2021 FINA WORLD CUP STOP #2 – BUDAPEST
- Thursday, October 7th – Saturday, October 9th
- Duna Arena, Budapest, Hungary
- SCM (25m)
- SwimSwam Preview
- Day 1 Prelims Recap/Day 1 Finals Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Recap/Day 2 Finals Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Recap
- Results
As if 27-year-old Emma McKeon hadn’t already made her presence known across the first two stops of the FINA World Cup Series, the Aussie topped off off her Budapest campaign with a big-time World Cup Record.
Touching the wall in a time of 50.58 to take the top prize in the women’s 100m freestyle final, McKeon matched the longstanding WC Record of the same time that’s been on the books since Swedish Sarah Sjostrom put it there in 2017.
McKeon opened her wicked-quick race in a front half of 24.55 before bringing it home in 26.03, wrangling up the best time of her career in the process. For comparison, Sjostom’s 50.58 was comprised of 24.49/26.09.
Entering this 2nd World Cup stop, multi-Olympic gold medalist McKeon owned a lifetime best of 50.96, a mark she produced just last week in Berlin. Prior to that escapade, McKeon had never been under 51, holding a PB of 51.02 from 2 years ago in the ISL.
However, her time here night now ties Sjostrom as the 2nd fastest swimmer ever in this SCM 100 free event, sitting only behind fellow Aussie Cate Campbell’s World Record of 50.25 from 2017.
All told, here are McKeon’s performances across the first 2 stops:
| Event | Time | Place | |
| Berlin | 50 Free | 23.56 | 1 |
| 100 Free | 50.96 | 1 | |
| 50 Fly | 25.10 | 2 | |
| Budapest | 50 Free | 23.50 | 1 |
| 100 Free | 50.58 | 1 | |
| 50 Fly | 24.97 | 1 |
She my not have WRs, BUT she has the Olympic Record for the 50m, 100m, 4x100m and 4x100m Medley….not a bad substitute.
Throw in WR for 4 x100 free. A bronze 100 Butterfly & 200 free & silver & bronze in 4×200 free to show her range as well.
Plus gold 2014 Commonwealth Games 200 free 1.55.5 (.Siobhan- Marie close 2nd ) & bronzes in 2018 CG 200 fly & Free.
With The Australians , Penny , Taylor , Sobhan- Marie , Alys Thomas , Anna ,Freya in the fly free mix, let no one say these medals are weak.
Comm games will be hot on the women’s side.
Can’t wait for her to break an individual WR so SJHW and Yozhik and those other people that love to invent criteria for what makes a great swimmer can shut up about her not having one. Apparently breaking 5 relay world records means nothing lol.
can’t wait for SJHW to predict doom and gloom for emma at worlds because she hasn’t won an individual world title yet – just like they did in the leadup to tokyo
Emma was primed for Gwangju but got sick . Although it only earnt her a minor medal at Comms , her 200 fly training may have brought out a more forthright side of a quite shy person.
As a comparison , the best is Inge De Bruin who pre 96 was more work shy & then after missing the team , transformed her life .
I am one of those who says she is not a legend until she breaks a WR individually.
To do it, Mckeon has to surpass the records of Sjostrom at her best, as well as Cate Campbell’s incredible 50.2 SCM 100 free WR. Also, Kromo’s amazing 22+ 50 free SCM record.
I hope she does it. It will be an awesome swim to watch.
fastest times in History;
no 1. Sjostrom 51.71 relay leadoff for Sweden in 2017 WC, before swimming 52.31 in 100free race in same meet, this was her fastest time in a Olympic or WC 100 free final, her 5th fastest ever. Not a big time racer in 100 free.
no 2 McKeon 51.96 Olympic final 2021. Fastest swim in the biggest event
no 3 Campbell 52.03 Pan pacs 2018, 2 years after infamous 2016 Olympics. Campbell fastest time in Olympic or WC final in the 100 Free was 52.34 in winning 2013 World championship, her 5th fastest time, again not a big time racer.
no 4 Manuel 52.04 World championship final 2019.
She has the second fastest 100 free LCM of all time, only behind Sjostrom who was a relay lead off, so Emma has the fastest time ever individually.
She also is the second fastest 100 free LCM relay split of all time, only behind a couple of C1’s superhuman splits.
She now is the 2nd fastest 100 SCM of all time as well.
Saying “you need to have a world record” seems so arbitrary. There are quite a few swimmers who briefly held a world record but never actually went on to achieve much.
Her current individual rankings:
50 Free LCM: 9th fastest time, 4th fastest performer of all time
100 Free LCM: 2nd fastest time
100… Read more »
Looking at these stats, she is an amazing swimmer! Total legend !
Mckeon is having a Petria Thomas- like twilight to her career, going from a top tier challenger to generational talents, to stepping up as the pack leader. It’s great to see.
Umm, I wonder why the down votes, some still upset McKeon is the best sprinter in her generation.
Maybe the reference to twilight ? Perhaps a poor or inaccurate choice of words either for Thomas or, at this point, McKeon. Whilst I can get FT may have been referring to the later years of their careers, the term twilight indicates decline/past one’s best. Thomas essentially got out whilst on top rather than past her best ….. precisely where Paris may fit with McKeon’s career trajectory is unknowable at this point.
No need to overthink. People downvote for no reason.
No, the best sprinter is Sjostrom.
Fastest Sprinter Sjostrom WR record holder, no Olympic golds in 50 or 100
Most consistent sprinter Cate Campbell, most best times, no Olympic golds in 50 & 100
Best Clutch swimmer Simone Manuel only 1 Olympic gold in 100 tied with Oleksiak.
Legend Kromowidjojo 50 & 100 Gold medalist in 2012.
Legend McKeon 50 & 100 gold medalist 2021 with fastest time not in a relay in 100 with more potentially to come..
Well that summed it up nicely!
Well put, honestly I think sjoestrom edges her out as it is but after another cycle it might be different
I wonder which meet Emma’s gonna peak for? Has it been confirmed that the ISL final is moving to December before Worlds?
Damn almost coming back in 25 sec + , some male sprinters don’t even go that fast long course 😂
That’s very fast! Will Emma complete the rest of the World Cup tour?