Defending 200m breaststroke champion Yuliya Efimova of Russia finished 17th this morning in the heats of the 200m breaststroke, failing to qualify for tonight’s semifinals.
The Russian was one of the favorites to win the event, especially after taking gold in the 100m breaststroke earlier in the meet.
Efimova touched in at 2:26.11 this morning to fall just 0.20 seconds short of making it back for a second swim.
This will be Efimova’s first time since the 2009 World Championships not swimming in the 200m breaststroke final (including the 2012 Olympic Games). It’s also the first time in Efimova’s career that she has ever failed to move past the heats in the 200m breaststroke at either an Olympic Games or World championships.
Efimova’s swim wasn’t the only upset of the session for the Russians. In the 4x200m freestyle heats, the Russians ended up ninth overall, failing to make tonight’s final. With their time of 7:55.19 they were just 0.11 second short of making it.
It seemed as though bad luck carried on for the 100m breaststroke champions as Adam Peaty also failed to make it past the heats in the 200m breaststroke. No male swimmer in World Championship history has ever won all three breaststroke races, and this time around won’t be any different.
World record holder Peaty finished all the way back in 26th with a 2:13.24. Peaty wasn’t favorited to win the 200, but it’s still a big blow to the 50 and 100m breaststroke champion.
Overall, not a really good meet for the host nation Russia. At least when it comes to swimming.
Yes. And tonight the men’s 100 free final without Morozov….
It looks like only Belgium, Hungary and GB are really satisfied! 😆
Then Australia and France save the day. China too.
Too early to judge USA’s meet. But it’s not very good so far.
I would say that we’re far enough into the meet to determine that this has been an embarrassing meet for the US
Peaty has swum a lot of races since the start of the meet and isn’t a natural 200 breast swimmer. It’s not shocking to see him fail like that. He had no medal chances so it’s not a big deal. He can now rest until Sunday and the medley relay in which GB has serious medal chances. Even perhaps gold medal chances if the US relay doesn’t swim at its best.
The big shock is Efimova. 2.26 but especially 1.12 at the 100!!!!!!!!!!!!
She was not awake?
That was very unexpected.
Maybe she can’t multiple the races like before anymore.
I’m not gonna cry with that news.
And it confirms my pre-meet prediction of Watanabe… Read more »