2024 SC World Championships: Day 3 Finals Live Recap

Women’s 100 Freestyle – Finals

• World Record: 50.25 – Cate Campbell, AUS (2017)
• World Junior Record: 51.45 – Kayla Sanchez, CAN (2018)
• World Championship Record: 50.49 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
• 2022 World Champion: Emma McKeon, AUS – 50.77

Podium

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 50.31 ***NEW CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD***
2. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 50.63
3. Kate Douglass (USA) – 50.73
4. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 51.41
5. Daria Klepikova (NAB) – 51.62
6. Katarzyna Wasick (POL) – 51.99
7. Freya Anderson (GBR) – 52.22
8. Milla Jansen (AUS) – 52.36

After cracking the Championship record in the semifinals last night, with her 50.49 erasing Emma McKeon’s 50.77 all eyes were on Gretchen Walsh. After a trademark slow reaction time, Walsh had the lead from the get-go and attacked the race. Out in 23.90, Walsh had a lead of .46 over compatriot and training partner Kate Douglass and was .3 under WR pace.

Through the 75, Walsh was still under Cate Campbell’s pace, but the line started to catch her, and in the last meter, it just slipt away as Walsh had a long glide into the wall to finish in a new Championship and Americas record of 50.31, just .06 off the WR.

Douglass held second position for much of the race, but France’s Beryl Gastaldello came home fastest in the field, 12.97, to nab the silver out from under the American who was second fastest on the last 25 (13.12). The Frenchwoman’s time of 50.63 is a massive new PB, smashing her own French national record of 51.16 and becoming the 4th fastest performer of all time.

Men’s 100 Freestyle – Finals

• World Record: 44.84 – Kyle Chalmers, AUS (2021)
• World Junior Record: 45.64 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
• World Championship Record: 44.95 – Jordan Crooks, CAY (2024)
• 2022 World Champion: Kyle Chalmers, AUS – 45.16

Podium

1. Jack Alexy (USA) – 45.38
2. Guilherme Santos (BRA) – 48.47
3. Jordan Crooks (CAY) – 45.48
4. Chris Guiliano (USA) – 45.51
5. Egor Kornev (NAB) – 45.58
6. Maxime Grousset (FRA) – 45.78
7. Alessandro Miressi (ITA) – 45.93
8. Tomas Navikonis (LTU) – 46.25

It wasn’t as fast as expected but the race sure was exciting. After some minor movement on the blocks and a long hold, the USA’s Jack Alexy got things off to a quick start, flipping in second place at the 50, recording a split of 21.62, trailing only his teammate Chris Guiliano.

Guiliano, who snuck into the final in 7th position, had the benefit of open water on on side and flipped in 21.54 to lead at the halfway point. .14 under the world record pace, Guiliano faded a little on the 3rd 25, swimming the 2nd slowest split, and was passed by Alexy.

Coming off of the 75 wall Alexy led out Guiliano and Brazil’s Guilherme Santos with less than .15 separating the trio. The American closed in 11.91, doing just enough to hold off Santos’s 11.87, which was enough to pass Guiliano and claim the silver.

5th at the 50 (21.87) and 7th at the 75, the holder of the Championships record, Cayman Island’s Jordan Crooks, came flying home in 11.61 to secure the bronze in 45.48.

Women’s 50 Backstroke – Semifinals

• World Record: 25.25 – Maggie MacNeil, CAN (2022)
• World Junior Record: 26.08 – Sara Curtis, ITA (2024)
• World Championship Record: 25.25 – Maggie MacNeil, CAN (2022)
• 2022 World Champion: Maggie MacNeil (CAN) – 25.25

Top 8

1. Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 25.51
2. Regan Smith (USA) – 25.66
3. Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 25.81
4. Kylie Masse (CAN) – 25.98
5. Sara Curtis (ITA) – 26.03
6. Maaike de Waard (NED) – 26.14
7. Analia Pigree (FRA) – 26.22
8. Iona Anderson (AUS) – 26.25

The final tomorrow will see the American pair of Katharine Berkoff and Regan Smith in the middle lanes and they will look to repeat their Gold and Silver medals from the 100 back. The two of them posted the fastest times in the semi as the pair swam out of the second semifinal.

Berkoff’s, whose time of 25.51 makes her the 6th fastest performer of all time, stands as a new personal best. Berkoff was out .08 faster than Smith and closed faster as well 12.91 to 12.98. The Americans were the only swimmers under 13 on the last 25.

Smith, who won the 100 back earlier in the week, was a little off her best time, but her 25.66 puts her into the thick of it.

Flanking the Americans tomorrow will be the Canadian pair of Ingrid Wilm and Kylie Masse. The two swam in the first semifinal and posted strong swims of 25.81 and 25.98, with Wilm’s time representing a new PB.

Sara Cutis, who also swam in the 1st semifinal, led as the 25 but had a poor finish and finished 3rd in the heat and 5th overall. The Italian did break her own World Junior Record with her time of 26.03 and will be targeting a sub-26 time in tomorrow’s final.

Men’s 50 Backstroke – Semifinals

• World Record: 22.11 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2022)
• World Junior Record: 22.52 – Isaac Cooper, AUS (2022)
• World Championship Record: 22.22 – Florent Manaudou, FRA (2014)
• 2022 World Champion: Ryan Murphy (USA)- 22.64

Top 8

1. Miron Lifintsev (NAB) – 22.70
2. Pavel Samusenko (NAB) – 22.72
3. Kacper Stokowski (POL)/Thierry Bollin (SUI) – 22.73
5. Miroslav Knedla (CZE) – 22.74
6. Isaac Cooper (AUS) – 22.79
7. Hubert Kos (HUN) – 22.85
8. Shane Ryan (IRL) – 22.89

Miron Lifintsev, the top seed, defended his position as the Neutral Athlete, posting the top time in the semis of 22.70. Lifintsev, who is 18, has been chasing the World Junior record all week and has one more chance to erase Isaac Cooper‘s mark of 22.52. Lifintsev was 22.39 on the mixed medley relay, but that doesn’t count as a record.

Out in 11.19, Lifintsev was just 4th off the wall but surged home in 11.51, tying for the fastest last 25, passing teammate Pavel Samusenko, Miroslav Knedla, and Shane Ryan in the process, all three of whom will also advance to the final tomorrow.

The first semifinal displayed some gamesmanship as Kacper Stokowski and Hubert Kos were slow to prepare for the race. The Pole, was third at the 25, but only by .02 used his long arms to get ahead of early leader Cooper and take the first semi in 22.73, tying with Thierry Bollin, who had the swim of his life out of lane 7.

.19 separate 1st through 8th, meaning tomorrow’s final will be up for grabs by anyone.

Women’s 200 Butterfly – Finals

• World Record: 1:59.61 – Mireia Belmonte Garcia, ESP (2014)
• World Junior Record: 2:01.96 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• World Championship Record: 1:59.61 – Mireia Belmonte Garcia, ESP (2014)
• 2022 World Champion: Dakota Luther (USA) – 2:03.37

Podium

1. Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 1:59.32 ***NEW EVERYTHING RECORD***
2. Regan Smith (USA) – 2:01.00
3. Elizabeth Dekkers (AUS) – 2:02.91
4. Alex Shackell (USA) – 2:03.23
5. Chen Luying (CHN) – 2:03.67
6. Bella Grant (AUS) – 2:03.91
7. Helena Bach (DEN) – 2:04.08
8. Laura Lahtinen (FIN) – 2:05.71

Can someone contact me about somehow copyrighting or trademarking the new Everything record before Summer McIntosh sweeps that up, too?

After claiming the World Record in the 400 free, the young Canadian added her second gold and world record. The Olympic champion, McIntosh took control of the race from the get go. Opening in 57.04, McIntosh kept up the pace and consistency, splitting 15 mids on the last 100 to come home in 1:02.28 to become just the second woman in history to break the 2:00 barrier.

After qualifying for the finals of tomorrow’s 50 back, Regan Smith had a quick turnaround. Smith looked a little tired at the start and was in 4th at the 100 turn (58.44) bit like Summer used a strong and even back half to close in 1:02.56 and win the silver in 2:01.00. The time jumps her past Kelsi Dhalia and stands as a new American record.

Men’s 200 Butterfly – Finals

• World Record: 1:46.85 – Tomoru Honda, JPN (2022)
• World Junior Record: 1:49.61 – Junder Chen, CHN (2018)
•  World Championship Record: 1:48.24 – Daiya Seto, JPN (2018)
• 2022 World Champion: Chad le Clos (RSA) – 1:48.27

Podium

1. Ilya Kharun (CAN) – 1:48.24 ***EQUAL CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD***
2. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 1:48.64
3. Krzysztof Chmielewski (POL) – 1:49.26
4. Andrei Minakov (NAB) – 1:50.39
5. Trenton Julian (USA) – 1:50.51
6. Kregor Zirk (EST) – 1:50.72
7. Nicolas Albiero (BRA) – 1:50.97
8. Richar Marton (HUN) – 1:51.48

Things started to tighten up in the closing few 25s but Canada’s Ilya Kharun swam the best he could to take his first World title. The Olympic bronze medalist in this event, Kharun, attacked the race, opening it in 51.71, opening nearly a half-a-second lead on the 2021 World Champions Alberto Razzetti, who was in 2nd in 52.19.

The Italian made a surge over the back 100 and actually captured the lead with just 175, leading the Canadian by .01, but the short course yards work put in by the ASU star proved to be the deciding factor as Kharun pulled a massive last turn and surged home in 14.06, as compared to Razzetti’s 14.47 to take the win in 1:48.24.

The gold medal time ties the Championships record of Daiya Seto and also makes Kharun joint second faster performer ever.

While having to settle for the silver, Razzetti did smash his own European record and joined the elite few swimmers who have broken the 1:49 barrier. Krzysztof Chmielewski‘s bronze medal time of 1:49.26 also jumps the pole ip into the top 10 of pefromers.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke – Finals

• World Record: 1:02.36 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)/Alia Atkinson, JAM (2014, 2016)
• World Junior Record: 1:02.36 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)
• World Championship Record: 1:02.36 – Alia Atkinson, JAM (2014)
• 2022 World Champion: Lilly King, USA – 1:02.67

Podium

1. Tang Qianting (CHN) – 1:02.38
2. Lilly King (USA) – 1:02.80
3. Eneli Jefimova (EST) – 1:03.25
4. Alina Zmushka (NAA) – 1:03.41
5. Evgeniaa Chikunova (NAB) – 1:03.79
6. Rebeca Meder (RSA) – 1:03.93
7. Angharad Evans (GBR) – 1:04.08
8. Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU) – 1:04.65

It was like a replay of yesterday’s semifinal. China’s Tang Qianting was out fast, 29.04, half a second faster than the World Record. Tang, who won the event in 2021, seemed to be on pace to crack the 1:02.36 shared by Ruta Meilutyte and Alia Atkinson (x2) but came up tantalizing short again.

.01 off the time in the semi, Tang closed in 16.22 and 17.12 to fall just .02 short as her 1:02.38 wins the gold medal. The USA’s Lilly King, out in 29.34 was also under the WR pace and had a much better swim than her semi-final as the defending champion took the silver in 1:02.80, just .13 off her winning time from 2022.

Snapping up the bronze was Eneli Jefimova with a time of 1:03.25, .04 off her national record.

Men’s 100 Breaststroke – Finals

• World Record: 55.28 – Ilya Shymanovich, BLR (2021)
• World Junior Record: 56.66 – Simone Cerasuolo, ITA (2021)
• World Championship Record: 55.70 – Ilya Shymanovich, BLR (2021)
• 2022 World Champion: Nic Fink, USA – 55.88

Podium

1. Qin Haiyang (CHN) – 55.47  ***NEW CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD***
2. Kirill Prigoda (NAB) – 55.49
3. Ilya Shymanovich (NAA) – 55.60
4. Denis Petrashov (KGZ) – 55.91
5. Taku Taniguchi (JPN) – 56.32
6. Aleksandr Zhigalov (NAB) – 56.35
7. Caspar Corbeau (NED)/Ludovico Viberti (ITA) – 56.46

If the importance of strong pullouts hadn’t yet reached you, Qin Haiyang’s last 25 should reinforce it. A race that started with all eight entrants separated by less than .6 of a second lived up to expectations.

Top-seeded Kirill Prigoda led early, hitting the halfway mark in 25.73, but it was the most uncomfortable of leads as Ilya Shymanovich, the World Record holder, was just .01 back. The pair of Neutral Athletes were neck and neck at the 75, with Prigoda managing to gain just .01. However, both were caught and passed by Qin.

The Chinese star was 3rd at the 50 but close to half a second back. He crawled back a tenth over the 3rd 25 but dropped a hammer of a last 25 (14.72) to catch the early leaders and to get his hands onto the wall in first, recording a time of 55.47, a new Championships and Asian record.

Women’s 100 IM – Semifinals

• World Record: 55.98 — Gretchen Walsh (USA), 2024
• World Junior Record: 57.59 – Anastasiya Shkurdai (BLR)- 2020
• World Championship Record: 56.06 — Gretchen Walsh (USA), 2024
• 2022 World Champion:  Marrit Steenbergen (NED)— 57.53

Top 8

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 55.71 ***NEW WORLD RECORD***
2. Kate Douglass (USA) – 56.88
3. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) – 57.19
4. Rebecca Meder (RSA) – 57.69
5. Tessa Giele (NED) – 57.70
6. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 57.73
7. Diana Petkova (BUL) – 58.28
8. Sydney Pickrem (CAN) – 58.47

Well, it took a little longer than I thought, but Gretchen Walsh got her first World record of the night.

The American, who won the 100 free at the start of the evening, had complete control of the second semifinal as she cruised from stroke to stroke. Walsh posted the fastest fly (11.16), back (13.60), and free splits (13.95) as she chopped off .28 from her own World record, posting a mark of 55.71.

While nearly two full seconds back of Walsh, Rebecca Meder set a new African Record as she took second behind Walsh with a time of 57.69, which qualifies her for tomorrow’s final in 4th place.

The first semifinal was a tight affair as Kate Douglass, Mary-Sophie Harvey and Beryl Gastaldello duked it out. Douglass and Gastaldello traded the lead, with Douglass having the better of the fly splits but lagging on the backstroke, giving the Frenchwoman the lead by just .01. Gastaldello, whose weakness is the breaststroke, could hang with Douglass as she would end up being passed by the American as well as by the Canadian. Douglass would go on to win the semi in 56.88, with Harvey back in 57.19, a new national record.

Men’s 100 IM- Semifinals

• World Record: 49.28 — Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2020
• World Junior Record: 50.63 — Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
• World Championship Record: 50.63 — Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2018
• 2022 World Champion: Thomas Ceccon, (ITA) — 50.97

Top 8

1. Noe Ponti (SUI) – 50.43 ***NEW CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD***
2. Heiko Gigler (AUT) – 51.30
3. Bernhard Reitshammer (AUT) – 51.33
4. Carles Coll Marti (ESP) – 51.50
5. Caio Pumputis (BRA) – 51.76
6. Berke Saka (TUR) – 51.89
7. Michael Andrew (USA) – 51.91
8. Miroslav Knedla (CZE) – 52.20

Noe Ponti can do no wrong.

The Swiss Star is having the short course season of his life after having set the WR in the 50 fly in the World Cup Series and then again here in Budapest, winning the event in WR fashion.

In the first semifinal, Ponti used his underwater prowess to power through the field and led from start to finish, and took the win in 50.43, a time that stands as a new Championships record, but interestingly enough not a national record as Ponti swam 50.39 in Singapore earlier this season.

Ponti took the semifinal with over a second lead on Bernhard Reitshammer, whose 51.33 was still fast enough for 3rd overall, which goes to show just how much Ponti dominated the field. The USA’s Michael Andrew made his first final of the week as he placed 3rd in the semifinal in a time of 51.91.

The second semifinals had a nervous wait as there was a long video review, but nothing ended up coming from it. Austria’s Heiko Gigler was tied with Spain’s Carl Colle Marti at the 75 meter mark, but crushed the last 25 to take the win and #2 overall time of 51.30.

Men’s 400 Freestyle – Finals

• World Record: 3:32.25, Yannick Agnel (FRA), 2012
• World Junior Record: 3:37.92 – Matthew Sates (RSA), 2021
• World Championship Record: 3:55.70 – 3:34.01, Danas Rapsys (LTU), 2018
• 2022 World Champion: Kieran Smith (USA), 3:34.38

Podium

1. Elijah Winnington (AUS) – 3:35.89
2. Carson Foster/Kieran Smith (USA) – 3:36.31
4. Lucas Henveaux (BEL) – 3:36.71
5. Roman Fuchs (FRA) – 3:38.31
6. Zalan Sarkany (HUN) – 3:38.59
7. Ahmed Jaouadi (TUN) – 3:39.32
8. Petar Mitsin (BUL) – 3:41.46

Kieran Smith, taking a page out of his Olympic teammate and training partner Bobby Finke, attacked the race from the get-go and set an early blistering pace. Swimming out of lane 8, Smith, the last to qualify for the final, was out in 51.49, .41 ahead of Lucas Henvaux and Zalan Sarkany.

Through the 200, Smith still led over the Belgian Henvaux by .80. Elijah Winnington, the top seed, was 4th at the 100 and, by the 200, had passed Sarkany and moved into 3rd but was nearly a full second back of the American. Over the last 100, Winnington started to reel in the pair and posted four sub 13.5 splits to overtake the two by the 375 mark to take the lead for the first time, .25 ahead of Smith.

Coming home in 13.10, the Aussie claimed gold in 3:35.89, ahead of Smith, who closed in 13.27 to finish .42 back with a time of 3:36.31. He wasn’t alone in claiming the silver medal as his compatriot Carson Foster hit the wall with an equal time. Foster didn’t figure into the mix for much of the race as he was 8th at the 100 and at the 200 just in 6th, a full 1.5 seconds back of Smith.

Foster, however, surged on the backhalf and moved up from 4th to equal 2nd on the last 25 alone, recording a split of 12.81.

Women’s 4×200 Freestyle Relay – Finals

• World Record: 7:30.87, Australia – 2022
• World Championship Record: 7:30.87, Australia – 2022
• 2022 World Champion: Australia, 7:30.87

Podium

1. USA (A. Walsh, P. Madden, K. Grimes, C. Weinstein) – 7:30.13 ***NEW WORLD RECORD***
2. Hungary (N. Padar, P. Ugrai, D. Molnar, L. Abraham) – 7:33.39
3. Australia (L. Neale, E. Dekkers, M. Jansen, L. Pallister) – 7:33.60
4. NAB – 7:36.68
5. Italy – 7:40.28
6. Germany – 7:42.58
7. China – 7:46.20
8. Brazil – 7:46.76

WHAT A WAY TO END THE DAY.

The American relay consisting of the 2020 Olympic 200 IM silver medalist, the 2024 Olympic 800 free bronze medalist, the 2024 Olympic 400 IM silver medalist, and the Olympic 8th place finisher in the 200 free (I’m aware she won the silver medal on the 4×200) seemed like an unlikely quartet to make history in Budapest, but they did just that.

Upon closer inspection, however, this group had all the makings to do so as Alex Walsh, despite her individual events suggesting otherwise, is a strong freestyler and has a gold from this relay at the Long Course Worlds in 2022 and a bronze from the last edition of this meet. Madden, who is in a massive renaissance of her swimming career, won silver in Paris in this event, and Grimes just crushed her personal best in the 800 free.

Walsh opened in 1:53.25, keeping the US in contact with the Aussies and Hungary who opened up with Leah Neale (1:52.79) and Nikolett Padar (1:52.81). Handing things over to Madden, the US took advantage of Australia’s weak swim and, like the Hungarians, lept over the Aussie into the presumptive silver medal position as Madden split 1:53.18.

Hungary’s Panna Ugrai brought them into first place with a 1:52.59 and turned it over to their weakest leg. Dora Molnar struggled, posting a split of 1:55.39, which saw both Grimes (1:53.39) and Daria Klepikova of the Neutral Athletes team (1:51.94) pass her.

With the anchor legs in the water, the USA led the Australians by 1.94 and the Hungarians by .97 but had the Neutral Athletes B team hot on their heels, only .19 back. Weinstein, however, never looked back and blew apart any opposition as the future Cal bear and Sandpiper swimmer split a speedy 1:50.31 to not only secure the win but run down the World Record line and ultimately pass it.

With a winning time of 7:30.13, the USA undercut the old mark by .74. Hungary and Australia surged past the NAB team to claim the silver and bronze respectively in times of 7:33.39 and 7:33.60. The Hungarian team, consisting of three 18-year-olds crushed the former national record of 7:39.21, a mark set in 2014 by Evelyn Verrastzo, Zsuzsanna Jakabos, Bolgarka Kapas and Katinka Hosszu.