Belmonte Blasts New Short Course 400 IM World Record In Eindhoven

FINA WORLD CUP – EINDHOVEN

We’ve been seeing World Records of the sprint variety go down as of late, but tonight Spain’s Mireia Belmonte cranked out a new mark in the women’s 400m IM. While competing on day 2 of the World Cup in Eindhoven (SCM), Belmonte scorched the field and blasted a new 400 IM WR of 4:18.94. That eclipses the previous record held by Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu of 4:19.46 set at the 2015 European Short Course Championships.

Belmonte and Hosszu have gone back and forth in owning this 400 IM WR, with the former’s mark of 4:19.86 serving as the time Hosszu surpassed with her 4:19.46 win in Netanya. The duo finished 1-2 in tonight’s race in Eindhoven, however, the race strategy played out very differently for the two elite athletes. At the conclusion of the backstroke leg, Belmonte sat over 2 seconds behind a field-leading Hosszu, with the Spaniard’s split registered at 2:06.46 compared to Hosszu’s clocking of 2:03.79 at the 200m mark.

Belmonte took things to another level during the breaststroke, however, making up that time difference and then some, coming out ahead by almost 3 seconds before holding on to the pole position through the freestyle leg. Behind Belmonte’s new WR of 4:18.94, Hosszu settled for 4:25.18, yet still claimed silver in the race. For Belmonte, her time tonight represents the first time a female swimmer has dipped under the 4:19 threshold in the short course 400 IM event.

Below are the splits for Belmonte/Hosszu for tonight’s race, courtesy of Omega Timing:

Belmonte already holds short course world records across the 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle events, as well as the women’s 200 butterfly. The latter is the race Belmonte won in Rio, giving the Spaniard her first individual Olympic gold medal.

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Carla
6 years ago

Congratulations, you are a pride and example, our children we can say, we saw swim and win Mireia, a true myth. Your effort soaks our eyes. How to thank you for what you make us feel in every race !! Luckily there are athletes like you teaching us what sport really is and the passion for it.
Thank you, thank you, and thank you with all my heart. Not only for your achievements, for your example and dedication

Wm park
6 years ago

Belmonte holds WRs in 4,8,15 Free too, has k
Ledecky never swum these?

marklewis
6 years ago

Mireia has set 5 World Records, all in SCMs.

This was her first IM record. And she beat Iron Lady when she did it.

marklewis
Reply to  marklewis
6 years ago

Correction – she did have a 400 IM WR in SC back in 2008.

Pretty good to have set WRs in free, fly and IM.

anonymoose
Reply to  marklewis
6 years ago

she also had the 400im record just before housszu. i think she was the first one to break 4.20. was like 3-4 years ago i think?

Riez
Reply to  anonymoose
6 years ago

Correct:
4:20.85 Hosszú 11 Aug 2013 World Cup Berlin
4:20.83 Hosszú 28 Aug 2014 World Cup Doha
4:19.86 Belmonte 3 December 2014 World Championships Doha
4:19.46 Hosszú 2 December 2015 European Championships Netanya
4:18.94 Belmonte 12 August 2017 World Cup Eindhoven

SwimJon
6 years ago

Really impressiv swim!

samuel huntington
6 years ago

WOW, these ladies don’t slow down

Dee
6 years ago

It’s odd – Her SC back & breast legs are monumentally better than LC. Always have been, too. Odd.

PVSFree
6 years ago

Hosszu went out waaay too fast, almost .5 under WR pace. She doesn’t seem to be in the best form this weekend. All credit goes to Belmonte for an absolutely incredible swim though, that back half was electrifying to watch

Swimmer
Reply to  PVSFree
6 years ago

59.38
1.07.08
1.12.78
59.70
(I think…)

That back half blows my mind.

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Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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