Ilya Shymanovich Sets European Record With #2 100 Breast of All-Time

2020 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE – MATCH 6

Energy Standard swimmer Ilya Shymanovich raced the second-fastest 100 breaststroke (SCM) in history during Match 6 of the International Swimming League’s 2020 season, lowering his own European and Belarusian Records in the process.

Shymanovich dominated an elite field to finish in a time of 55.86, erasing his continental mark of 55.89 set at the 2019 European SC Championships in Glasgow. He now sits just a quarter of a second shy of Cameron van der Burgh‘s world record of 55.61, set in November of 2009.

Compared to his swim 11 months ago, Shymanovich was much more aggressive opening up today.

Shymanovich, 2019 Euros Shymanovich, 2020 ISL Match 6
26.21 25.92
29.68 29.94
55.89 55.86

Since van der Burgh’s swim was done with a ‘super suit’, Shymanovich’s swim is also a new textile world record.

The 26-year-old joins an elite club as only the third man to break 56 seconds on multiple occasions. The others? The last two Olympic champions in the 100 breaststroke: van der Burgh and Adam Peaty. He also ties van der Burgh with three swims in the all-time top-10 (bumping one of the South African’s performances down into 11th).

All-Time Performances, Men’s 100 Breaststroke (SCM)

Rank Swimmer Time Year
1 Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) 55.61 2009
2 Ilya Shymanovich (BLR) 55.86 2020
3 Ilya Shymanovich (BLR) 55.89 2019
4 Adam Peaty (GBR) 55.92 2019
5 Adam Peaty (GBR) 55.94 2017
6 Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) 55.99 2009
7 Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) 56.01 2018
8 Kirill Prigoda (RUS) 56.02 2017
9 Arno Kamminga (NED) 56.06 2019
10 Ilya Shymanovich (BLE) 56.10 2018

Shymanovich also becomes the fastest swimmer in ISL history, moving past Peaty’s 55.92 from last season’s finale.

A performance of this magnitude wasn’t a surprise — Shymanovich has been on fire this season. He went 56.13 in Match 1, now tied for the 14th-fastest swim ever, and also swam a PB of 25.64 in the 50. On day one of this match, he unleashed a 55.59 split on Energy Standard’s medley relay.

Three other men broke 57 seconds in the race, with Italian Nicolo Martinenghi the runner-up in 56.58., and Felipe Lima (56.70) and Anton McKee (56.72) putting up impressive times as well.

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IM FAN
3 years ago

Breaststroke has a history of blatant rule stretching and breaking to gain an advantage, Kitajima, Van Der Burgh, Cody Miller

But it was so blatant in this race… do the ISL judges even care?

Admin
Reply to  IM FAN
3 years ago

The dolphin kicks into the wall are rarely called at the international level. Wonder if they’re so hyper focused on the two hand touch that they forget to look for it.

Swimmer
3 years ago

Mel Marshall’s instagram with the Rooooooar!

swimfin5
3 years ago

Nice dolphin kick. Cheater

Swimmer420
3 years ago

Let’s talk about the fly kick into every wall and the semi-fly kick on every stroke now…

Josh
Reply to  Swimmer420
3 years ago

Where are the referees? It seems that everything is allowed on the breaststroke in the ISL system. This must be acted upon.

Last edited 3 years ago by Josh
Riccardo
Reply to  Swimmer420
3 years ago

Yeah I was a fan but there is no explanation for the straight up dolphin kick into every wall. After seeing the replay….its just plain cheating.

The unoriginal Tim
Reply to  Riccardo
3 years ago

He’s not the only guy doing this. It needs to be stopped but if he doesn’t do it he might lose to someone else who is.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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