.28
7. Charlotte Bonnet (France) – 2:07.37
8. Sara Franceschi (Italy) – 2:09.76

It was a 1-2 finish for the Americans in the women’s 200 IM, led by Kate Douglass, who made a ferocious run at the World Record of 2:01.86. Douglass wasted no time at all, getting out to a half-second lead on the fly leg. Alex Walsh took over the lead on backstroke, but Douglass reclaimed the lead on breaststroke, then blew the race open on the final 50 of the race.

For Douglass, the swim marks an American Record, as well as an All-Comers Record. Additionally, Douglass is now the #2 performer all-time in the event. Walsh’s swim marks a new personal best.

Australia’s Kaylee McKeown was marvelous as well, cracking the Oceanic Record in a new personal best of 2:03.57. She was phenomenal on backstroke, splitting a 30.50. She also came home very well, clocking a 29.69 on the final 50.

Taking fourth was Marrit Steenbergen, who broke the Dutch Record for the second time on the day in a time of 2:04.94, improving on her 2:06.01 showing from the prelims.

Prior to Steenbergen’s morning swim, the National Record belonged to Femke Heemskerk at 2:06.69, set in 2014.

MEN’S 200 IM – FINALS

• World Record: 1:49.63 – Ryan Lochte, USA (2012)
• World Junior Record: 1:51.45 – Matthew Sates, RSA (2021)
• Championship Record: 1:49.63 – Ryan Lochte, USA (2012)
• 2021 Champion: 1:51.15 – Seto Daiya, JPN

PODIUM:

1. GOLD: Matt Sates (South Africa) – 1:50.15
2. SILVER: Carson Foster (USA) – 1:50.96
3. BRONZE: Finlay Knox (Canada) – 1:51.04
4. Shaine Casas (USA) – 1:51.31
5. Daiya Seto (Japan) – 1:51.39
6. Alberto Razzetti (Italy) – 1:51.73
7. Clyde Lewis (Australia) – 1:53.19
8. So Ogata (Japan) – 1:53.40

Matt Sates was electric tonight in the men’s 200 IM, swimming a blistering 1:50.15 to win the race by nearly a second. As he’s prone to do, Sates took the race over on the back half. This time, it was breaststroke, where Sates threw down a 31.70 to pull into the lead. He wouldn’t look back from that point, speeding into the finish.

The swim also marks an African Record for Sates and makes him the #2 performer all-time in the event.

Carson Foster had a great swim for silver, putting up a formidable 27.26 on the backstroke leg, which he used to propel himself to a second-place finish.

Finlay Knox took third with a 1:51.04, blowing away his personal best in the event. Knox’s personal best was a 1:52.32 and also stood as the Canadian Record in the event. That means Knox just shattered his own national record by 1.28 seconds.

WOMEN’S 100M BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 54.89 – Minna Atherton, AUS (2019)
• World Junior Record: 55.75 – Bella Sims, USA (2022)
• Championship Record: 55.03 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2014)
• 2021 Champion: 55.20 – Louise Hansson, SWE

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Mollie O’Callaghan (Australia) – 55.80
2. Ingrid Wilm (Canada) – 55.92
3. Claire Curzan (USA) – 56.08
4. Louise Hansson (Sweden) – 56.08
5. Kylie Masse (Canada) – 56.13
6. Kaylee McKeown (Australia) – 56.35
7. Isabelle Stadden (USA) 56.45
8. Kira Toussaint (Netherlands) – 56.54

In a very tight women’s 100 back semifinal, there was only 0.74 seconds separating 1st from 8th. Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan swam a 55.80 to lead the field, closing fast as she always does. Canada’s Ingrid Wilm was right behind O’Callaghan, finishing as the only other swimmer in the field under 56 seconds.

Of note, Kaylee McKeown was in this semifinal, only having about a ten-minute turnaround between her Oceanic Record performance in the 200 IM final and her 100 back. She still managed to get the job done, clocking a 56.35 for sixth-place and a spot in the final tomorrow night. That was a huge performance for McKeown, who in the last year or so has frequently scratched races at big meets in order to focus on other race. Tonight she pulled off the double and a very tough one at that.

Claire Curzan finished third with a 56.08 in her second race of the session as well.

Australia, Canada, and the USA all had two swimmers advance to the final.

MEN’S 100M BACKSTROKE – SEMIFNALS

• World Record: 48.33 – Coleman Stewart, USA (2021)
• World Junior Record: 48.90 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2017)
• Championship Record: 48.95 – Stanislav Donetc, RUS (2010)
• 2021 Champion: 49.23 – Shaine Casas, USA

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Ryan Murphy (USA) – 49.17
2. Kacper Stokowski (Poland) – 49.33
3. Lorenzo Mora (Italy) – 49.57
4. Apostolos Christou (Greece) – 49.66
5. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (France) – 49.78
6. Pieter Coetze (South Africa) – 49.85
7. Isaac Alan Cooper (Australia) – 50.01
8. Mewen Tomac (France) – 50.01

Ryan Murphy looked great in tonight’s semifinal, speeding to a 49.17 for the top seed for tonight’s final. That time would have won gold in the 2021 final (with none of the top four from that race qualifying for this year’s final).

18-year-old Pieter Coetze came in sixth this morning, swimming a 49.85. That marks a new African Record in the event, which is the second African Record to fall tonight. Also of note, both African Records tonight were set by teenagers.

Greece’s Apostolos Christou swam a 49.66, taking fourth this morning. His swim marks a new Greek Record in the event.

MEN’S 1500M FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS

• World Record: 14:06.88 – Florian Wellbrock, GER (2021)
• World Junior Record: 14:27.78 – Gregorio Paltrinieri, ITA (2012)
• Championship Record: 14:06.88 – Florian Wellbrock, GER (2021)
• 2021 Champion: 14:06.88 – Florian Wellbrock, GER (2021)

PODIUM:

1. GOLD: Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy) – 14:16.88
2. SILVER: Damien Joly (France) – 14:19.62
3. BRONZE: Henrik Christiansen (Norway) – 14:24.08
4. Shogo Takeda (Japan) – 14:25.95
5. Logan Fontaine (France) – 14:27.90
6. Daniel Jervis (Great Britain) – 14:30.47
7. Charlie Clark (USA) – 14:33.93
8. David Johnston (USA) – 14:35.27

Gregorio Paltrinieri clocked a 14:16.88 to win the 1500 free tonight. This marks Paltrinieri’s fifth SC World Champs medal of his career and his second gold medal. Interestingly, all five of Paltrinieri’s SC Worlds medals have come in the 1500. This also marks Paltrinieri’s 17th World Champs medal when we include LC World Champs.

Damien Joly cracked the French Record en route to a silver medal. His 14:19.62 took five seconds off the previous record. His performance also marks his first World Champs medal of his career, LC or SC.

Henrik Christiansen grabbed a bronze medal with a 14:24.08. This is Christiansen’s third SC World Champs medal of his career.

Japan’s Shogo Takeda was fourth with a 14:25.95. With that swim, Takeda broke his own Japanese Record in the event.

WOMEN’S 4X100M FREESTYLE RELAY – FINALS

• World Record: 3:26.53 – Netherlands (2014)
• World Junior Record: 3:32.63 – Benchmark
• Championship Record: 3:26.53 – Netherlands (2014)
• 2021 Champion: 3:28.52 – Canada/United States

PODIUM:

1. GOLD: Australia – 3:25.43 (WR)
2. SILVER: United States – 3:26.29
3. BRONZE: Canada – 3:28.06
4. Sweden – 3:29.35
5. Netherlands – 3:29.59
6. China – 3:29.96
7. Great Britain – 3:33.47
8. Japan – 3:34.78

As expected, the Australians were phenomenal on this relay, shattering the World Record by over a second. Emma McKeon was heroic on the anchor leg, splitting a stunning 49.96. Mollie O’Callaghan led the team off in 52.19, then Madi Wilson split 51.28 on the second leg, and Meg Harris clocked a 52.00 on the third leg.

The Americans were also under the previous WR, breaking the American Record with a 3:26.29 for second. Torri Huske was great on the lead-off, splitting 51.73, which was the fastest opening split in the field. The rest of the U.S. team split 51-points as well, with Kate Douglass (51.17), Claire Curzan (51.59), and Erika Brown (51.80) rounding out the relay.

The US National Champion in the long course version of the event, Natalie Hinds, is on the American roster but was left off the finals relay after splitting 52.70 in the heats – almost an identical split to Huske.

Canada won bronze, fueled in large part by a 51.11 from Maggie MacNeil and 51.49 from Taylor Ruck in the middle of the race. Canada’s 3:28.06 also marks a Canadian Record in the event.

MEN’S 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINALS

• World Record: 3:03.03 – United States (2018)
• World Junior Record: 3:12.56 – Benchmark
• Championship Record: 3:03.03 – United States (2018)
• 2021 Champion: 3:03.45 – Russian Swimming Federation

PODIUM:

1. GOLD: Italy – 3:02.75 (WR)
2. SILVER: Australia – 3:04.63
3. BRONZE: United States – 3:05.09
4. Brazil – 3:06.85
5. Canada – 3:07.10
6. Spain – 3:07.19
7. Japan – 3:07.93
8. Netherlands – 3:08.84

Italy was dominant in the men’s 4×100 free relay, breaking the World Record with a 3:02.75. With the performance, Italy becomes the first team ever to break 3:03 in the event. Alessandro Miressi led the team off in 46.15, then Paolo Conte Bonin split 45.93, Leonardo Deplano split 45.54, and Thomas Ceccon split 45.13. Italy was the only team in the field with three 45-second splits.

Australia also had a great swim, breaking the Oceanic Record with a 3:04.63 for silver. Kyle Chalmers was exceptional on the anchor, splitting a 44.98, which was the fastest split in the field.

The United States finished 3rd in the race. While the American team was well-balanced, they lacked the 45-low or 44-high that it took to contend with the top teams in this race.

American splits:

• Drew Kibler – 46.84
• Shaine Casas – 45.90
• Carson Foster – 46.58
• Kieran Smith – 45.77

Canada took fifth with a 3:07.10, breaking the Canadian Record in the event. Additionally, Spain clocked a 3:07.19 for sixth, cracking the Spanish Record, which had been set this morning in prelims.