After breaking two World Records in Doha at the 2014 World Championships last weekend, Mireia Belmonte hasn’t slowed down through the first session of the all-timed-finals Spanish Short Course Championships in Barcelona, Spain that began Friday morning.
In that first session, she swam a 15:19.71 in the women’s 1500 meter free, which crushes the 15:22.68 done by New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle in August of this year in New Zealand.
The women’s 1500 was one of the weaker records historically; Belmonte’s Friday swim is only the 7th World Record ever in the event. In total in 13 months, the record has now been improved by a whopping 7 seconds – Belmonte set it at this same meet last year in 15:26.95.
The women’s 1500, in short course meters, is a soft event primarily because it’s not raced all that often. The non-Olympic distance events in SCM aren’t on the schedule at the European Championships, the World Championships, or at the FINA World Cup: the meets where most World Records are set in short course.
That was Belmonte’s only individual swim of the session, though she also split a 25.2 on UCAM Fuenisanta’s 11th-place 200 free relay to end the morning.
The other star of the session was American-trained Miguel Ortiz, who won two individual events. His day began with a 53.01 to top the men’s 100 IM ahead of veteran Rafael Munoz (54.30) and come within half-a-second of the National Record in the event.
Later in the session, Ortiz was a 23.50 in the men’s 50 backstroke, again approaching the National Record and reaffirming his impressive versatility.
Duane da Rocha tied Belmonte’s Spanish Record in the women’s 100 IM with a 1:00.80. Belmonte did that same time back in April of 2011. Though it will only earn her a share of the National Record, that swim for da Rocha was a new Meet Record.
Further down in those standings, in 4th place, was Africa Zamorano, who at 16 was a 1:02.03 – a new National Age Record in the event.
See full results for the meet, which runs with 6 sessions from Friday through Sunday, here.
Ok wait and see. Time is the answer.
i don,t like katie ledecky. i,ve never liked her. she has always been suspisious to me. i love katinka hosszu and chad le clos though.
How sad to expression support for one swimmer by hating the accomplishments of others. I bet Katie finds the success of others to be inspirational and motivating. One of the things I admire about Katie is how she is both ultra-competitive (“the assassin”) and very nice. One of my favorite Ledecky quotes: “Female athletes are finding beauty in competing in the moment, but are also finding the beauty in enjoying those moments in a non-stressful manner, having fun with teammates in sharing common experiences and meeting goals, and then using their success to help others. Helping others is beautiful.”
Why is it necessary to discredit the wonderful swim by Ms. Belmonte by saying Ledecky should have this.
Yes, most likely if Ledecky swam this event SC she would get the WR but look who’s name is currently in the record book (Hint: Its not Katies)
Congrats Mireia !
Exactly my thoughts. We all know KL is the best, but she chose not to compete at SC Worlds so the world record goes to the one who actually swam the event the fastest- Belmonte. Well deserved!
Little Spanish TV report about Mireia’s world record.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y92enH3rd-U
I’m not hatred just i don’t like mireia and hosszu. Ok they can win but i can hope like that, can’t i?
I’m not a Hosszu fan at all but no need to be nasty. I have a lot of doubts about her. I wonder how she does to swim always at 100% in each race from January to December without any peak form. It seems to me pretty impossible. Doubts but no hatred.
Mireia is a very hard worker and improves slowly and steadily year after year. She deserves what happens to her right now. And she’s also very pretty. 🙂 I agree she’s much better in short course so far but I see no reason she doesn’t shine in 2016. I would be happy if she won the 200 fly in Rio. We’ll see. And don’t worry. Katie Ledecky… Read more »
I agree with BOBO . Mireia has been improving a lot since 2011 / 2012 . She is rising her bar slowly to be with the best now SC or LC . Spain has also often brought up special champions , let not forget that . They have special ethics to develop in sport .
Mireia is a good swimmer escpecially in SC. Just good not great. Not great like Lecdecky. See what have she done in 400, 800, 1500m LC Or 400IM LC? WR??? Or world or olympic champion? And what will she do in the future? Breaking Ledecky’s WR? Never! No one can do it except Ledecky!!!!
You can hate me but i still say that that i really really want Mireia and Hosszu will never never be the olympic champions.
Why so much hatred? 😥
And sorry but Hosszu will probably win the 200 IM in Rio and Belmonte the 200 fly and the 400 IM.
BOBO GIGI, I disagree about Belmonte winning the 400 IM, Hosszu is better in 400 IM long course, and don’t forget about Elizabeth Beisel and Ye Shiwen, and Belmonte does also have a chance…
This is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in a while. You sound like some over-zealous Phelps fans who hate on those swimmers just because they dared to beat their idol. Hope Mireia and Hosszu both win in Rio because they totally deserve it.
RESPECT to these ladies as well as ALL of the swimmers breaking barriers as well as setting new standards for our sport. Our sport breaks barriers as well as sets standards more frequently than most other sports, at ALL age levels. When our athletes, or any athlete for that matter does something great, something special, and is clean, they should be given respect.