Ledecky, Marchand Named FINA Swimmers of the Meet; U.S. Wins Team Trophy At Worlds

2022 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Katie Ledecky and Leon Marchand were awarded Female and Male Swimmer of the Meet honors, respectively, upon the conclusion of the pool swimming portion of the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest.

The United States also picked up the overall team award, tallying a record 45 medals over the eight-day competition.

The individual FINA awards are awarded based on an official scoring system, which you can find below:

Individual Trophies – Points System

  • 1st place – 5 points
  • 2nd place – 3 points
  • 3rd place – 2 points
  • 4th place – 1 point
  • Individual WR – 2 points (each)

This factors in individual events only. If there is a tie, FINA’s Swimming Commission determines the winner.

Ledecky picked up 15 points using this scoring system, sweeping the women’s 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle.

The American won the distance treble for the fourth time in her career, and with her victory in the 800 free, became the first swimmer in World Championship history to win the same event at five straight editions.

Marchand put up a total of 13 points, winning the men’s 200 IM and 400 IM while placing second in the 200 butterfly.

The 20-year-old set new French National Records in all three, but the highlight came in the 400 IM, where Marchand’s time of 4:04.28 marked the second-fastest in history, trailing only Michael Phelps’ 4:03.84 from back in 2008.

Closely trailing Ledecky in the women’s standing was Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom and Canada’s Summer McIntosh, who both won two gold medals and one silver for 13 cumulative points.

Four others had one win and one runner-up finish apiece for eight points.

Women’s Scoring

  1. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15
  2. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) / Summer McIntosh (CAN), 13
  3. Kaylee McKeown (AUS) / Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) / Kylie Masse (CAN) / Benedetta Pilato (ITA), 8

On the men’s side, Romania’s David Popovici and Hungary’s Kristof Milak won two events apiece for 10 points, and then Milak earned an additional two for his world record in the 200 fly to sit second overall with 12.

Bobby FinkeNicolo Martinenghi and Ryan Murphy each earned one gold and one silver medal for eight points, and they were matched by Thomas Ceccon, who won the 100 back in world record time and added a fourth-place finish in the 50 back.

Men’s Scoring

  1. Leon Marchand (FRA), 13
  2. Kristof Milak (HUN), 12
  3. David Popovici (ROU), 10
  4. Bobby Finke (USA) / Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) / Ryan Murphy (USA) / Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 8

The team trophy uses a point system similar to how we see meets scored in the NCAA or a club meet, for example. In individual events, a country earns points for having a swimmer finish in the top 16, with first place earning 18 points and 16th place one point (1st-16th: 18-16-15-14-13-12-11-10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1).

Points are also awarded in relays for the top eight teams in each race, with the winners picking up 36 points and eighth place earning 20 (1st-8th: 36-32-30-28-26-24-20).

FINA hasn’t published the full standings as of this publication, but using this system, the American team compiled 1,159 points across 42 events.

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Swimmka
2 years ago

European men ( even without the Russian) swept the podium. Knowing that they are all extremely young the future of American/ Australian male swimmer looks very narrow…

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
2 years ago

I’m surprised FINA does not dole out bonus points for individual championships record (CR).

#AthleteLivesMatter
2 years ago

Congrats Ledecky! Way to rep the USA!

Jason
2 years ago

Not denying those swimmers as worthy winners, both have been amazing. But 2 points for and an individual WR, seriously. How hard are they to achieve. I would make the point system a little more tailored to dominance as well. Such was Ledeckys 800 and 1500 swims and her gap on #2 and closeness to WR’s.

emma
Reply to  Jason
2 years ago

“how hard is it to become the fastest to ever swim x race”

jeff
Reply to  emma
2 years ago

I honestly can’t tell if the above comment means 2 points is too much or too few

Awsi Dooger
2 years ago

So I guess Mollie helped determine the winner by rallying past Sjostrom at 100. Otherwise there would have been a tie between Sjostrom and Ledecky at 15.

I’d like to see somebody win this by taking 4th place in 16 events.

Emily Se-Bom Lee
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
2 years ago

maybe peak hosszu could have done that

Last edited 2 years ago by Emily Se-Bom Lee
Curious
2 years ago

Well Deserved!

Thomas
2 years ago

sO bIaSeD tO uS

LBSWIM
Reply to  Thomas
2 years ago

I think your Cap lock is stuck

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  LBSWIM
2 years ago

I think someone can’t add.

Jean Marie
2 years ago

So fina agrees with SwimSwam!

Robbos
Reply to  Jean Marie
2 years ago

On top spot.
I think Ledecky was on another level. Summer with a bullet behind.

On the men’s side, can make an argument on any of the top 3 Marchand, Milak & Popovici.
Popovici winning 100 & 200 at 17 years old is a little understated.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Robbos
2 years ago

Where was the third event for Popovici?

Bud
Reply to  Robbos
2 years ago

I think breaking 47 and 1.43(or maybe even one of them) would’ve had Popovici clip Marchand for first.
Otherwise, no.

Mr Piano
Reply to  Robbos
2 years ago

Imo it’s Milak. He took his 200 fly out like MA and closed like Phelps, and crushed the 100 as well. 46.9 and 1:44.6 relay splits.

Robbos
Reply to  Mr Piano
2 years ago

I think 3rd place is right for Popovici, but IMO winning the top 2 premier events the 100 & 200 free at 17 is very very impressive, especially going times in both that is touched with genius.

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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