Olympic Champion Meilutyte sets championships record; Day one preliminaries

The 11th FINA Short Course World Championships began in Istanbul, Turkey earlier today. There will be 958 athletes from 162 countries competing in the five day event which will be broadcast to over 190 territories.

Day one of the preliminaries was highlighted by Olympic 100 breaststroke champion Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania breaking the championship record in the women’s 50 breaststroke in a time of 29.56. The previous record of 29.58 was set by Jessica Hardy of the United States in 2008.

Men’s 200 freestyle

Ryan Lochte, who won the 200 freestyle in 2010 in a championship record time of 1:41.08 qualified first in a time of 1:42.41. Viatcheslav Andrusenko of Russia qualified second in a time of 1:43.98. World record holder Paul Biedermann of Germany qualified third in a time of 1:44.05.

Women’s 50 breaststroke

Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania qualified first in a time of 29.56 which is a championship record as well as the fastest time posted this year. Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson qualified second in a time of 29.72 with the United States’ Jessica Hardy, who won the event at the 2008 championships, qualifying third in a time of 29.74.

Men’s 100 backstroke

Australia’s Robert Hurley, who won the 100 backstroke at the World Cup in Stockholm, qualified first in a time of 50.22. Olympic 100 backstroke Champion Matt Grevers of the United States qualified second in a time of 50.55 with world record holder and 2010 world short course champion Stanislav Donets of Russia qualifying third in a time of 50.83.

Women’s 200 butterfly

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu, who won the 200 butterfly at the European Championships, qualified first in a time of 2:04.19. Liuyang Jiao of China qualified second in a time of 2:04.88 with Kona Fujita of Japan qualifying third in a time of 2:05.42.

Hosszu was happy with her morning swim saying, “It went pretty good, I even swam my PB. I felt pretty good (in the water). The first race at an event is always a little weird, but I swam my PB so it went well.”

Men’s 100 breaststroke

United States’ Kevin Cordes qualified first in a time of 57.66. Germany’s Marco Koch qualified second in a time of 58.10 with European Champion Fabio Scozzoli of Italy qualifying third in a time of 58.16.

Women’s 100 backstroke

Simona Baumortova of the Czech Republic qualified first in a time of 57.65. The Ukraine’s Daryna Zvevina qualified second in a time of 57.66 with the United States Olivia Smoliga qualifying third in a time of 57.75.

Men’s 100 butterfly

In his second event of the day Ryan Lochte qualified first in a time of 50.16. Peng Wu of China qualified second in a time of 50.49 with South African Chad Le Clos qualifying third in a time of 50.73.

“Pretty good. The first two races at an event are always my worst. So I’m glad I got that one out of the way,” said Lochte.

“All that preparation is what I do all year. When I go to a meeting all I do is race. If I win, I win. If I don’t, I don’t and move on to the next.”

“There’s still a lot that I have to accomplish. That is what keeps me going on a daily basis.”

Women’s 400 IM

Great Britain’s Hannah Miley qualified first in a time of 4:28.91. Katinka Hosszu of Hungary qualified second in a time of 4:29.22 with Shiwen Ye of China qualifying third in a time of 4:29.98.

“It’s the wake-up swim. It gets you going. Sometimes it can be a bit sluggish,” said Miley

“At the Olympics everybody is out of their comfort zone, but here we have the luxury to be a bit more comfortable.”

“Tonight will be the big showdown. There is no expectation in terms of time. It will be down to the race.”

Men’s 4 x100 freestyle relay

The Italian men qualified first in a time of 3:08.74. The United States qualified second in a time of 3:08.90 with Russia qualifying third in a time of 3:09.02.

Women’s 4 x 200 freestyle relay

The United States women qualified first in a time of 7:45.36. The Russians qualified second in a time of 7:47.52 with the Italians qualifying third in a time of 7:47.95.