Watch: ‘Opportunity of a Lifetime’ for Simonas Bilis In 100 Free Final

2016 SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Lithuanian Simonas Bilis won an upset gold medal in the men’s 100 freestyle on the final night of swimming in Windsor, putting up a time of 46.58 to out-touch Japan’s Shinri Shioura by one one-hundredth.

Bilis noted that when ‘Vlad and all the fast guys’, speaking of Vladimir Morozov and Chad Le Clos, didn’t qualify for the semi-finals that he knew it was an opportunity of a lifetime and that he had to take advantage.

As reported by Lauren Neidigh:

MEN’S 100 FREE FINALS

  • 2014 World Champion – 45.75: Cesar Cielo, BRA
  • World Record – 44.94: Amaury Leveaux, FRA, 2008
  • Championship Record – 45.51: Vladimir Morozov, 2014

GOLD: Simonas Bilis (LTU), 46.58

SILVER: Shinri Shioura (JPN), 46.59

BRONZE: Tommaso D’Orsogna (AUS), 46.70

The race for gold in the 100 free was just about as close as as they come, with Lithuania’s Simonas Bilis and Japan’s Shinri Shioura fighting to get a hand on the wall first. In the end, it was Bilis rocketing to the win, touching .01 ahead of Shioura, who set a new Asian Record for 2nd place. Taking 3rd was Australia’s Tommaso D’Orsogna, who pulled ahead of Team USA’s Blake Pieroni on the 2nd 50. Pieroni (46.88) was just off the podium at 4th.

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BackUp
7 years ago

And after further research, only the men’s 50 free had a sub 900 point performance as the winning time… which just goes to show that the top brass in the Men’s sprint events, either didnt show up, or didnt show up to swim fast…

BackUp
7 years ago

I’ll back up the original post… yeah, it was opportunity of a lifetime… he won a world championship with a sub 900 FINA point total… Find me another event that won with an 800 for their point total…. congrats on the title, but damn that was relatively slow…

Chester Copperpot
7 years ago

This really was the opportunity of a lifetime for Simonas, and really everyone in this final. He had the opportunity to swim in a final at world champs that was missing every single good 100 freestyler in the world. Congrats!! Oh wait, Park was in it, but he swam the 1500 right before. #getahaircut

Markster
Reply to  Chester Copperpot
7 years ago

What an awful comment. How dare you point out the truth! It’s not like people ever criticize outcomes in other sports! I’m going to downvote you for hurting my feelings even though I didn’t even swim that race!

completelyconquered
Reply to  Chester Copperpot
7 years ago
Bigly
Reply to  Chester Copperpot
7 years ago

Yeah, but three of the best were entered in the event and competed in it. So he beat them. It’s not like they skipped the meet. #getalife

Swimmer
Reply to  Chester Copperpot
7 years ago

The hate for NC State runs deep and crosses international lines. Great job Simi. GO PACK!!

ct swim fan
Reply to  Chester Copperpot
7 years ago

Just a stupid comment. The ones present that had faster times, did not qualify for the final. Not Bilis’ fault. There are plenty of examples of people in sports supposedly better than everyone, that don’t win, for whatever reason. Celebrate it for the great accomplishment it is.

plaukikas
7 years ago

Valio valio valio! Lietuviai didžioujasi!

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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