2019 FINA World Championships: Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
• Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
• The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
• Meet site
• Competition Schedule
• FinaTV Live Stream
• Entry Lists
• Results

The 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju will feature 4 finals races and 4 semifinals races on night 2 of finals action. The men will compete for medals in the 50 fly and 100 breast, while the women have their medal races in the 100 fly and 200 IM. We’ll also see semifinals of the men’s 100 back, women’s 100 breast, men’s 200 free, and women’s 100 back.

Great Britain’s Adam Peaty made history last night as the first man to ever break 57 in the 100 breast semifinals. Tonight, he’ll look to repeat as champion and lower his World Record further. Caeleb Dressel headlines the 50 fly after breaking the American Record in semis, but he’ll be up against World Record holder Andrii Govorov of the Ukraine.

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu will step up for the 200 IM, the event in which she broke her first ever long course World Record back in 2015. She’s chasing her 4th-straight world title in the event. Also seeking an extended streak is fellow World Record holder Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden in the 100 fly.

The 100 back will see the World Record holder Kathleen Baker (USA) compete in one semifinal heat and the defending World Champion Kylie Masse (CAN), who also held the World Record in this race before Baker broke it, in the other. The men’s 100 back World Record holder will step in as well as the USA’s Olympic champion Ryan Murphy will share a heat with China’s Xu Jiayu, the 2nd fastest man ever, and Australia’s Mitch Larkin, the 2015 World Champion. World Record holder Lilly King of the USA and Russia’s Yuliya Efimova continue their rivalry in the 100 breast. China’s Sun Yang looks to set himself for another title repeat, this time in the 200 free.

MEN’S 100 BREAST – FINAL:

• World Record: 56.88, Adam Peaty (GBR), 2019
• World Championship Record: 56.88, Adam Peaty (GBR), 2019
• World Junior Record: 59.01, Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA), 2017
• Defending 2017 World Champion: 57.47, Adam Peaty (GBR)

Medalists:

1. GOLD- Adam Peaty (GBR), 57.14
2. SILVER- James Wilby (GBR), 58.46
3. BRONZE- Yan Zibei (CHN), 58.63

He wasn’t quite as fast as his World Record from the semis, but Adam Peaty was still head and shoulders above the field as he won the race in 57.14. That was the 4th fastest swim in history. Peaty has owned the top 10 times for years now, but this raises the bar for his #10 to a 57.79. Behind him, teammate James Wilby secured a 1-2 for Great Britain posting a 58.46 as he now ties Olympic champ Cameron Van Der Burgh as the 3rd fastest man ever.

China’s Yan Zibei clipped his own Asian Record from semis with a 58.63, beating Japanese Record holder Yasuhiro Kosecki (58.93) to the wall for bronze. There was a close battle for the 5th spot with a slew of 59-lows. Russia’s Kirill Prigoda took that spot with a 59.09, clipping the USA’s Andrew Wilson (59.11) by hundredths. His teammate, Anton Chupkov (59.19), was 8th behind Olympic 200 breast champion Dmitriy Balandin (KAZ).

WOMEN’S 100 FLY – FINAL:

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2016, 55.48
• World Junior Record: Penny Oleksiak (Canada), 2016, 56.46
• World Championship Record: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 2017, 55.53
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden), 55.53

Medalists:

1. GOLD- Maggie MacNeil (CAN), 55.83
2. SILVER- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 56.22
3. BRONZE- Emma McKeon (AUS), 56.61

There was another major upset on the women’s side as Canada’s Maggie MacNeil took the title over Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom. At the start, Sjostrom was out fast, nearly a second ahead of MacNeil who turned in 5th. But MacNeil turned on the jets to run her down and snap her winning streak, 55.83 to 56.22. Sjostrom previously held all 10 of the all-time top 10 times and was the second woman to ever break 56. MacNeil now joins her on that list with the 8th fastest performance of all time and is the 2nd fastest woman in history.

Australia’s Emma McKeon was within tenths of her best to take the bronze in 56.61. Italian Record holder once again lowered her Italian Record to take 4th in 57.07, with Australia’s Brianna Throssell (57.09), the USA’s Kelsi Dahlia (57.11), and Sweden’s Louise Hansson (57.16) a nail behind. Rounding out the top 8 was France’s Marie Wattel in 57.29.

MEN’S 100 BACK – SEMIFINAL:

• World Record: Ryan Murphy (United States), 2016, 51.85
• Junior World Record: Kliment Kolesnikov (Russia), 2017, 53.38
• World Championships Record: Aaron Peirsol (United States), 2009, 52.19
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Xu Jiayu (China), 52.44

Finals Qualifiers:

1. Xu Jiayu (CHN)- 52.17
2. (T-2) Ryan Murphy (USA)- 52.44
3. (T-2) Evgeny Rylov (RUS)- 52.44
4. Matt Grevers (USA)- 52.82
5. Mitch Larkin (AUS)- 52.91
6. Ryosuke Irie (JPN)- 53.13
7. Guilherme Guido (BRA)- 53.23
8. Robert Glinta (ROU)- 53.40

China’s Xu Jiayu, the 2nd fastest man in history, topped the semis with a heat 2 win in 52.17. That’s just a couple tenths shy of his best and clips the former Championship Record of 52.19 set by backstroke legend Aaron Peirsol back in 2009. Olympic champion Ryan Murphy (USA) came in behind him in that heat with a 52.44. Murphy is the only man to ever have swum faster than Xu. He’s the World Record holder with a best time just a hundredth faster than Xu’s. Tomorrow night, the two men will battle with the World Record on watch, while Xu is looking for back-to-back titles in this race.

Russia’s Evgeny Rylov won the first of the semis, posting a lifetime best 52.44 to tie Murphy as the 2nd seed for the final. Rylov is the defending World Champion in the 200 back. Matt Grevers (USA), the 2012 Olympic champion in this event, touched 2nd in that heat with a 52.82. Grevers is the defending silver medalist in this event. Australia’s Mitch Larkin, the 2015 World Champion in the 100 and 200 backstrokes, takes the 5th seed with his 52.91. Seasoned backstroke veteran Ryosuke Irie of Japan, an Olympic backstroke medalist, will join them in the final after posting a 53.13.

Brazil’s Guilherme Guido was a couple of tenths shy of his Brazilian Record from prelims, but qualified 7th with a 53.23. Romanian Olympic finalist Robert Glinta (53.40) was the 8th man into the final. Just out of the final was Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov in 53.44. Trinidad and Tobago’s Dylan Carter, who was granted a prelims re-swim this morning  due to problems with the ledges, missed the final as well with a 54.08 for 16th. Italy’s Simone Sabbioni, who was also granted re-swims in prelims after 2 backstroke ledge malfunctions, tied for 12th in 53.71.

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST – SEMIFINAL:

• World Record: Lilly King (United States), 2017, 1:04.13
• Junior World Record: Ruta Meilutyte (Lithuania), 2014, 1:05.39
• World Championships Record: Lilly King (United States), 2017, 1:04.13
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Lilly King (United States), 1:04.13

Finals Qualifiers:

1. Yuliya Efimova– 1:05.56
2. Lilly King (USA)- 1:05.66
3. Reona Aoki (JPN)- 1:06.30
4. Martina Carraro (ITA)- 1:06.39
5. Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA)- 1:06.61
6. Molly Renshaw (GBR)- 1:06.73
7. Yu Jingyao (CHN)- 1:06.85
8. **(T-8) Fanny Lecluyse (BEL)- 1:06.97**
9. **(T-9) Arianna Castiglioni (ITA)- 1:06.97**

Yuliya Efimova topped the semis tonight with her heat 1 win in 1:05.56. That put her a tenth ahead of Lilly King, who won the 2nd heat in 1:05.66. The two will battle side-by-side tomorrow night, continuing their rivalry that started at the 2016 Olympics. SO far, King has won the 100 breast battle in all of their major international meetings. However, Efimova is the fastest woman in the World for 2019 thus far.

Japan’s Reona Aoki nabbed the 3rd qualifying spot in 1:06.30 ahead of Italy’s Martina Carraro (1:06.39). That was a new Italian Record for Carraro, clipping her former mark from 2016. Her teammate, Arianna Castiglioni, was also sub-1:07, but will have a swim-off for the 8th finals spot with Belgium’s Fanny Lecluyse as they both hit the wall in 1:06.97 for 8th.South African Record holder Tatjana Schoenmaker was within tenths of her record with a 1:06.61 for 5th.

Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson, the 2015 bronze medalist in this race, tied for 11th in 1:07.11. The USA’s Micah Sumrall was 16th in 1:07.94.

MEN’S 50 FLY – FINAL:

• World Record: 22.27, Andrii Govorov (UKR), 2018
• World Championship Record: 22.57, Caeleb Dressel (USA), 2019
• World Junior Record: 23.22, Michael Andrew (USA), 2017
• Defending 2017 World Champion: 22.75, Ben Proud (GBR)

Medalists:

1. GOLD- Caeleb Dressel (USA), 22.35
2. SILVER- Oleg Kostin (RUS), 22.70
3. BRONZE- Nicholas Santos (BRA), 22.79

With a new American Record, Caeleb Dressel became the first American man to ever win this event at Worlds. Dressel shaved over 2 tenths off his former mark, also breaking his Championship Record as he hit the wall in 22.35. Russia’s Oleg Kostin set a new Russian Record to take silver in 22.70 and is now tied as the 6th fastest performer in history. Brazil’s 39-year-old Nicholas Santos nabbed the final podium spot with a 22.79 for bronze.

The USA’s Michael Andrew was just a hundredth shy of the podium as he clocked in at 22.80 for 4th place. Andrew is now the 2nd fastest American ever behind Dressel. Hungary’s Szebasztian Szabo took down the Hungarian Record with a 22.90 for 5th. He touched out World Record holder Andrii Govorov (22.91) of the Ukraine by a hundredth. Great Britain’s Ben Proud, the 2017 champion, was 7th in 23.01, followed by Russia’s Andrey Zhilkin (23.11).

WOMEN’S 100 BACK – SEMIFINAL:

• World Record: Kathleen Baker (United States), 2018, 58.00
• Junior World Record: Regan Smith (United States), 2019, 58.45
• World Championships Record: Kylie Masse (Canada), 2017, 58.10
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Kylie Masse (Canada), 58.10

Finals Qualifiers:

1. Kylie Masse (CAN)- 58.50
2. Minna Atherton (AUS)- 58.60
3. Taylor Ruck (CAN)- 58.83
4. Kathleen Baker (USA)- 59.03
5. Kaylee McKeown (AUS)- 59.13
6. Olivia Smoliga (USA)- 59.36
7. Daria Vaskina (RUS)- 59.46
8. Natsumi Sakai (JPN)- 59.71

Canada’s Kylie Masse was the top qualifier, as the defending World champion came through in 58.50. She was over half a second ahead of her heat, as Australia’s Kaylee McKeown touched behind her in 59.13 to qualify 5th. World Record holder Kathleen Baker will be in the mix. Baker, who swam her first race in 4 months today after dealing with a rib injury this season, was about a second behind her World Record to take 4th seed in 59.03. Masse has already been within 2 tenths of Baker’s record this season, and held the World Record previously before Baker broke it. There’s a chance we could see Masse reclaim it tomorrow night.

Canada, Australia, and the USA will all have 2 in tomorrow night’s final. Joining Masse in representing Canada will be Taylor Ruck, who touched 2nd in the first semifinal heat in 58.83. She clocked in behind Australia’s Minna Atherton, who touched in a lifetime best 58.60 to become the 2nd fastest Australian in history. Atherton is 2nd to Olympic medalist Emily Seebohm in those rankings. Seebohm is absent from these championships. She’s also now the 10th fastest performer all-time, with Ruck sitting just ahead of her on that list.

The USA’s 2nd representative is Olivia Smoliga, who took the 6th seed for finals in 59.36. Russia and Japan will also be represented with Daria Vaskina (59.46) and Natsumi Sakai (59.71) respectively. Sakai just turned 18 years old and represented Japan in Rio at the age of 15. This will be her first major international final.

MEN’S 200 FREE – SEMIFINAL:

• World Record: Paul Biederman (Germany), 2009, 1:42.00
• Junior World Record: Ivan Girev (Russia), 2017, 1:46.40
• World Championships Record: Paul Biederman (Germany), 2009, 1:42.00
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Sun Yang (China), 1:44.39

Finals Qualifiers:

1. Clyde Lewis (AUS), 1:44.90
2. Sun Yang (CHN), 1:45.31
3. Danas Rapsys (LTU), 1:45.44
4. (T-4) Duncan Scott (GBR), 1:45.56
5. (T-4) Katsuhiro Matsumoto (JPN), 1:45.56
6. Dominik Kozma (HUN), 1:45.56
7. Martin Malyutin (RUS), 1:45.60
8. Filippo Megli (ITA), 1:45.76

Australia’s Clyde Lewis dropped almost a second to become the fastest man of 2019. Lewis touched ahead of defending World Champion Sun Yang (CHN) in the first semifinal heat. Lewis is now the 10th fastest performer ever in the event. Sun rolled in 2nd at 1:45.31, and looks to earn back-to-back titles in this race after he secured the 400 free 4-peat on night 1. Sun and Lewis are the only men in the finals field with lifetime bests under 1:45, but Lithuanian Danas Rapsys and Great Britain’s Duncan Scott have been within 2 tenths.

Rapsys won the 2nd semifinal heat in 1:45.44, while Scott and Japan’s Katsuhiro Matsumoto tied for 4th seed behind him in 1:45.56. Matsumoto is within a couple of tenths of Kosuke Hagino’s Japanese Record and clipped his lifetime best by about a tenth. Scott’s lifetime best 1:45.16 is just 2 hundredths away from James Guy‘s British Record. Guy missed the final this time around, touching in 1:45.95 for 11th. Team USA’s Townley Haas, the 2017 silver medalist, was 14th out of the semis in 1:46.37. The Americans won’t have a swimmer in this final as teammate Andrew Seliskar ranked 15th with a 1:46.83.

Italy’s Filippo Megli took down an Italian Record here. His 1:45.76 makes him the first Italian man under 1:46 and blows away Emiliano Brembilla’s former mark of 1:46.29 from 2009. Megli qualified 8th for the final.

WOMEN’S 200 IM – FINAL:

• World Record: 2:06.12, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2015
• World Championship Record: 2:06.12, Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2015
• World Junior Record: 2:09.98, Rikako Ikee (JPN), 2017
• Defending World Champion: Katinka Hosszu, 2:07.00

Medalists:

1. GOLD- Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 2:07.53
2. SILVER- Ye Shiwen (CHN), 2:08.60
3. BRONZE- Sydney Pickrem (CAN), 2:08.70

Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu became the first woman to win 4 straight titles in an event as she touched the wall a second ahead of the field tonight. Hosszu repeated as champion in 2:07.53 ahead of 2012 Olympic champion Ye Shiwen of China. Touching the wall in 2:08.60, Ye cemented her major international comeback. It was her first medal at a Worlds since 2011, the first time she’s broken 2:09 since 2014, and her best time since 2012.

Canada’s Sydney Pickrem picked up the bronze in 2:08.70. That was within hundredths of her own Canadian Record, which stands at a 2:08.61 from the FINA Champions Series back in the beginning of June. Behind her, the USA’s Melanie Margalis came in 4th for a 2nd-straight Worlds. She was just 2 tenths off her best with a 2:08.91.

Japan’s Yui Ohashi, a medal favorite coming into the meet, was disqualified. Her teammate, Rika Omoto, placed 5th in 2:09.32.

**WOMEN’S 100 BREAST – SWIMOFF FOR FINAL:**

• World Record: Lilly King (United States), 2017, 1:04.13
• Junior World Record: Ruta Meilutyte (Lithuania), 2014, 1:05.39
• World Championships Record: Lilly King (United States), 2017, 1:04.13
• 2017 Defending World Champion: Lilly King (United States), 1:04.13

Finals Qualifiers:

1. Yuliya Efimova– 1:05.56
2. Lilly King (USA)- 1:05.66
3. Reona Aoki (JPN)- 1:06.30
4. Martina Carraro (ITA)- 1:06.39
5. Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA)- 1:06.61
6. Molly Renshaw (GBR)- 1:06.73
7. Yu Jingyao (CHN)- 1:06.85
8. ** Arianna Castiglioni (ITA)- 1:06.97**

Belgium’s Fanny Lecluyse had the early lead, turning in 31.29 to Arianna Castiglioni‘s 31.55. The Italian then kicked it into gear on the back half, outsplitting Lecluyse by over a second on the closing length to win it in 1:06.39. That ties teammate Martina Carraro‘s Italian Record from the prelims round. Both Castiglioni and Carraro will race in the final. Lecluyse finished 2nd in the swimoff with a 1:07.22.