2019 FINA World Championships: Day 6 Finals Live Recap

2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
• Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
• The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
• Meet site
• Competition Schedule
• FinaTV Live Stream
• Entry Lists
• Results

We’re on to day 6 finals at the 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju. Swimmers are gearing up to compete for individual medals in the women’s 100 free, women’s 200 breast, men’s 200 back, and men’s 200 breast. We’ll also see a relay final tonight as the men race in the 4×200 freestyle. Semifinals tonight include the men’s 100 fly, women’s 200 back, men’s 50 free, and women’s 50 fly.

After Australia’s Matthew Wilson tied the World Record in the 200 breast semis, we’ll see both World Record holders competing in tonight’s final. Japan’s Ippei Watanabe shares that record with Wilson. Also in the mix is Kazakhstan’s Dmitriy Balandin, who won this event at the 2016 Olympics.

Another man with the potential to break World Records tonight is Caeleb Dressel, who missed the 100 free record by just 5 hundredths as he won gold in the event last night. Tonight, Dressel will swim semis of the 100 fly and 50 free, with only the women’s 200 back semifinals in between. However, Dressel did very well in winning this double at 2017 Worlds and was just 4 hundredths off Michael Phelps’ 100 fly World Record there. The 100 fly record is also in danger of being taken down by Hungary’s Kristof Milak, who smashed Phelps’ 200 fly World Record to win gold earlier in the meet.

Russia’s Anton Chupkov and Yuliya Efimova seek to defend their 200 breast titles tonight. Another defending champion is Evgeny Rylov, the heavy favorite in the men’s 200 back. Also in that 200 back will be the USA’s Olympic Champion Ryan Murphy, who is chasing his first individual medal of the meet. The USA’s Simone Manuel steps up to defend her 100 free title but will have her hands full against World Record holder Sarah Sjostrom and Australia’s Cate Campbell, who held that World Record before Sjostrom broke it in 2017.

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2018, 51.71
• World Junior Record: Penny Oleksiak (Canada), 2016, 52.70
• World Championships Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2018, 51.71
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Simone Manuel (USA), 52.27

Medalists:

1. GOLD- Simone Manuel (USA), 52.04
2. SILVER- Cate Campbell (AUS), 52.43
3. BRONZE- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 52.46

The USA’s Simone Manuel gets it done again. Manuel flipped under World Record pace in 24.81 and held her lead over the final 50 meters, posting a new American Record of 52.04 to repeat as champion. Manuel is just the 2nd woman to repeat as champion in this race. The last time it was done was in 1975 when East Germany’s Kornelia Ender earned back-to-back titles. Australia’s Cate Campbell was a bit faster on the back half, but Manuel’s lead was too much to overcome as Campbell took silver in 52.43, out-touching World Record holder Sarah Sjostrom (52.46) of Sweden.

Australia’s Emma McKeon was the 4th woman in, clocking a 52.75 ahead of Canadian teenage phenom Taylor Ruck (53.03). The USA’s Mallory Comerford flipped in 4th, but faded to 7th on the back half in 53.22 behind the Netherlands’ Femke Heemskerk (53.05). Rounding out the top 8 was Great Britain’s Freya Anderson (53.44).

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Michael Phelps (United States), 2009, 49.82
• World Junior Record: Kristof Milak (Hungary), 50.62
• World Championships Record: Michael Phelps (United States), 2009, 49.82
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Caeleb Dressel (United States), 49.86

Finals Qualifiers:

1. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 49.50
2. Andrei Minakov (RUS), 50.94
3. Kristof Milak (HUN), 50.95
4. Chad Le Clos (RSA), 51.40
5. Marius Kusch (GER), 51.50
6. Mehdy Metella (FRA), 51.62
7. James Guy (GBR), 51.69
8. Matthew Temple (AUS), 51.70

The USA’s Caeleb Dressel set his first World Record tonight. Dressel, who missed the World Record last Worlds by only 4 hundredths, cracked the record by tenths tonight in 49.50. The former mark was a 49.82 done by Michael Phelps in 2009. Dressel leads the way into finals by nearly a second and a half and now owns 6 of the 10 fastest times in history in this event. He’ll return to the pool shortly for semifinals of the 50 free.

Finishing behind Dressel in heat 2 was Russia’s Andrei Minakov, who set a new Russian Record in 50.94. Hungary’s Kristof Milak won the first semifinal heat in 50.95 to qualify 3rd. Milak broke Phelps’ 200 fly World Record earlier in the meet to win his first Worlds gold. Also qualifying for the final were Olympic 200 fly champion Chad Le Clos (RSA) and 2017 bronze medalist James Guy (GBR). Le Clos used his front end speed to take 2nd in heat 1 with a 51.40 behind Milak.

Decorated butterfly veteran Laszlo Cseh of Hungary wound up 10th in 51.86. He was one spot ahead of the USA’s Jack Conger, who put up a 51.91 for 11th.

WOMEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Missy Franklin (United States), 2012, 2:04.06
• World Junior Record: Regan Smith (United States), 2019, 2:06.01
• World Championships Record: Missy Franklin (United States), 2013, 2:04.76
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Emily Seebohm (Australia), 2:05.68

Finals Qualifiers:

1. Regan Smith (USA), 2:03.35
2. Kylie Masse (CAN), 2:06.57
3. Margherita Panziera (ITA), 2:06.62
4. Minna Atherton (AUS), 2:07.38
5. Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2:07.48
6. Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2:08.19
7. Taylor Ruck (CAN), 2:08.42
8. Katalin Burian (HUN), 2:09.40

The USA’s teenage standout Regan Smith broke the World Junior Record in prelims, but tonight she went straight for the World Record. Smith knocked almost 3 seconds off her lifetime best, blowing away the World Record in 2:03.35. That took down Missy Franklin’s former mark of 2:04.06 from her Olympic performance in 2012, making Smith the first woman to ever break 2:04. She touched the wall in her heat over 3 seconds ahead of Canada’s 100 back champion Kylie Masse (2:06.57).

Italy’s Margherita Panziera, who became the 5th fastest performer in history earlier this year, touched just behind Masse in 2:06.62. Winning the first semifinal heat was Australia’s Minna Atherton (2:07.38), a tenth ahead of Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, the 200 IM champion here and an Olympic medalist in this race. Australia, Canada, and Hungary will all have 2 in the final. Kaylee McKeown (2:08.19) qualified 6th for the Aussies. Canada’s Taylor Ruck (2:08.42) and Hungary’s Katalin Burian rounded out the top 8.

One spot shy of the final was the USA’s Kathleen Baker in 2:09.68. Baker returned to competition this week after dealing with a rib injury this season, but hasn’t made the individual podium at this meet.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Cesar Cielo (Brazil), 2009, 20.91
• World Junior Record: Michael Andrew (United States), 2017, 21.75
• World Championships Record: Cesar Cielo (Brazil), 2009, 20.91
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Caeleb Dressel (United States), 21.15

Finals Qualifiers:

1. Caeleb Dressel (USA), 21.18
2. Bruno Fratus (BRA), 21.53
3. Ben Proud (GBR), 21.56
4. Kristian Gkolomeev (GRE), 21.60
5. Vlad Morozov (RUS), 21.65
6. Pawel Juraszek (POL), 21.69
7. Shinri Shioura (JPN), 21.74
8. Michael Andrew (USA), 21.77

Caeleb Dressel topped the semis again, just 3 hundredths short of his American Record in 21.18. Dressel’s time is the 10th fastest performance ever. After the race, he said he was faster than he expected to be tonight, so he may have more in the tank for tomorrow. He was about half a second faster than his heat as Russia’s Vlad Morozov hit the wall in 21.65. Morozov looks to earn his first individual medal here after missing finals of the 100 free earlier in the meet.

Brazil’s Bruno Fratus won the first semifinal heat, clocking in at 21.53. Ben Proud, the 3rd fastest man ever in this event, touched just behind Fratus in 21.56. Japan’s Shinri Shioura was hundredths shy of his own Japanese Record to qualify 7th for the final. Michael Andrew (USA) snuck in at 8th in 21.77 and is still on track to make finals of all 4 stroke 50s at this meet. Only the 50 back remains.

WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World Record: Rikke Moller Pedersen (Denmark), 2013, 2:19.11
• World Junior Record: Viktoria Gunes (Turkey), 2016, 2:19.64
• World Championships Record: Rikke Moller Pedersen (Denmark), 2013, 2:19.11
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Yulia Efimova (Russia), 2:19.64

Medalists:

1. GOLD- Yuliya Efimova (RUS), 2:20.17
2. SILVER- Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA), 2:22.52
3. BRONZE- Sydney Pickrem (CAN), 2:22.90

Russia’s Yuliya Efimova became the first woman to threepeat in this event as she broke away from the field on the 2nd 50 to dominate in 2:20.17. She was nearly a second and a half ahead of the field. South Africa’s Tatjana Schoenmaker didn’t match her South African Record from semis, but still earned South Africa’s first medal in this event with a 2:22.52 for silver. Canada’s Sydney Pickrem earned her 2nd bronze of the meet with a 2:22.90.

China’s Ye Shiwen, who has made a comeback here with her first major international medal since 2012 in the 200 IM, was just off the podium tonight with a 2:23.15 for 4th place. Ye and Canada’s Kelsey Wog (2:25.14) were out in the top 3 at the halfway mark, but fell back on the back half. Ye did make a move on the final 50, however, moving ahead of Great Britain’s Molly Renshaw (2:23.78).

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

• World Record: Aaron Peirsol (USA), 2009, 1:51.92
• World Junior Record: Kliment Kolesnikov (Russia), 2017, 1:55.14
• World Championships Record: Aaron Peirsol (USA), 2009, 1:51.92
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Evgeny Rylov (RUS), 1:53.61

Medalists:

1. GOLD- Evgeny Rylov (RUS), 1:53.40
2. SILVER- Ryan Murphy (USA), 1:54.12
3. BRONZE- Luke Greenbank (GBR), 1:55.85

Russia’s Evgeny Rylov and the USA’s Ryan Murphy battled again in the 200 back, with Rylov defending his title on 1:53.40. Murphy made a move on the 3rd 50 to close in on Rylov, but Rylov had the speed down the stretch to extend his lead again. He’s now the 3rd man ever, the other two being Ryan Lochte and Aaron Peirsol, to win multiple World titles in this event. Rylov was just 4 hundredths away from his best time. Murphy repeated as the silver medalist in 1:54.12.

The USA’s Jacob Pebley, who took bronze in 2017, was in the hunt for bronze as he turned for the final lap. He fell off the pace in the last 50, however, taking 6th in 1:56.72. Great Britain’s Luke Greenbank used his closing speed to take the final podium spot, touching in 1:55.85. Japan’s Ryosukie Irie, a multi-time World and olympic medalist in this event, picked up a 5th place finish in 1:56.52 behind Poland’s Radoslaw Kawecki (1:56.37).

WOMEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2014, 24.43
• World Junior Record: Rikako Ikee (Japan), 2017, 25.33
• World Championships Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2014, 24.43
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 24.60

Finals Qualifiers:

1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 24.79
2. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), 25.54
3. Marie Wattel (FRA), 25.56
4. Kelsi Dahlia (USA), 25.59
5. Farida Osman (EGY), 25.79
6. (T-6) Penny Oleksiak (CAN), 25.93
7. (T-6) Brianna Throssell (AUS), 25.93
8. Jeanette Ottesen (DEN), 26.01

Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom set herself up well to go for her 3rd-straight title in this event. No one in the field was close to Sjostrom, who owns the World Record in this race. Her 24.79 tonight is a little over 3 tenths away from the World Record. Sjostrom owns all 10 of the 10 fastest performances in history. Tonight, her performance was the 5th fastest in history.

The Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo is the 2nd seed for finals in 25.54. Kromowidjojo is the 2018 Short Course World Champion in this event and the 2017 Worlds silver medalist. American Record holder Kelsi Dahlia is the 4th seed in 25.59, just a tenth off her record. She took 2nd in the first semis heat to France’s Marie Wattel. Wattel’s 25.56 was a new French Record, breaking the mark formerly set by Melanie Henique at 25.63 in 2017.

Canada’s Penny Oleksiak, an Olympic medalist in the 100 fly, tied for 6th seed in 25.93. Teammate Maggie MacNeil, the 100 fly champion here, was 14th through semis in 26.28.

MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World Record: Ippei Watanabe (Japan)/Matthew Wilson (Australia), 2017/2019, 2:06.67
• World Junior Record: Qin Haiyang (China), 2017, 2:09.39
• World Championships Record: Matthew Wilson (Australia), 2019, 2:06.67
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Anton Chupkov (Russia), 2:06.96

Medalists:

1. GOLD- Anton Chupkov (RUS), 2:06.12
2. SILVER- Matthew Wilson (AUS), 2:06.68
3. BRONZE- Ippei Watanabe (JPN), 2:06.73

The men’s 200 breast brought the 3rd World Record and the 3rd Russian victory of the night. Minutes after Efimova nabbed 200 breast gold, Anton Chupkov brought it home for Russia in the men’s race. Chupkov was in 8th at the halfway point, but put himself into position on the 3rd 50 to make his big move down the stretch. He closed in 31.89 to blow by the field en route to a 2:06.12 World Record.

Before tonight, Australia’s Matthew Wilson and Japan’s Ippei Watanabe shared the World Record at 2:06.67. Wilson, who set the mark in semis, was just a hundredth slower tonight with a 2:06.68 for silver. Watanabe’s 2:06.73 for bronze was the fastest he’s been since he set that former World Record back in 2017. Another Australian, Zac Stubblety-Cook, was just off the podium at 4th in 2:07.36. Behind him, Germany’s Marco Koch was just over a tenth shy of his German Record to take 5th in 2:07.60.

Team USA’s Andrew Wilson was out in 2nd at the halfway point, but couldn’t match the field’s back-half pace as he took 6th in 2:08.10. Kazakhstan’s Dmitriy Balandin, the reigning Olympic Champion in this race, finished 7th in 2:08.25. Sweden’s Erik Persson (2:08.39) nearly ran down Balandin on the back half.

MEN’S 4 X 200 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINALS

• World Record: United States (Phelps, Berens, Walters, Lochte), 2009, 6:58.55
• World Junior Record: Hungary (Marton, Milak, Hollo, Nemeth), 2017, 7:10.95
• World Championships Record: United States (Phelps, Berens, Walters, Lochte), 2009, 6:58.55
• 2017 Defending World Champions: Great Britain (Milne, Grainger, Scott, Guy), 7:01.70

Medalists:

1. GOLD- Australia, 7:00.85
2. SILVER- Russia, 7:01.81
3. BRONZE- USA, 7:01.96

Great Britain was out to the lead as Duncan Scott put up a 1:44.91, breaking the British Record in the 200 free in the process. Calum Jarvis kept them in the lead with a 1:45.58 on the 2nd leg, but the USA was closing in as Blake Pieroni split a 1:44.98. Australia pulled themselves into the lead on the 3rd leg, however, as Alexander Graham split a 1:45.05. Mack Horton then finished the job for Australia with a 1:44.85 anchor to win it. Australia won their first gold in this race since 2003 with a new Australian Record of 7:00.85.

Splits:

1. Australia- Lewis 1:45.58, Chalmers 1:45.37, Graham 1:45.05, Horton 1:44.85
2. Russia- Dovgalyuk 1:45.56, Vekovishchev 1:45.45, Krasnykh 1:45.38, Malyutin 1:45.42
3. USA- Seliskar 1:45.81, Pieroni 1:44.98, Apple 1:46.03, Haas 1:45.16

Great Britain slipped back into 5th overall with a 7:02.04. It ended up being a battle for silver between the USA (7:01.96) and Russia (7:01.81). Aleksandr Krasnykh outsplit Zach Apple by over half a second on the 3rd leg, and while Townley Haas had the faster anchor leg for the USA, the Russians still came out ahead for silver. The Americans took bronze for the 2nd-straight World Championships.