2023 World University Games: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

2023 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES

• August 1-7, 2023
• Dong’an Lake Sports Park Swimming and Diving Hall, Chengdu, China
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Page
• Live Results + Schedule
• Live Stream Schedule (All Sports)
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Live Recap
• Day 3 Final Live Stream

Day 3 finals at the 2023 World University Games in Chengdu, China will be kicking off shortly. Tonight’s session has an even split of finals and semifinals, featuring 5 of each.

DAY 3 FINALS SCHEDULE

• Men’s 200 Fly – Semifinals
• Women’s 200 IM – Semifinals
• Men’s 200 Breast – Semifinals
• Men’s 200 Free – Final
• Women’s 100 Back – Semifinals
• Men’s 50 Back – Semifinals
• Women’s 100 Breast – Final
• Women’s 100 Free – Final
• Men’s 200 IM – Final
• Men’s 1500 Free – Final

You can watch the finals live stream here.

The men’s 200 free final will see American Jack Dahlgren go up against Italy’s Giovanni Caserta. Caserta led semifinals last night with a 1:47.84, however, Dahlgren has been much faster than that before. Dahlgren entered the meet as the top seed in the event by over a second.

The women’s 100 free final will see China’s Zhang Yufei racing for her 2nd individual gold medal of the meet. After a great showing at the World Championships last week in Fukuoka, Yufei has already smashed the Championship Record in the women’s 50 fly already in Chengdu.

MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Kristof Milak, Hungary – 1:50.34 (2022)
• WUGS Record: Nao Horomura, Japan – 1:53.90 (2017)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Chen Juner (China) – 1:56.71
2. Takumi Terada (Japan) – 1:56.73
3. Kuan-Hung Wang (Taipei) – 1:56.76
4. Genki Terakado (Japan) – 1:56.97
5. Junghun Park (South Korea) – 1:57.28
6. Ondrej Gemov (Czech Republic) – 1:57.36
7. Connor LaMastra (United States) – 1:57.56
8. Adrian Jaskiewicz (Poland) – 1:57.58

In a stunningly tight semifinals of the men’s 200 fly tonight, China’s Chen Juner clocked a 1:56.71 to grab the top seed for tomorrow night’s final. Though Juner was first tonight, 8th-place Adrian Jaskiewicz out of Poland swam a 1:57.58, just 0.87 seconds slower than Juner.

In fact, the semis were so tightly packed tonight that the top 3 finishers all went 1:56.7s. Juner got out the fastest of anyone tonight, splitting 54.65 on the opening 100m, which made him the only swimmer in the field under 55 seconds. As was the case this morning, he paid for it a little bit, as he had the slowest last 50 split (31.53) of anyone who made the final, but once again, he clocked the fastest overall time, so the plan is working.

Japan’s Takumi Terada, who was also 2nd in prelims, swam a 1:56.73 for 2nd tonight. Kuan-Hung Wang (Taipei) was just behind, swimming a 1:56.76 for 3rd.

WOMEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Katinka Hosszu, Hungary – 2:06.12 (2015)
• WUGS Record: Yui Ohashi, Japan – 2:10.03 (2017)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Dalma Sebestyen (Hungary) – 2:14.09
2. Mei Ishihara (Japan) – 2:14.65
3. Caroline Theil (United States) – 2:14.70
4. Anita Gastaldi (Italy) – 2:14.79
5. Shiho Matsumoto (Japan) – 2:15.31
6. Anna Pirovano (Italy) – 2:15.49
7. Aleksandra Knop (Poland) – 2:17.40
8. Megan Van Berkom (United States) – 2:17.46

Hungarian Dalma Sebestyen clocked a 2:14.09 to lead the field in the women’s 200 IM tonight. She was out very well this morning, splitting 28.52. Her backstroke split of 34.36 was very “middle of the pack,” however, she came home very well tonight, splitting 38.91 on breast and 32.30 on free.

Caroline Theil, who was the fastest swimmer in prelims this morning, came in 3rd tonight with a 2:14.70, essentially matching her time from prelims. Once again, it was the back half of the race where Theil excelled, splitting 38.44 on breast and 32.74 on free.

Megan Van Berkom, the other American, came in 8th tonight with a 2:17.46, making her the last swimmer in for tomorrow night’s final. Van Berkom earned the silver medal in the 400 IM on the first night of the meet.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Qin Haiyang, China – 2:05.48 (2023)
• WUGS Record: Andrew Wilson, United States – 2:08.37 (2017)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Qin Haiyang (China) – 2:10.16
2. Alessandro Fusco (Italy) – 2:11.46
3. Yamoto Fukasawa (Japan) – 2:11.63
4. Andrius Sidlauskas (Lithuania) – 2:12.38
5. Dawid Wiekiera (Poland) – 2:12.70
6. Yu Hanaguruma (Japan) – 2:12.85
7. Yu Zongda (China) – 2:13.12
8. Matej Zabojnik (Czech Republic) – 2:13.61

China’s Qin Haiyang clocked a 2:10.16 to lead semifinals of the men’s 200 breast by more than a second. Haiyang broke the World Record in the event last week at the World Championships in Fukuoka with a 2:05.48. While we don’t expect Haiyang to be quite that fast here in Chengdu, he still stands a good chance of cracking the WUGS Championship Record of 2:08.37.

He looked smooth this morning as he swam a 1:02.35 on the opening 100m, establishing the lead. He also put on some quick closing speed, splitting 33.71 on the final 50 to propel himself into the finish.

Italy’s Alessandro Fusco put up a great swim tonight as well, taking 2nd as well with a 2:11.46. He was great in the middle of the race, splitting 33.29 on the 2nd 50 and 33.88 on the 3rd 50.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: Paul Biedermann, Germany – 1:42.00 (2009)
• WUGS Record: Danila Izotov, Russia – 1:44.87 (2013)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Kamil Sieradzki (Poland) – 1:47.60
• SILVER: Tomas Navikonis (Lithuania) – 1:47.73
• BRONZE: Giovanni Caserta (Italy) – 1:48.01

The men’s 200 free final was a great race, seeing Poland’s Kamil Sieradzki put together a great back half to rocket into the lead at the finish. Sieradzki paced his race very well, going out in 52.56 on the first 100m, which put him in 4th at the halfway point of the race. He then split 27.75 on the 3rd 50, moving up to 3rd in the race. A speedy 27.29 on the final 50 saw Sieradzki catch Lithuania’s Tomas Navikonis at the finish.

Navikonis was out just behind Sieradzki, splitting 52.63 on the first 100m, which put him in 5th. He then put it all on the line on the 3rd 50, splitting 27.10, which put him in the lead with one more 50 to go. He paid for that 3rd 50, however, as he came home in 28.08. He got touched out by Sieradzki at the finish, coming in 2nd with a 1:47.73.

Giovanni Caserta out of Italy came in 3rd tonight with a 1:48.01. Caserta actually was in 3rd at every turn of the race, putting together a very consistent swim. He went 25.25, 27.29, 27.77, and 27.70 respectively by 50.

American Jack Dahlgren, the top seed in the event coming into the meet, came in 5th tonight with a 1:48.35.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Kaylee McKeown, Australia – 57.45 (2021)
• WUGS Record: Katharine Berkoff, United States – 59.29 (2019)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Adela Piskorska (Poland) – 1:00.61
2. Camila Rebelo (Portugal) – 1:01.09
3. Federica Toma (Italy) – 1:01.11
4. Anya Mostek (United States) – 1:01.22
5. Marina Furubayahsi (Japan) – 1:01.42
6. Francesca Pasquino (Italy) – 1:01.44
7. Yumi Shuno (Japan) – 1:01.54
8. Paulina Peda (Poland) – 1:01.80

Adela Piskorska led the charge in semifinals of the women’s 100 back tonight by half a second. She clocked a 1:00.61, touching as the only swimmer in the field under 1:01. Piskorska was out the fastest of anyone this morning, swimming a 29.61 on the opening 50m.

Portugal’s Camila Rebelo swam a 1:01.09 for 2nd tonight. Rebelo is the Portuguese Record holder in the event with her career best of 1:00.66, which she swam at the European Championships last summer.

Italy’s Federica Toma was right behind Rebelo, taking 3rd tonight in 1:01.11.

MEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Hunter Armstrong, United States – 23.71 (2022)
• WUGS Record: Zane Waddell, South Africa – 24.46 (2019)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Simone Stefani (Italy) – 24.98
2. Michele Lamberti (Italy) – 25.04
3. Denis Popescu (Romania) – 25.18
4. Gabriel de Araujo (Brazil) – 25.21
5. Andrei Anghel (Romania) – 25.22
6. Wang Gukailai (China) – 25.32
7. Thierry Bollin (Switzerland) – 25.33
8. Kacper Stokowski (Poland) – 25.36 (TIE)
9. Lin Tao (China) – 25.36 (TIE)

As was the case in the men’s 100 back final last night, Italians Simone Stefani and Michele Lamberti both looked awesome in tonight’s semifinals of the men’s 50 back. Stefani led the way tonight, swimming a 24.98, which made him the only swimmer in the field under 25 seconds. Lamberti was only 0.06 seconds behind, however, touching 2nd overall in 25.04. The swims set Italy up very well for tomorrow night’s final.

Romania looked great in this event once again. Andrei Anghel, who was the fastest swimmer in prelims this morning, swam a 25.22 for 5th tonight. While that time was about a quarter-of-a-second of his swim from this morning, Anghel still safely qualified for the final tomorrow night.

His Romanian teammate, Denis Popescu, came in 3rd tonight with a 25.18, grabbing one of the middle lanes for the final.

Of note, there was a tie for 8th tonight between Poland’s Kacper Stokowski and China’s Lin Tao, both of whom swam 25.36s. Given the tie, there will need to be a swimmer at the end of the session to determine which swimmer will advance to the final tomorrow night.

**The swim-off is now complete, seeing Lin Tao win the race in 25.12. Stokowski clocked a 25.26 in the swim-off, which was also faster than he swam in the prelims. Of course, that means Tao will be advancing to the final tomorrow night.**

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: Lilly King, United States – 1:04.13 (2017)
• WUGS Record: Yulia Efimova, Russia – 1:05.48 (2013)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Kotryna Teterevkova (Lithuania) – 1:06.74
• SILVER: Kaylene Corbett (South Africa) – 1:06.98
• BRONZE: Dominika Sztandera (Poland) – 1:07.19

Lithuania’s Kotryna Teterevkova led the race in the women’s 100 breast final from start to finish tonight. She got out to the fastest start of anyone, literally, tying for the fastest reaction time in the field. She then popped a 31.24 on the first 50m of the race, putting into the turn in the lead.

At the turn, it was Poland’s Dominka Sztandera who was pushing Teterevkova. Sztandera was right behind her at the turn, splitting 31.52 on the first 50.

Kaylene Corbett, who is more oriented around the 200 breast, put together a great back half to earn the silver medal. Corebett was 31.94 on the first 50m, putting her a little over half a second behind Teterevkova. She came home in a quick 35.04, however, which propelled her past Sztandera, and very nearly past Teterevkova as well.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden – 51.71 (2017)
• WUGS Record: Aliaksadra Herasimenia, Belarus – 53.50 (2013)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Zhang Yufei (China) – 53.34 (Championship Record)
• SILVER: Erin Gallagher (South Africa) – 54.39
• BRONZE: Kalia Antoniou (Cyrpus) – 54.82

China’s Zhang Yufei continues to be on fire in Chengdu. After winning individual gold at the World Championships in Fukuoka last week, Yufei has now won her second individual WUGS gold of the week, having taken the 100 free tonight in a sizzling 53.34. Yufei previously won the women’s 50 fly last night.

Not only did Yufei win her 2nd individual gold of the meet, she broke her 2nd WUGS Championship Record of the meet in an individual event. Swimming a 53.34 tonight, Yufei cracked the WUGS Record of 53.50, which had stood since 2013.

It was clear she was going to win from early on in the race. Yufei got out to a very quick 25.20 on the opening 50m. While she fell off that pace just a bit, Yufei was able to come home in 28.14, getting her hand on the wall 0.16 second ahead of the record. She was a little less than half a second off her personal best of 52.90, which also stands as the Chinese Record in the event.

South Africa’s Erin Gallagher clocked a 54.39 for silver tonight. Notably, Gallagher also finished 2nd behind Yufei in the 50 fly last night. Tonight, she was firmly in 2nd the whole way through the race.

Cyprus’ Kalia Antoniou swam a 54.82 for 3rd tonight. She was out in 26.39 on the first 50m, flipping in 4th. With a strong 2nd 50 of 28.43, Antoniou moved into 3rd at the finish.

MEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS

• World Record: Ryan Lochte, United States – 1:54.00 (2011)
• WUGS Record: Kosuke Hagino, Japan – 1:57.35 (2017)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Gabriel Lopes (Portugal) – 1:59.12
• SILVER: Hsing-Hao Wang (Taipei) – 2:00.00
• BRONZE: Marius Zobel (Germany) – 2:00.56

Portugal’s Gabriel Lopes looked awesome tonight as he sped to victory in the men’s 200 IM, earning Portugal’s first gold medal of the meet. He was out in 25.34 on fly, which put him in 2nd in the field, then moved into the lead on backstroke and never looked back. He split a very quick 29.08 on backstroke, then went 34.82 on breast, for a 1:03.90 on the middle 100m. Coming home in 29.88, there was no doubt Lopes would get his hand on the wall first.

Taipei’s Hsing-Hao Wang went for broke from the start of the race, getting out to the early lead with a 25.33 on fly. He fell into 2nd amid Lopes’ fierce middle 100, but a speedy 29.02 on the final 50 propelled Wang into the finish in 2nd.

Germany’s Marius Zobel was in the middle of the pack throughout the race. Flipping at the 150m turn in 5th, Zobel then put together a blistering 28.39 on the final 50 of the race, which moved him up to 3rd.

MEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: Sun Yang, China – 14:31.02 (2012)
• WUGS Record: Gregorio Paltrinieri, Italy – 14:47.75 (2017)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Ivan Giovannoni (Italy) – 15:11.81
• SILVER: Kaito Tabuchi (Japan) – 15:14.60
• BRONZE: Chris Nagy (United States) – 15:19.23

Italy’s Ivan Giovannoni was in control of this race from the start. He was out in 4th on the first 100m, but quickly after, he took the lead and never looked back. Swimming a very consistent race, Giovannoni was 5:02.24 on the first 500m, then split 5:04.21 on the 2nd 500m, and came home in 5:05.36 on the final 500m.

Japan’s Kaito Tabuchi was out the fastest of anyone, holding the lead through the first 150m of the race. After the 150m, Tabuchi faded to 2nd, as Giovannoni passed him, and he would stay in 2nd through the remainder of the race. In the end, he finished about 3 seconds behind Giovannoni, securing the silver medal.

The U.S. picked up their first medal of the session, seeing Chris Nagy earn the bronze in 15:19.23.