2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
- Meet site
- Competition Schedule
- FinaTV Live Stream
- Entry Lists
- Results
After sitting on the sidelines for the first five days of competition, American Regan Smith made her presence known in a big way on day six of the 2019 World Championships.
After setting a new junior world record in the prelims of the women’s 200 back in a best time of 2:06.01, the 17-year-old shocked the world by bulldozing her way past Missy Franklin‘s 2012 world record in the semi-finals in a mind-boggling time of 2:03.35.
With this swim, she makes a fantastic case for herself to be utilized on the lead-off leg of the women’s medley relay on the final day of competition. However, individual entrants Kathleen Baker and Olivia Smoliga also have an argument.
The Case For…
BAKER
For starters, Baker is the fastest woman in history, having set the world record last summer in a time of 58.00.
However, she was dealing with a rib injury in the lead-up to the meet and hasn’t been on top form. She tied for sixth individually in the 100 back and swam her fastest time in the semis at 59.03.
With Smoliga beating her handily in the final, there’s not much of an argument for the former Cal Bear to swim the final, but one could claim she earned a prelim berth with her performances last year.
SMOLIGA
Smoliga swam a personal best time earlier this year in 58.73 and then won bronze in the final early in the meet in a time of 58.91. As a medalist in the individual event, she’s a logical pick to swim on the relay final.
The 24-year-old followed the 100 bronze with a gold and new American Record in the 50 back in a time of 27.33, confirming her form and ability to step up when it’s on the line.
SMITH
The only real argument against Smith is that she hasn’t had a 100 back swim yet at the competition. If the coaches could have a do-over, they’d probably like to go back and have her swim the prelims of the mixed medley to see what she goes in a 100.
She’s clearly on the best form of her career after that world record in the 200 and has three swims in 2019 (in-season) faster than what Smoliga or Baker have done here in Gwangju. She went 58.82 at the Bloomington PSS in May, and then had back-to-back swims of 58.55 and 58.45 at the Counsilman Classic in June.
The two-time World Junior gold medalist didn’t swim the 200 at the Counsilman meet, but in Bloomington where she was 58.8 in the 100, she clocked 2:06.47 in the 200. Seeing as she has been three seconds faster in the longer event here, the prospect of her being the first woman to dip under 58 seconds is not out of the question.
Given the USA selection process, I expect they will lead off with Leah Smith.
I’d guess that they swim Regan in the prelim and if she beats Smoliga’s time from day 3 then Regan gets the final spot.
This isn’t a local level junior swim meet where you do your best to get every kid a swim.
Give Smith the heat. If she is faster than the others (which we pretty much know she will be) you give her the final as well.
The USA should be making decisions to put their best possible team in the water for the final, not to get as many swimmers as possible medals. Especially not when without Smith (and depending on how fast she is perhaps even with her) the gold is not guaranteed.
Take the coaches out of the decision process. All relays decided by SwimSwam comment threads.
Wait… they’re not?
That’s what I’ve been saying!
That was a Swim-Swam decision!? Excellent!
Give Baker a pass. She hasn’t got it this year. Smith needs the experience of competing in a relay at the highest level, so she should get a swim. Question now becomes: who gets the final? Put the Smoliga in the water in the final and let Smith go gunning for a 57 in prelims. Less pressure on the kid, and a nod of respect for the veteran (who’s also earned the consideration through her efforts — it’s not a gift.)
Smoliga in prelims; Smith in finals
Smith earned it, fastest American this year (58.45) and blazed her first 100 of her 200 in 1:00.3, if the US wants the best chance to win then Smith needs to be in the final relay
We know Regan can keep her cool at the highest competition level in her individual events, but what if 5 other, more senior swimmers are counting on her for a gold–how will she hold up mentally?
Probably she will exceed expectations–but she hasn’t been tested yet. On the other hand, this is as good a time to test as any!
But how stupid do they look if Smith goes like 57.6 in prelims and they pull her out for Smoliga, who goes 58.7 or something?
And if Smoliga goes a 58.7 it is far from a garuantee that the US wins.
I say put Regan in and get her more experience now swimming at Worlds and on US relay.
Ok we can assume that we are 98% certian that the coaches are going to leadoff with regan smith in the medley relay final, what time is everyone predicting??? To the hundredth. Im gonna go with 57.25
i hesitate to guess before the 200 back final..that’ll give us more insight; but as of right now- 57-mid
Right, for some odd reason if feel her performance a minor flute, tomorrow morning performance will hopefully put it to ease,anything under 205 will be awesome regardless
57.60
If they didn’t have smith on the relay I’d be shocked