Watch Pieroni Outside-Smoke His Way To 200 Free Gold In Hangzhou

2018 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Tuesday, December 11th – Sunday, December 16th
  • Hangzhou, China
  • Tennis Centre, Hangzhou Olympic & International Expo Center
  • SCM (25m)
  • Live Results (Omega)

American Blake Pieroni rocketed off the blocks in the men’s 200m freestyle final and never looked back, leading the field wire-to-wire to take the title of World Champion…in lane 8, no less! The former Indiana Hoosier split 48.47/53.02 to slam the wall in a winning effort of 1:41.49.

That checks-in as Pieroni’s 2nd fastest outing of his career, sitting just .34 behind the 1:41.15 the 23-year-old registered at the World Cup Singapore last month. In that personal best, Pieroni opened much more casually, posting an opening 100m of 49.12, but closed much quicker in 52.03.

Nevertheless, Pieroni’s strategy tonight in Hangzhou was enough to hold off a raging Danas Rapsys of Lithuania, who closed in 52.25 to finish less than .3 behind Pieroni for silver in 1:41.78. Australia’s Alexander Graham touched in 1:42.28 for 3rd tonight.

Pieroni already collected a World Record in Hangzhou, splitting 45.75 as the 2nd leg on yesterday’s men’s 4x100m freestyle relay. He will be contesting the men’s 100m freestyle later on in the meet.

Watch Pieroni’s outside smoke in the video below, courtesy of Alex Muni.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFyT6opcmWk

 

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Mark
5 years ago

Mizuno has to be happy with their new signee. Congrats Blake!

Swamming
5 years ago

Is it just me, or do it seem like Pieroni’s turns could be better?

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Swamming
5 years ago

Zero underwaters. Like Haas. Oh for the days of the Phelps-Lochte 200 free duals off the walls.

coacherik
Reply to  Swamming
5 years ago

Not trying to give him an excuse, but he’s never gone that fast and most certainly never gone out at WR pace in the 200FR. Up until the 125 mark, he was ahead of WR pace. The onset of going out hard sunk in, maybe? When you ain’t got nothing left, it’s hard to go what isn’t there.

Scoobysnak
5 years ago

As much as I appreciate having video of these races i wish the quality was better. This looks like it was filmed with a toaster.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Scoobysnak
5 years ago

just enjoy

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
5 years ago

and a toaster would have burned the images …..lol😅

Caleb Dressel Will Win 7 Golds in Tokyo
Reply to  Scoobysnak
5 years ago

I know right? It’s 2018, not 2008!

coacherik
5 years ago

That last 25 HURT. Love the look on his face after that race, showing this video at practice for sure. Throwing it all out there, congrats BP.

Swammer
5 years ago

Been a big past few months for Blake, this is just a cherry on top. Good to see America at the top of the podium in the 200 free.

Carol Glover
5 years ago

Great racing Blake! Congrats!

About Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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