2022 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- June 18-25, 2022 (pool swimming)
- Budapest, Hungary
- Duna Arena
- LCM (50-meter format)
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Australian swimmer Elijah Winnington put on a show in the men’s 400 free at the 2022 World Championships, racing a time of 3:41.22 to win the gold medal. This race was a one of redemption for the 22-year-old, who had the fastest time in the world last year from Australian trials but finished sixth at the Olympics.
With his swim, Winnington becomes the fifth-fastest performer in the history of the men’s 400 free. He is also the fastest performer in this event since Sun Yang went 3:40.14 in 2012, and the ninth man to go under the 3:42 barrier.
Top 5 Performers Of All-Time, Men’s 400 Free:
- Paul Biedermann, Germany – 3:40.07 (2009)
- Ian Thorpe, Australia – 3:40.08 (2002)
- Sun Yang, China – 3:40.14 (2012)
- Ous Mellouli, Tunisia – 3:41.11 (2009)
- Elijah Winnington, Australia – 3:41.22 (2022)
For the majority of the race, Winnington and Germany’s Lukas Märtens were in a tight battle. Winnington took out the early lead before Märtens came in front in the middle part of the race. However, Winnington came home in a scorching 26.50 final 50 to overtake Martens for the win. Märtens, the favorite to win this race and the top seed by over a second with his season-best of 3:41.60, faded to second. He clocked a time of 3:42.85, coming home in a 28.34 last 50- the slowest in the field.
Winnington vs. Martens, Comparative Splits:
| Elijah Winnington | Lukas Martens |
| 25.30 | 25.53 |
| 27.66 | 28.20 |
| 28.26 | 28.13 |
| 28.75 | 28.28 |
| 28.69 | 28.15 |
| 28.23 | 28.02 |
| 27.83 | 28.20 |
| 26.50 | 28.34 |
| 3:41.22 | 3:42.85 |
Behind Winnington and Märtens, Brazil’s Guilherme Costa took bronze in a time of 3:43.31, breaking his own South American record from prelims. The entire podium of this race was faster than Ahmed Hafnoui‘s time of 3:43.36 that won Olympic gold last year.
one of the best redemption swims ever
Wow Elijah’s first 100 and 2nd add up to a blazing 1:47.29. Leaving his middle 200 at a 1:53.93. It’s a tale of two races.
So happy for Elijah!
I did NOT see anyone being faster than like 3:42.5 here, absolutely blazing fast finish by Winnington here.
where was the Olympic gold medalist? I didn’t see his name in the prelims list.
He isn’t at the meet. I believe he’s doing final high school exams or something that couldn’t be rescheduled and he has to graduate now to swim at university
That’s correct, as confirmed by Indiana coaches.
Finally let the big dog out on the last 50
Dean Boxall best psychologist!
“I was probably in this shape, if not better, last year so it’s really just the mental game now. Everybody at this international stage, they put in work, they’re all talented so it’s who’s tougher in the mind.”
Dean Boxall – the best middle distance freestyle coach in the world today…? Uhmm… Yeah