2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships: Day 7 Finals Preview

2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

In the second to last finals session of the 2019 World Championships, the semifinals of the women’s 50 free/50 breast and men’s 50 back will be contested. The sprinting continues with new world champions to be crowned in the women’s 50 fly, men’s 50 free, and men’s 100 fly. The evening will tone down to the women’s 800 free final and conclude with the mixed 4×100 free relay final.

Day 7 Finals Events:

  • Women’s 50 Fly- Final
  • Men’s 50 Free- Final
  • Women’s 50 Free- Semifinals
  • Women’s 50 Breast- Semifinals
  • Men’s 100 Fly- Final
  • Men’s 50 Back- Semifinals
  • Women’s 800 Free- Final
  • Mixed 4×100 Free Relay- Final

The main storyline to follow are Americans Caeleb Dressel and Regan Smith and the anticipation of their follow-up finals swims after breaking world records in their respective events. Dressel made history in the 100 fly and broke Michael Phelps‘ 2009 supersuit world record. Later in the session, 17-year-old Regan Smith broke Missy Franklin‘s 2012 world record in the 200 back. With a world record under their belts, can the fastest swimmers in their respective events snag a world title?

Day 7 Finals Top Storylines to Follow:

  • Caeleb Dressel will be swimming in two finals this evening, the 100 fly and 50 free. Dressel earned his first individual world record with his 49.50 semifinals time in the 100 fly. Dressel also leads the 50 free with a 21.18, just 0.03s off his American record. Tonight, Dressel could have a shot at going 2-for-2 defending world titles and breaking world records.
  • 17-year-old Regan Smith, after breaking her first world record, will be gunning for her first world title in the 200 back final. Missy Franklin‘s world titles in 2011/2013 were the last American champions in this event.
  • After battling illness and opting out of the 200/1500 free, Katie Ledecky will make her return in her signature race, the 800 free. Ledecky and American teammate Leah Smith both swam 8:17s in prelims and will swim side-by-side. 400 free champ Ariarne Titmus and Italian Simona Quadarella will also be challengers against the Americans.
  • Swede sprint star Sarah Sjostrom has two more chances to earn an individual title at this meet. In the 50 fly final, Sjostrom is seeded first with a 24.79, eight-tenths ahead of her nearest competitor. If she wins, it will become her 3rd-consecutive event title and have the most event titles. Sjostrom will also fend to defend her 50 free world title in the semifinals alongside the Campbell sisters, Americans Abbey Weitzeil and Simone Manuel, and Olympic champions Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Pernille Blume.
  • World record holder Lilly King will contest in the 50 breast semifinals. However, Italians Martina Carraro and 14-year-old Benedetta Pilato established themselves as major medal contenders in prelims. 2013 champ and former world record-holder Yulia Efimova will also swim to get a spot into the final.
  • 20-year-olds Kliment Kolesnikov and Michael Andrew headline the men’s 50 back semifinals among an experienced field. With multi-time defending champ Camille Lacourt now retired, the 20-year-olds along with Jeremy Stravius, Zane Waddell, Ryan Murphy, and Xu Jiayu will all swim to claim the newly-opened title into tomorrow’s final.

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Nono
5 years ago

Dressel and Chalmers side by side again

Swimmy
Reply to  Nono
5 years ago

Please go 46s

namusi
5 years ago

100 fly is going to be interesting

Zanna
5 years ago

Mixed relay lineup

US – Dressel, Apple, Comerford, Manuel
AUS – Chalmers, Lewis, McKeon, B Campbell

Troy
Reply to  Zanna
5 years ago

So Australia putting in the A- team. I thought when I saw Bronte not swimming the heats that they’d go C1 and C2 and give McKeon a rest. I’m not sure they can win this without C1’s anchor.

Here we go
Reply to  Troy
5 years ago

Really hope Bronte is on fire 🔥

Verram
Reply to  Troy
5 years ago

Yes I’m very surprised they rested Cate Campbell but she’s being rested for a big clutch medley relay anchor tomorrow night as that is an Olympic event

To be honest I would be happy with Aussie silver this time given the American firepower but I would like to see another close race to unfold like in all other previous Aussie victories at this meet

Bronte is also a proven big relay performer but I hope she can hold her own against Manuel..

Troy
Reply to  Verram
5 years ago

Bronte’d have to be the second best relay swimmer ever but she’s not really in that kind of form. Hopefully she can conjure some kind of magic for us tonight.

Laps
Reply to  Verram
5 years ago

After silver in the 100 she’s probably more eager to win gold in the 50 and the medley relay.

Looked like a tight race on paper if both teams fielded their best teams but without Cate I think the USA wins fairly comfortably unless Bronte finds a 51.5 split in her.

Verram
Reply to  Laps
5 years ago

Agree on all points

carlo
5 years ago

Shayna Jack or no. I,m more eye loafed about reagan Smith,s crazy drop in time. She skipped 2:05 and 2:04 and went straight to 2:03 low. The US pharmaceutical industry is quite advanced. Maybe some secret government stuff.

Just thinking out loud folks.

Nswim
Reply to  carlo
5 years ago

They’re called invisible fins

PhillyMark
Reply to  carlo
5 years ago

Yes, Donald Trump has targeted Regan Smith since she was 14 years old and now she is the perfect 100 lb doping machine

Chaitha D.
Reply to  PhillyMark
5 years ago

Lol

Nswim
5 years ago

When is the women’s 200 back? It’s not listed

Togger
5 years ago

Jack saying she’d never knowingly dope, see what her reasons are. Presumably she’ll argue something like Cox.

Problem is, they all say that.

Verram
5 years ago

Main difference between Shayna jack and sun yang – one gets suspended and not swimming at world champs .. the other one has never missed a big major competition eventhough they have tested positive and even defied drug testers

Swmmngnnstp
Reply to  Verram
5 years ago

There are always some reasons why Anglo-Saxons are innocent. Lol

Troy
Reply to  Swmmngnnstp
5 years ago

Where’d the comment say she’s innocent?

13 % Chinese person
Reply to  Verram
5 years ago

Kylie Palmer tested positive & was never even notified yet alone suspended. . If Sun is protected so may be others.

Verram
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
5 years ago

Ah yeah she was suspended unlike that big Chinese dude carrying a hammer and thinks he’s Thor

Jim C
Reply to  Verram
5 years ago

I would prefer saying she got suspended and missed the world champs, and he never missed a major competition…

Kelsey
5 years ago

Gutted about Shayna Jack sad news coming out of Aus but got to start meeting these head on with strong bans if innocence can’t be proven no matter what country. Otherwise all this protesting and standing for clean sport is for naught.

About Nick Pecoraro

Nick Pecoraro

Nick has had the passion for swimming since his first dive in the water in middle school, immediately falling for breaststroke. Nick had expanded to IM events in his late teens, helping foster a short, but memorable NCAA Div III swim experience at Calvin University. While working on his B.A. …

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