2016 SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- December 6th – December 11th, 2016
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- WFCU Centre
- SCM (25m)
- Prelims: 9:30 AM EST/Finals: 6:30 PM EST
- Start Lists/Results
- Live Stream ($)
The 2016 FINA Short Course World Championships kicked off this morning in Windsor, Canada, and swimmers are now gearing up for the first finals session of the meet. Tonight, we’ll crown the world champions in the men’s 400 free, 200 fly, 200 IM, and 400 free relay, as well as the women’s 200 free, 400 IM, and 400 free relay. There will also be semifinals of 4 events: The men’s 100 back, women’s 50 breast, men’s 100 breast, and women’s 100 back.
CHAD LE CLOS LOOKS TO DEFEND 200 FLY TITLE
One of the most anticipated races on night 1 is the men’s 200 fly, which will feature a group of 4 Olympic standouts. Leading the way into the final, however, was Russia’s Aleksandr Kharlanov. If he wants to bring home the gold tonight, he’ll have to hold off Chad Le Clos (RSA). Le Clos will be looking to defend his Shourt Course World Championship title in this event. He’s currently the World Record (1:48.56) holder and Championship Record (1:48.61) holder with a pair of 1:48s. Also in the field will be Olympians Daiya Seto (JPN), Leonardo De Deus (BRA), and Tom Shields (USA).
KATINKA HOSSZU TAKES ON A TRIPLE
Hungarian iron lady Katinka Hosszu will be competing in 3 of the 4 women’s individual races tonight. Her first swim will be the 200 free, where she’ll take on Italy’s Federica Pellegrini, a former World Record holder in that event, as well as up-and-comer Mallory Comerford (USA) who moved into the world top 10 with her prelims swim.
The back half of her schedule will include the 400 IM final and the 100 back semi-finals, which are both events she holds the World Record in. There’s a quick turnaround between the 2 events, with only the men’s 100 breast semifinals between them, but the 400 IM final will come before the 100 back semis.
ALIA ATKINSON CHASES 50 BREAST WORLD RECORD
Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson will take on the 50 breast tonight, which she set the World Record in earlier this season. Atkinson will be the top seed for tonight’s final with her 29.48 from prelims. She’s shown off her speed at several World Cup meets already this year, including the Tokyo stop of the series in October in which she lowered the World Record to a quick 28.64. Also in the mix will be Team USA’s Lilly King (29.84), the Olympic 100 breast champ, who will swim next to Atkinson in the 2nd heat of semifinals.