2017 Swim Open Stockholm
- Saturday, April 8 – Tuesday, April 11, 2017
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Live results
Just a day after losing her spot atop the world ranks to Federica Pellegrini, Sweden’s Michelle Coleman retook the top spot, going 1:55.64 to win the Swim Open Stockholm.
Coleman was 1:55.98 last month, at that point a world-leading time for the 2016-2017 season. Pellegrini topped that by four one-hundredths this week at Italy’s national championships, but Coleman didn’t take long at all to answer back. Her 1:55.64 came in the very first women’s event of the Stockholm Open, winning by a second a half or so over Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu (1:57.01).
2016-2017 LCM WOMEN 200 FREE
LEDECKY
1.54.69
| 2 | Federica PELLEGRINI | ITA | 1.54.73 | 07/26 |
| 3 | Emma McKEON | AUS | 1.54.99 | 07/25 |
| 4 | Veronika POPOVA | RUS | 1.55.08 | 07/25 |
| 5 | Sarah SJOSTROM | SWE | 1.55.51 | 08/08 |
Coleman was one of two swimmers to hit a world-leading time. Both represent the home nation of Sweden. Star flyer Sarah Sjostrom improved her own season-best, which already led the world. She was 24.96 Saturday, becoming the first swimmer this season under 25 seconds. She previously led the world with a 25.02 from January, and now leads every swimmer in the world by about eight tenths of a second.
2016-2016 LCM WOMEN 50 FLY
SJOSTROM
24.60
| 2 | Ranomi KROMOWIDJOJO | NED | 25.38 | 07/29 |
| 3 | Farida OSMAN | EGY | 25.39 | 07/29 |
| 4 | Rikako IKEE | JPN | 25.46*WJR | 08/26 |
| 5 | Kelsi WORRELL | USA | 25.48 | 07/29 |
In the first event of the day, Erik Persson came up with a massive 200 breaststroke swim. His 2:07.85 is ranked #2 in the world ranks for the season, behind only world-record-breaker Ippei Watanabe of Japan. Persson is 23 years old and coming off of an Olympic appearance in Rio. He made the 200 breast semifinal there, but was only 2:10 in both his swims, so today’s breakthrough is pretty significant. A 2:07.85 would have taken 6th in the Rio final.
2016-2017 LCM MEN 200 BREAST
WATANABE
2.06.67*WR
| 2 | Anton CHUPKOV | RUS | 2.06.96 | 07/28 |
| 3 | Yasuhiro KOSEKI | JPN | 2.07.18 | 04/16 |
| 4 | Kevin CORDES | USA | 2.07.41 | 06/18 |
| 5 | Ross MURDOCH | GBR | 2.07.72 | 07/27 |
Hosszu is one of the headliners, but lost a couple tough races Saturday. She was second to Coleman in the 200 free, then missed winning the 50 back by less than a tenth. That event went to Ida Lindborg 28.46 to 28.54. But Hosszu did get a win late in the meet, going 16:22.30 to take the 1500 freestyle in a time that would rank in the world’s top 5, had Hosszu already been faster this season.
Wojciech Wojdak went 3:47.16 6 to win the men’s 400 free, hitting the #3 time in the world this year. Also rising to #3 was Danas Rapsys, who took the men’s 200 back in 1:57.08. Yahor Dodaleu won the 50 fly in 23.59, which hits #5 in the world ranks.
Erik Persson 2:07.85. Add that to the steadily increasing list of 2:07s in that event.
As far as I know Sarah is the only female swimmer ever to go under 25s for the 50m fly long course, if I am not wrong the 2nd fastest ever is Therese Alshammar (also Sweden) who had the world record with a 25.07. As far as I know,it has only been 7 girls ever that have been under 25.50 (WR = 24.43).
It’s really upsetting that Sweden has no great 4th swimmer for the W 4×200 relay, because they really could fight for a medal if they would be able to add someone to the trio of Sjöström, Coleman and Hansson. Unfortunately there is no swimmer to make it happen, we all have seen what happened at 2014 European Championships and at the last Worlds in Kazan.
What does stand behind restriction for the same person to swim more than one time in relay? I’m sure that Sarah Sjostrom is quite capable to swim first and fourth legs for 1:54, 1:57 respectfully. I think that countries with relatively small population has to be given such an option. ( Just kidding 🙂 )
About the “waste the best years of a great generation” from Joe –
The real waste is to have Allison Schmitt, Missy Franklin and Katie Ledecky ( Olympian Champion and world record holder, World Champion, Olympic/World champion and the best ever racer at 200) within time period of just four years and not being able to set a world record that would stay… Read more »
Luxury probs to set records.. USA probably has a couple hundred girls that do 2.04. :> It’s the beauty of a relay, only need four — but you really needs those four!
Don’t worry Joe. Gold medal at 50 free, gold medal at 100 free, gold medal at 50 fly, gold medal at 100 fly, plus Michelle’s medal at 200 free will be enough compensation for Sweden of not being able to produce winning 800 relay. That’s what I think. But I’m not Swedish and may not understand the details of Swedish pride. You have great swimmers that come in generations. I’m sorry that you don’t have four of such in one season.
That is the personal best for Michelle Coleman. Taking into account that she is #4 this season at 100 free with 53.68 I would say that as of today she is the most serious contender for the medal of any sort at 200 free. A sprinter who is able for 1:55 mid in April can be very dangerous in July.
Don’t forget that in Kazan Ledecky had tough 1500 – 200 double that almost cost a final race at 200 and then she wasn’t able to go under 1:55.
Persson has been a diamond in the rough for a while. He’s always stood the distance but just didn’t have enough easy speed and was really poor at starts and turns ~2-3 years ago. Hard work starting to pay off, will be interesting to see if he can go sub minute in the 100 too.
Coleman and Hansson looking good to start this season, unfortunately that doesn’t help when the 4th best option goes 2.04(!!). And nothing on the horizon. Sweden has already dropped the 4×200 for the Worlds, so it’s quite possible that Sjostrom won’t even bother swimming it anywhere else either. Operation: Relay swimmers needs to start asap or we’re gonna waste the best years of a great… Read more »
Katrina Hosszu swam everything what was possible to swim today: from 50 fly,back to 200, 1500 free. Is there any prize money at this meet?
I can hardly read what this persistent desire to swim 1500 or 50s of any sort means.
🙂 🙂
it is like two super powers are threatening each other without no real intention to get engage into action.
Ledecky systematically tries 400IM demonstrating not intimidating yet but some progress. In response Hosszu breaks personal best at 1500 and is continuing to race this distance at any opportunity.
🙂 🙂
One of the best prize purses of the year, on European soil anwyway. Katinka is attempting to swim every single event on this four day meet. At least that’s what they have marketed, and she’s entered in everything.
Sjöström racing with a cold so might not impress in the 100s
Pellegrini too. She’s been sick for all this last week, guess that’s the reason behind that 1.55.94 🙁
Breastroke has been very interesting for the past 5 years with names apearing a disappearing rapidly. Who is Erik Perrson, and how old is he? 2:07.85 is very fast.
He is 23, qualified for semifinals in Kazan and Rio. Has been steady improving for the last 5 years or so, but this is a significant drop.
His own National record was 2:10.12 from the Semifinal at the Rio Olympics