Chad Le Clos Scratches 50 Fly on Day 1 of World Championships (START LISTS)

2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

South Africa’s Chad le Clos has scratched his first individual event of the 2019 World Championships, the men’s 50 fly, on Sunday morning. He didn’t swim that race at the 2017 World Championships either, though he did in 2015 and placed just 14th in the semi-final: his lowest finish of that meet when he won the 100 fly in a new African Record (50.56).

The 4-time Olympic medalist and 14-time World Champion enters the meet nursing a groin injury, though his pre-meet comments show that he’s still confident about his chances for gold – in his primary events.

Le Clos won’t swim any events on the opening day of the championships: South Africa also scratched the men’s 400 free relay. In 2017, they placed 12th in prelims even without Le Clos on the relay. A top-12 finish here in Gwangju qualifies a country for the Olympics in that relay.

He still has individual entries at the meet in the 200 fly, 100 free, and 100 fly (but no 200 free).

Le Clos’ was the most significant scratch upon release of start lists for the first day of the meet.

Other Day 1 Scratches:

  • Italy’s Simona Quadarella is scratched out of the women’s 400 free, where she was the 6th seed. We already knew, however, that she was skipping that race to focus on the 800 and 1500.
  • The British women scratched the 400 free relay. In spite of some young sprint talent, like Freya Anderson, the British women haven’t swum this event at the World Championships since 2011. They placed 9th there. The team didn’t hit their own internal standard to race this relay at Worlds, though they were still entered in the pre-meet entry lists.

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Verram
4 years ago

I wonder when the all-important relay line ups will be released for prelims

Philip Johnson
4 years ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/LiveTvLinks/comments/asojj8/sports_channels/

Click on the Olympic channel link and there you go.

IHB
4 years ago

Men 100 br
– Adam Peaty
– Ilya Shymanovich
– James Wilby
– Yan Zibei

Women 100 fly
– Sarah Sjoestroem
– Emma Mckeon
– Kelsi Dahlia
– Margaret MacNeil

Men 50 fly
– Andrii Govorov
– Nicholas Santos
– Oleg Kostin
– Benjamin Proud

Women 200 IM
– Katinka Hosszu
– Yui Ohashi
– Kim Seoyeong
– Siobhan O’Connor

Heyitsme
Reply to  IHB
4 years ago

No Caeleb in the 50 fly ouch

ACC fan
Reply to  Heyitsme
4 years ago

Michael Andrew!

Dee
Reply to  IHB
4 years ago

I’d be over the moon with 4th for SMOC in the 200IM. Knew she was unwell in the winter, but didnt realise how badly – Saw an interview with her where she said she thought she might never swim again in December/January, and qualified for the team off of 4 weeks training in March. Nobody deserves a big comeback more than her.

Couloir
Reply to  IHB
4 years ago

I think Kim Seoyeong has a chance at doing something special in the 2im. She beat Ohashi at Asian Games last year and with her having the home crowd behind her, I think she has a decent shot at taking silver ahead of Ohashi. Regardless, it should be a really good race to watch overall though.

Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

Well, the way LeClos took out his 200 fly at the 2017 Worlds, he could just ask for a split request this time.

hswimmer
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

lol!

MLAFORMAT
4 years ago

Will this meet be on tv?

Hzmusicstand
Reply to  MLAFORMAT
4 years ago

Yes on NBC sports

slap shot regatta
Reply to  MLAFORMAT
4 years ago

The Olympic Channel has a ton of coverage – you can get it via YouTubeTV (YT may have a free trial right now?)
NBC as well.

CRD
Reply to  slap shot regatta
4 years ago

Can you also watch it on YouTubeTV if you dont live in the US?

slap shot regatta
Reply to  CRD
4 years ago

Not sure, but I would check on their site and see what channels they offer in your country. Good luck! 🙂

Texas Tap Water
Reply to  CRD
4 years ago

Set your VPN to Canada and watch CBC

SeanSwim
4 years ago

Anyone have any idea what the US prelim relays will be?

Men (in no particular order)
Adrian-Chadwick-Apple-Haas? Maybe Seliskar?

Apathetic
Reply to  SeanSwim
4 years ago

And any idea why they’re seeded at a 3:19 in Heat 1? I suppose that means they’ll have clean water at least.

Pinodee
Reply to  Apathetic
4 years ago

Don’t quote me on this but it could possibly have something to do with them not setting an official time in the event over the past 2 years (because of the Pan Pacs DQ)

apathetic
Reply to  Pinodee
4 years ago

Ah, that would make some sense. Though the WUGs team just did a 3:11 a few weeks ago.

Andy
4 years ago

GB women seem to have also scratched the 800Fr relay meaning no swim in Tokyo

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