2020 FINA Champions Series- Beijing: Top 5 Races to Watch

2020 FINA CHAMPIONS SERIES — BEIJING

• Jan 14-15, 2020
• Beijing, CHN
• Meet Info
• Live Results
• Full Entry List

The second leg of the 2020 FINA Champions Series, taking place in Beijing, is just a day away. With only a small number of event swaps and roster changes, many of the upcoming races will be re-matches. Here’s a look at another top 5 races to watch for the Beijing stop of the 2020 FINA Champions Series.

• Click here for the full entry lists
• Shenzhen Day 1 Recap
• Shenzhen Day 2 Recap

Top 5 Races to Watch: 2020 FINA Champions Series – Beijing

#5 Women’s 200 IM: Hosszu V. Pickrem

Shenzhen

• Katinka Hosszu (HUN)- 2:10.42
• Sydney Pickrem (CAN)- 2:10.84

It will be another re-match between Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu and rising Canadian star Sydney Pickrem, where the finish was determined by four-tenths. While Hosszu has a superb front-half, Pickrem has just as strong of a back-half to not let the Hungarian get to far in the lead.

In the world rankings, Hosszu currently is 4th with her SB of 2:09.50 from the Kazan World Cup. Pickrem ranks 6th from her Shenzhen performance, just behind World No. 5 and Beijing racer Rika Omoto of Japan (2:10.61).

Also swimming in the race will be China’s Ye Shiwen, who took third last week at 2:12.35.

#4 Women’s 50 Breast: Carraro V. Hannis V. Atkinson

Shenzhen

• Martina Carraro (ITA)- 30.38
• Molly Hannis (USA)- 30.49
• Alia Atkinson (JAM)- 30.63

The top 3 fastest women in the 50 breast return to the pool as Italian Martina Carraro leads the world ranks with her Shenzhen winning time of 30.38. Carraro was also the winner of the 100 breast at 1:06.85, the 3rd-fastest time in the world.

American Molly Hannis (30.49) and Jamaican Alia Atkinson (30.63) were tenths off the Italian in the race, but are also 2-3 in the world rankings behind Carraro.

Finland’s Ida Hulkko will also contest in the race. In Shenzhen, Hulkko finished fourth at 30.83, just 0.01s off her World No. 6 season best of 30.82 from the Budapest World Cup.

#3 Men’s 50 Fly: Santos V. Govorov

Shenzhen

• Nicholas Santos (BRA)- 23.28
• Andrii Govorov (UKR)- 23.30

In Shenzhen it was a tight race between SCM WR-holder Nicholas Santos and LCM WR-holder Andrii Govorov, determined by two one-hundredths of a second. Santos touched the wall first at 23.28 while Govorov finished at 23.30. Both times were good enough to rank 5th and 6th in the world.

Also participating in the race will be Russian Oleg Kostin (23.42) and American Michael Andrew (23.51). Currently, Kostin’s season best of 22.84 and Andrew’s SB of 22.94 are the two fastest times in the world.

#2 Men’s 100 Breast: Kamminga V. Zibei

Shenzhen

• Arno Kamminga (NED)- 58.61
• Yan Zibei (CHN)- 59.02

It was a thrilling race to watch in Shenzhen as China’s Yan Zibei, who was the race’s early leader, got ran down by the Netherlands’ Arno Kamminga. The Dutchman’s efforts earned him the No. 1 time in the world with his winning time of 58.61. Zibei’s 59.02 time was also good enough to rank No. 3 in the world.

Kazakstan’s Dmitiry Balandin (1:00.55) and Belarus’ Ilya Shymanovich (1:00.64) will also re-match in Beijing.

#1 Men’s 200 Free: Rapsys V. Yang

Shenzhen

• Danas Rapsys (LTU)- 1:46.50
• Sun Yang (CHN)- 1:46.53

Danas Rapsys and Sun Yang had a show-stopping race during the 200 free, leaving only 0.03s to determine the winner. After a near-identical stroke-for-stroke finish, it was Rapsys (1:46.50) who came out on top over Yang (1:46.53).

Currently, Rapsys holds the top time in the world at 1:45.50 from the Doha World Cup. Yang’s runner-up time was good enough to rank 3rd in the world.

Also returning from Shenzhen is Hungarian Dominik Kozma (1:49.50). Joining the event this weekend is Belgian Pieter Timmers, who represented ISL Team Iron during fall 2019.