Men’s 50 freestyle complete race footage is courtesy of swimswam partner Universal Sports Network.
Swimswam / Jeff Grace coverage of the men’s 50 freestyle at the 2013 FINA World Championships:
The men’s 50 freestyle final was one of the most anticipated races of the evening at it featured the three of the last four Olympic Champions in the event.
Coming out on top was 2008 Olympic champion and world record holder Cesar Cielo of Brazil. Cielo who has had to contend with injuries since the 2012 Olympic games in London was in top form posting a time of 21.32, which is the fastest time he has recorded since breaking the world record in December of 2009.
For Cielo this result was surprising because he had lost a lot of confidence in his start and questioned whether he would ever swim with the best on the international level without as much power off of the blocks. For that reason much of his concentration in training this year has been on the second 25 meters of his race, which definitely paid off.
Russian Vlad Morozov has made great strides this season, beginning the year with a lifetime best of 22.06. He dominated the world short course championships winning both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle events and experienced great success winning the 50 and 100 freestyle events in impressive times at the World University Games.
After a marvelous first 50 split of 21.94, in the 100 freestyle final in Barcelona Morozov faded to fifth. Showing that speed earlier in the meet it was a given that he would be challenging for the top spot on the podium.
Morozov finished second in a time of 21.47, improving on his previous lifetime best of 21.64.
Four time Olympian George Bovell of Trinidad and Tobago finished third in a time of 21.51. It is incredible to see him this primed for the event since coming into the World Championships Bovell had not swum the event this season. His finishing time is also his best since January 1, 2010.
100 freestyle Olympic Champion American Nathan Adrian finished fourth in a time of 21.60. Adrian did not look good in the 100 freestyle where he finished third and his finishing time in the 50 was off his season’s best of 21.47.
2012 Olympic Champion Florent Manaudou of France touched just ahead of the 2000 Olympic champion American Anthony Ervin. Manaudou finished fifth in a time of 21.64 while Ervin finished sixth in a time of 21.65.
Roland Schoeman of South Africa finished seventh in a time of 21.86 followed by Frederick Bousquet of France who finished eighth in a time of 21.93.
Congratulations to Bovell!!! You represented our county well and we are proud of you!
I am soooo happy for the Trinidadian Bronze Medalist George Bovell, he did us proud. I did not doubt that Cielo was gonna take it, he wanted it!
I concur that the American Record by Cullen Jones will fall in the next 1-2 years! Cullen Jones needs to change some things in his training and in his personal life if he hope to remain competitive in the 50 freestyle on a worldwide elite level through Rio 2016.
For me, it was a MONSTER surprise Bovell medal.
I have to admit i wasn t expecting Cielo to win(Even he was expecting Manaudou to win!).I should be given him more credit, he lost only 3 50free races after his Olympic gold medal.His in season times this year was the worst of his life(no sub-22).His Maria Lenk times are tapered(21.58/21.57).
He even said in Swimming World (July 2013’s issue) that he was taking time off to do some charity work over in Africa! And here he is with a medal on the world stage. Very happy for Mr. Bovell. It’s nice to see some smaller countries stepping up their game. Just today I saw there was a guy in the 1500 from the Faroe Islands! I would much rather see guys like that beating America than other larger nations.
Yep, Bovell was a surprise but hey, on the other hand, is it so huge surprise? Bovell is fast man and it’s not the first time when lines 1 and 2 or 7 and 8 excel in 50’s. Bovell has also the experience what is so important in 50’s.
Is anyone aware about the controversy involving turbines placed under the Barcelona pool which allegedly help/hinder swimmers in lane 1,2,3 6,7,8 on the one lap (50m) events?
But that was in which position in the pool?Ruta break WR in lane 5, Cielo was in Lane 6 but his first 15 meters was light-years behind his best(5.28 against 4.90)…
Wow, I haven’t heard anything about that conversation.
Had he had antecipated that knee surgery he would be holding the 3 TIMES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GOLD MEDAL in his hands plus that london olympic gold medal.
Cesar redeemed himself with this win.
The first swimmer ever to win thrice the world championship in the 50 free. NBD.
Ps: the time could have been better if he had a better finish (on top of water instead of sinking his arm).
I can not see that video.
But there is many here(in different languages):
http://sportv.globo.com/platb/blogdocoach/2013/08/04/cielo-em-todo-lugar-2/
MARK my words:
We will see the textile best go down next year.Dont be surprised if by a lot.
It was a nervous final, only Schoeman made a GREAT start.I am not only talking about Cielo(Who was 0.38 off his best in the first 15 meters), but Manaudou(He choked?I believe it was jonh26 calling to tell how he would react to being the favorite),Ervin,Adrian,Morozov….
Next year we will have two minor competitions(PanPacs and Euro Champs), a lot less pressure/tension, i think American Record will go down.
Dont be surprised if we see 21.10(or lower) next year.
I just managed to see this event. A very great swim by Cielo. He showed why experience is important in 50’s.
Ervin! It had to be your worst start ever.