Blake Pieroni Knocks Off Le Clos’ World Cup Record With 48.11 100 Free

2018 FINA WORLD CUP – DOHA

American Blake Pieroni broke the World Cup Record en route to winning gold in the men’s 100 freestyle on day 2 in Doha, putting up a time of 48.11 to knock off Chad Le Clos‘ 2015 standard of 48.16.

Pieroni, who finished a close 2nd to Russian Vlad Morozov at the first stop in a respectable 48.30, opened up a lead in excess of a half-second at the 50 in 23.12, and didn’t relinquish much coming home in a blistering 24.99.

Morozov, known for his opening speed, was conservative on the opening 50, out in 23.68, and made up some ground with a 24.75 second half but it wasn’t enough to run down the 22-year-old American. He was 2nd in 48.43, and Belgian Pieter Timmers was nearly two-tenths better than he was in Kazan for 3rd (49.04). Morozov won the first stop in 48.26.

Pieroni’s swim fell just .03 shy of personal best of 48.08, set when he won the U.S. National title in July, as he continues to show good form after setting a pair of personal bests on day 1 in the 50 (22.17) and 400 free (3:53.98) where he finished 3rd and 1st respectively.

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Mikeh
5 years ago

What a great swim! Bravo for him. He’ll sneak under :48 soon

Shibly
Reply to  Mikeh
5 years ago

Very soon

CraigH
Reply to  Mikeh
5 years ago

Yes, I predict he will at the next World Cup stop!

renédescartes
5 years ago

I kinda wish this was SCM.

Hswimmer
Reply to  renédescartes
5 years ago

Why? Scm is dumb

Caeleb Dressel Will Win 9 Gold Medals in Tokyo
Reply to  Hswimmer
5 years ago

American says scm is dumb. Typical

Admin

I can come up with one unimpeachable, totally-pragmatic reason why SCY swimming is better than SCM swimming:

You can split a 50 meter pool into two 25 yard pools that run in the same direction as the 50 meter course and without being limited to a 25 yard width/drilling new holes for lane ropes/blocks/etc.

(But yeah, if SCM is dumb, then so is SCY. Neither is really more or less valid than the other, except that maybe it’s a little easier to convert times from LCM to SCM because the literal distance is the same).

GrameziPt
Reply to  Braden Keith
5 years ago

Of course short course meters is more valid! Who else in the world swims yards besides America? I know the US is strongest swimming in the world, but you can be world champion in shortcourse meters but not in yards. That alone, makes short course meters way more valid!

Hswimmer
Reply to  GrameziPt
5 years ago

NCAAs is more important than SC worlds to US swimmers.

John
Reply to  Hswimmer
5 years ago

Think global then

Just Sayin
Reply to  John
5 years ago

I know what you’re trying to say but there are quite a few internationals in the NCAA

HSWIMMER
Reply to  Hswimmer
5 years ago

no shiz

Team Rwanda
Reply to  Hswimmer
5 years ago

Yeah but SCY is dumber

Superfan
Reply to  renédescartes
5 years ago

The rest of the World Cups are scm….just for you!

Superfan
5 years ago

You can get in shape and stay in shape by racing a lot. Isn’t that what Michael does? If you have no perceived skepticism about “getting out of shape”, then he will be fine! Plus he has til Worlds end of the summer to focus on Worlds after all the World Cup$!

Horninco
5 years ago

Is he getting a little bit of a travel taper or is this a true in season swim

BSWIMMER
Reply to  Horninco
5 years ago

I think the only people that do real in season, middle of training, beat up swims are the boys at florida. when theres money on the line or big competition, the big names usually rest somewhat

swimcoach
5 years ago

how is Blake training over there if he is doing the entire series? Is he working out with Andrews? Giving USRPT a shot?

PPKL
Reply to  swimcoach
5 years ago

Might be smart!

Carol Glover
5 years ago

Way to go Blake!

Scribble
Reply to  Carol Glover
5 years ago

Chad LeClos downvoted this.

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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