Host Nation Australia Leads Medal Table After Day One Of Short Course Worlds

2022 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

After a whirlwind of a first day in Melbourne, the host nation of Australia stands atop the overall medal table at the 2022 FINA Short Course World Championships.

It was the Aussie women who did the most damage, with Lani Pallister claiming the first individual gold in the 400m freestyle while the 4x100m free relay also landed atop the podium. The latter’s squad of Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, Mollie O’Callaghan and Madi Wilson notched a new World Record to boot.

Add the Aussie men’s 4x100m free relay silver and Kaylee McKeown‘s bronze in the 200m IM and the Aussies claimed 4 overall medals to kick things off in front of the home crowd.

Italy is next in the overall medal standings, with their men’s 4x100m free relay combination of Alessandro Miressi, Paolo Bonin, Leonardo Deplano and Thomas Ceccon claiming gold in a new World Record of their own.

An individual gold by distance powerhouse Gregorio Paltrinieri in the men’s 1500m free secured Italy’s spot ahead of the United States in the table through day 1.

The U.S. earned one gold medal on the night, courtesy of Kate Douglass‘ historic effort in the women’s 200m IM. Her winning time of 2:02.12 broke the American record and came within .26 of Hungarian Katinka Hosszu’s World Record.

A sprinkling of other nations including South Africa, France and New Zealand got on the board with plenty of action still to come over the course of this 6-day competition.

 

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Sub13
1 year ago

Yay. I’m going to savour this while it lasts

Negative Nora
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

I don’t see how Australia doesn’t top the medal tally. We’re swimming well and have quite a deep roster – deeper than I initially perceived. The US just doesn’t have the sprinters on the men’s roster for this sprint relay heavy meet, and Italy just doesn’t have the women to compete for the top of the medal table. One person pulling out of events (Bingjie, 4/8/15 FRs + 4×2) essentially gives Australia 3-4 additional golds than expected as well, and that weighs significantly. I think the US will win more medals, but think Australia will win more golds therefore topping the medal table.

Last edited 1 year ago by Negative Nora
Sub13
Reply to  Negative Nora
1 year ago

Where are we getting our golds from? Even being generous, the only men’s gold would be Chalmers in the 100 free. US men have potential golds in 50/100/200 back, 100/400IM, 50/100/200 breast, 200 free relay and medley relays. That’s 10 potential golds vs 1.

Then our women have golds in 400 free and 100 free relay, plus potential in 100/800/1500 free, 100/200 back, 50/200 free relay. US women have potential in a similar number of events.

The only way Aus tops the medal table is if everything falls in our favour and the US don’t get any lucky golds.

Negative Nora
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

I don’t think the US women have potential in a similar number of events. Sprint breaststrokes are heavily favoring Meilutyte, Backstrokes the Aussies, Butterfly is Zhang and MacNeil with the 200 a potential for US (same as 200 breast with King/Douglass). Don’t see them winning a single freestyle gold either. I think the US will win more overall medals but I just don’t see them garnering more total golds. I also don’t see Fink winning the 200 breast, I see him winning possibly one of the 50/100 – Italy is firing on all cylinders (good news for Martinenghi) and Peaty is lurking and a big question mark. Italy is stopping the US men in a significant amount of relays (including… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by Negative Nora
Sub13
Reply to  Negative Nora
1 year ago

Hmmmm interesting points. I may have overestimated the USA in some events. But they have a knack for randomly winning an event or two where it isn’t expected.

Verram
Reply to  Negative Nora
1 year ago

not if they keep throwing away medal chances like in mixed medley relay and USA gets gold instead

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Over? Did you say over?

https://youtu.be/V8lT1o0sDwI

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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