WATCH: Baker Upsets Hosszu with 2:08 200 IM in France

2020 FFN GOLDEN TOUR CAMILLE MUFFAT – NICE

Kathleen Baker nearly set a best time on Friday in Nice, France as she upset Katinka Hosszu, the reigning Olympic Champion and World Record holder in the event. She swam to a 2:08.75 in the final, topping Hosszu (2:11.72) by nearly 3 seconds. It was just 4 tenths shy of her lifetime best from 2018 U.S. Nationals and her second swim ever under 2:10.

You can watch the race below.

SPLITS COMPARISON: BAKER 2020/BAKER 2018

  • Fly Split- 27.90/27.94
  • Back Split- 31.53/31.81
  • Breast Split- 37.17/37.32
  • Free Split- 32.15/31.25
  • Final Time- 2:08.75/2:08.32

Compared to her lifetime best swim, Baker was slightly faster on the first 3 legs. The biggest difference came on her back split, where she was almost 3 tenths faster than 2018. Her closing split was where she couldn’t keep up with her 2018 pace. She came home in 32.15 today compared to a 31.25 at her best.

Baker also qualified 1st out of prelims in the 100 back. However, she scratched out of the final. Baker is a former World Record holder in that race. She set the mark in 2018 with a lifetime best 58.00, and held it until American teammate Regan Smith broke it at the 2019 World Championships. Baker holds an Olympic silver medal for the individual 100 back and an Olympic gold medal for the leadoff leg of the 400 medley relay. If she keeps up this success in the 200 IM, she has a definite shot at multiple medals for the 100 back, 400 medley relay, and 200 IM at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

In This Story

8
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

8 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Swim mom 5527
4 years ago

Wow—How often do swimmers/which swimmers use a nose plug on IM? Is that a thing?

Superfan
4 years ago

Just an interesting note: the pool is on the top floor, like the 10th floor, with a great view of the city. Also on that floor is an ice skating hockey rink. Pretty cool facilities!

Superfan
4 years ago

Great swim but free needs to hold on better.

Ecoach
Reply to  Superfan
4 years ago

Or she let up because she had the race well in hand. Even 8f just subconsciously.

Sun Yangs Hammer
4 years ago

Nice swim

ALEXANDER POP-OFF
4 years ago

She looks good! That back split is very encouraging because she outsplit herself from 2018, the same meet where she set the world record.

swimfast
4 years ago

wow…thus begins the crazy, unexpected times of an olympic year

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

Read More »