Women’s 200 IM Race Video: Hosszu Wins Big in Front of Home Crowd

2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Danube Arena was thunderous as hometown favorite Katinka Hosszu was announced at the start of the women’s 200 IM final on Monday night. The cheers continued throughout the entire race, with Hosszu leading each leg of the IM. Less than a second off her own World Record, she claimed her third consecutive World Championship title in the event, made all the more special by the enthusiasm of the crowd. Hosszu finished in 2:07.00, a full body length ahead of second-place Yui Ohashi of Japan.

[Note: At 3:15 in the video you see that Sydney Pickrem, who was lagging behind the field in the 100 fly, hangs onto the wall while the other seven swimmers transition to backstroke. Pickrem eventually exited the pool and was being seen to by the Canadian Team staff.]

Watch the entire race below, courtesy of NBC Sports.

Write-up by Lauren Neidigh:

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINALS

  1. GOLD: Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 2:07.00
  2. SILVER: Yui Ohashi, JPN, 2:07.91
  3. BRONZE: Madisyn Cox, USA, 2:09.71

As expected, Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu dominated the race in front of the home crowd, leading from start to finish with the 6th fastest time in history as she touched in 2:07.00 for her first gold of the meet. Japan’s Yui Ohashi became the 6th fastest performer ever in this event with her 2:07.91 for silver.

Team USA’s Madisyn Cox came out of nowhere at the end, flying through the final 50 to take bronze in 2:09.71, just out-touching teammate Melanie Margalis (2:09.82). Olympic silver medalist Siobhan-Marie O’Connor of Great Britain was in the running for bronze through the breaststroke leg, but fell off the pace to finish 7th in 2:10.41.

Fans were also in for a bit of a shock when Canada’s Sydney Pickrem, who was seeded 3rd and considered one of the favorites to medal, got out of the pool on the butterfly lap.

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Prickle
6 years ago

Ohashi lost to Hosszu 1:23 at first half of the distance. Got even at third leg and was faster at last fifty by 0.33sec.
Hosszu has to be much ahead of Ohasshi at first 200 in 400IM race because Ohashi has obviously better endurance. And that what will make Hosszu’s race difficult: she won’t be able to follow her optimal strategy when she swims out of competition but will be forced into racing from the very beginning. That will kill her at last fifty.

Peter L
Reply to  Prickle
6 years ago

agree, but Hosszu usually goes all out in the fly and back anyway

Prickle
Reply to  Peter L
6 years ago

It wasn’t the case in Rio. In Olympic race when she made 4:26 she swam the first half of the distance slower than it was in Kazan a year before. But her second half was 5 seconds faster. To me it was by itself very suspicious (5sec improvement at 200). The only explanation i had was that she was generally at better form but swam fly and back legs slower to save energy for the end of the race.

Brownish
Reply to  Prickle
6 years ago

1st day at OGs and last day at the worlds, don’t forget it.

aquajosh
6 years ago

Ohashi’s backstroke is so smooth and easy. I loved her celebration for silver. You can see her getting more confident with every swim she’s done this year.

Peter L
Reply to  aquajosh
6 years ago

Upset in the 4IM???

dude 2.0
Reply to  Peter L
6 years ago

definitely. she was taxed at the end of that. Ohashi was just warming up

Ervin
Reply to  Peter L
6 years ago

lol no

About Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant

Anne Lepesant is the mother of four daughters, all of whom swam in college. With an undergraduate degree from Princeton (where she was an all-Ivy tennis player) and an MBA from INSEAD, she worked for many years in the financial industry, both in France and the U.S. Anne is currently …

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