2023 World Championships: Night 8 Finals Preview

2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Night 8 Heat Sheets

Last one fast one. Ok, fast in the pool but not necessarily fastest (least amount of time) session. That’s ok though, who wouldn’t want to have an action-packed final night.

Night 8 Events:

  • Men’s 50 Back Final
  • Women’s 50 breast final
  • Men’s 1500 free final
  • Women’s 50 free final
  • Women’s 400 IM final
  • Men’s 4×100 medley relay final
  • Women’s 4×100 medley relay final

Some splash and dashes will kick off the night. Defending World Champion Justin Ress of the US enters as the top seed. Next to him will be Jiayu Xu of China who was just off of the podium in the 100 back earlier this week. On the other side of Ress will be fellow American Hunter Armstrong who was second behind Ress last year.

After tying the World Record in semifinals, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte is the favorite coming into the final. In addition to her World Record swim, Meilutyte also won the 100 breaststroke in commanding fashion earlier this week. She also is the defending champion in the event. Lilly King (USA) will be next to Meilutyte tonight and will look to be back on the podium after a seventh place finish in the event last year.

Bobby Finke comes in with the fastest time from yesterday’s prelims in the men’s 1500 free. Finke enters the final as the highest returner as last year’s champion Gregorio Paltrinieri returned home. Daniel Wiffen of Ireland was not far off of Finke’s time in prelims and will look to challenge him. After winning the 800 earlier in the meet, Ahmed Hafnaoui is one to watch out for as the third seed.

Back to a splash and dash, the women’s 50 free will be led by Sweden’s Sarah Sjoestroem. Sjoestroem already broke her own world record in semifinals and will look to go even faster tonight. Shayna Jack of Australia will be next to Sjoestroem and will look to capture an individual medal after already picking up a medal haul for the Australian relays.

After just missing the 200 IM podium earlier this week, Jenna Forrester will look to capture an individual medal in the 400 IM after swimming the fastest time of the morning. World Record holder Summer McIntosh swam the second fastest time this morning and will look to add another individual medal this week.

The US men led prelims of the 4×100 medley relay by over a second and will look to rotate some of their swimmers. The US is the defending Olympic Champions in the event. Last year’s World Champions Italy will not be in the final tonight after swimming the ninth fastest time in prelims. France swam the second fastest time in prelims.

The Canadian women led the way in the 4×100 medley relay posting the top time by a few tenths. The US women were second and will most likely to a lineup change tonight.

In This Story

12
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

12 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Tencor
10 months ago

Going to be fun

Last edited 10 months ago by Tencor
Jasmine
11 months ago

Very curious to see who gets bronze in the women’s medley relay. It’s gonna be a tough battle. I am thinking most likely Sweden, but Canada and China are also possibilities.

commonwombat
11 months ago

M50bk: any possible combination of Ress, Xu & Armstrong.

W50brs: Ruta – gold; King – silver. Bronze = open
Maybe Van Niekerk if she gets it together..

M1500: want Hafnoui; suspect it will be Finke Bronze = lottery

W400IM: Summer comfortably but not seeing WR
Rest of podium is open. Suspect at least pne American, would like to see Forrester

W50fr: Sarah another level above this field

M4XMED: USa gold; CHN silver FRA most likely bronze unless Temple & Chalmers can pull off a major burglary

4xMED: A cointoss I’m not game to call betwe8 US AUS lineups made up of very tored3 bldies3. CHN most likely bronze.

Robbos
Reply to  commonwombat
11 months ago

I am not confident to predict the 1500 winner. Any of 6 guys can win it.

CY~
Reply to  commonwombat
11 months ago

major burglary… will be fun to see how it goes, they did commit major burglary at SC worlds

Nanjizal
11 months ago

Questions, questions…

Will my sleep patterns ever return to normal?

Should I book a course at the local climbing wall?

How many exciting changes will there be between now and Paris?

Huge thanks to Swimswam and all in the comments!!!

Sub13
11 months ago

AUS and USA have both gone with traditional lineup for Medley Relay, with Gretchen on fly.

I wonder if she’s been promising in practices/tests or if they just wanted to avoid Huske at all costs.

Jack doesn’t get a medal for Aus which feels wrong considering her ridiculous relay prowess this week.

Last edited 11 months ago by Sub13
kdizzle
Reply to  Sub13
11 months ago

was really hoping for a MOC/McKeown/Mckeon/Jack lineup 🙁

Sub13
Reply to  Sub13
11 months ago

And Canada did it! It’s Summer time baby! I’m excited to see how she does!

Robbos
Reply to  Sub13
11 months ago

She already has 3 golds & suspect they want to keep fresh for the 50 tonight, hence no swim this morning.
Shame she didn’t beat Emma in the trials as she (c)would’ve got a medal.
I think Emma gearing up for Paris.

Boomer
Reply to  Sub13
11 months ago

Well.. there’s a chance for Walsh to be mowed by McKeon then

Sub13
Reply to  Boomer
11 months ago

Emma hasn’t been at her best this week. Still better than 99% of swimmers on their best day, just not the Tokyo standard. I’m hoping Emma delivers a strong fly leg tonight but I’m not expecting any miracles. A gold medal in the relay would be a nice surprise

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022 and 2023 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. Currently, Anya is pursuing her B.A. in Economics and a minor in Government & Law at …

Read More »