Andriy Govorov Posts Fastest Textile Time Ever In 50 Fly

2016 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Monday, May 16th – Sunday, May 22nd
  • Prelims: 10:00 AM (London Time) / 5:00 AM (Eastern Time)
  • Finals: 6:00 PM (London Time) / 1:00 PM (Eastern Time)
  • London Aquatics Center, London, UK
  • Meet Central
  • Psych Sheet
  • Live Results
  • Live Stream

The first finals session of the 2016 European Championships in London went off tonight, and Ukraine’s Andriy Govorov showed he is on great form. After putting up the top time in the men’s 50 fly heats in 23.00, Govorov threw down the fastest textile swim in history in the semi-finals of 22.73, breaking the old mark of 22.76 set by Brazil’s Cesar Cielo in 2012.

Govorov’s swim was not only the fastest textile time ever, it was also a new European Championship record and a new Ukrainian record. Both records were set by Govorov at this meet two years ago in Berlin, where Govorov posted a time of 22.87 in the heats. He would go onto tie for bronze, losing out to Florent Manaudou (FRA) and Yauhen Tsurkin (BLR) and tying with Ben Proud (GBR). Manaudou and Tsurkin tied for gold in 23.00, slower than Govorov was in the prelims.

The previous textile best by Cielo was set at the Maria Lenk Trophy in 2012, where he broke the Americas record and the world textile best in one fell swoop. The Americas record still stands.

Govorov heads into the final tomorrow night as the clear favorite for gold, as the next closest in the semi-finals was the man he tied with for bronze two years ago, Ben Proud. Proud posted a time of 23.42, 0.69 off of Govorov. There are many men in the 23.5-23.7 range, but none look like they have a shot at touching Govorov if he comes anywhere close to what he went in the semi-final.

The 50 freestyle will be Govorov’s only other race of the meet.

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carlo
8 years ago

Ozzie didn’t read that the dude is Ukrainian?

Gina
Reply to  carlo
8 years ago

It is more an ethnic Russian name than Ukrainian but you can’t assign someone into politic, most of us arec passengers. . Geographically he comes from & studied in East Ukraine . Lucky he avoided the draft & lived to swim another day.

PKWater
8 years ago

What’s his 50 free time? What’s his 100 fly time?

Admin
Reply to  PKWater
8 years ago

21.80 in the 50 free, 53.68 in the 100 fly.

PKWater
Reply to  Braden Keith
8 years ago

Thanks M8

Stay Human
Reply to  Braden Keith
8 years ago

That’s a shame he can only go 53.68, but you know why when you look at the tape of the 50 and see he wins it all on his insane tempo, and you know there’s no way he could come close to keeping that up once he surfaces after the turn and breakout.

Sprintdude9000
8 years ago

Awesome swim. One of the few flyer sprinters that come up fairly short after the start too !

Ozzie
8 years ago

hope hes not a drug cheat like a lot of Russians apparently

Admin
Reply to  Ozzie
8 years ago

Ozzie – Govorov is Ukrainian, not Russian.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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