2020 FINA CHAMPIONS SERIES – SHENZHEN
- Jan 14-15, 2020
- Shenzhen, CHN
- Meet Info
- Full Entry List
- Live Stream (FINA.tv)
- US Live Stream: NBC Sports
- Live Results
Day 2 from the first FINA Champions Series stop in Shenzhen shapes up to be full of more exciting races, including a rematch between Danas Rapsys and Sun Yang.
Rapsys edged out Sun by .03 in the men’s 200 freestyle on Day 1, and the two will face off once again tonight in the 400 free.
The top performance on the opening day came from Arno Kamminga, who broke his own Dutch National Record in the men’s 100 breaststroke with a blistering 58.61 — a time that ranks him sixth all-time.
On Day 2 he’ll be one to watch in both the 50 and 200 breast, facing tough fields in both events. The 50 includes Brazilians Felipe Lima and Joao Gomes — the 2019 World Championship silver and bronze medalists — along with the dangerous Ilya Shymanovich, and the 200 lineup features 2015 world champ Marco Koch, and 2016 Olympic gold and silver medalists Dmitriy Balandin and Josh Prenot.
On the women’s side, the race to watch comes in the 200 free, where Siobhan Haughey will look to follow up her stellar 100 free victory from Day 1. She’ll take on Femke Heemskerk, who was strong in the 100 as well, China’s Yang Junxuan, and Katinka Hosszu, who was relatively off in her swims on the first day.
Men’s 200 Back
- Markus Thormeyer, CAN, 1:59.02
- Adam Telegdy, HUN, 1:59.15
- Jacob Pebley, USA, 1:59.95
- Radoslaw Kawecki, POL, 2:01.25
Canadian Markus Thormeyer opened up close to a second lead at the 150 mark of the men’s 200 back after a very solid 1:00.52 middle 100, and then managed to hold off a late push from Hungarian Adam Telegdy to win the event in a time of 1:59.02.
Telegdy made up some ground with a final split of 29.64, finishing just over a tenth back in 1:59.15, and American Jacob Pebley had the fastest last 50 of 29.47 to take third in 1:59.95.
Women’s 200 Fly
- Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 2:07.68
- Liliana Szilagyi, HUN, 2:08.21
- Boglarka Kapas, HUN, 2:09.46
- Svetlana Chimrova, RUS, 2:10.08
Hungarians Katinka Hosszu and Liliana Szilagyi were locked in a tight battle throughout the entirety of the women’s 200 fly, with Szilagyi’s 0.15-second lead the biggest margin between them at any of the first three walls. After failing to claim either of her Day 1 events, Hosszu would not be denied here, charging home in 32.36 to take the win in a time of 2:07.68.
Hosszu’s swim slots her into #2 in the world for the 2019-20 season — improving on her 2:08.23 from the Kazan World Cup in November – trailing only American Hali Flickinger (2:07.65).
Szilagyi touched second in 2:08.21, and Boglarka Kapas was third in 2:09.46 to make it a 1-2-3 sweep for Hungary.
Men’s 100 Fly
- Andrei Minakov, RUS, 51.73
- Matthew Temple, AUS, 51.92
- Oleg Kostin, RUS, 53.21
- Michael Andrew, 53.55
2019 World Championship silver medalist Andrei Minakov blasted out to the early lead in the men’s 100 fly with an opening 50 of 23.85, and then he held off Australian Matthew Temple down the final few metres to pick up the win in a time of 51.73. Miankov, a 17-year-old from Russia, moves into #5 in the world this season.
Temple closed the fastest of anyone in 27.68 to claim second in 51.92, while Oleg Kostin made up over a second on Michael Andrew on the second 50 to slip by him for third — 53.21 to 53.55. Andrew was out in second in 24.07 but faded back in 29.48.
Women’s 50 Free
- Liu Xiang, CHN, 24.04
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED, 24.42
- Femke Heemskerk, NED, 24.70
- Michelle Coleman, SWE, 24.84
After a relatively even start, China’s Liu Xiang proved to be the fastest swimmer in the water in the women’s 50 free, taking off down the pool en route to a win by almost four-tenths in 24.04. That swim for Liu ties her Asian and Chinese Record first set at the 2017 Chinese National Games in Tianjin.
The 23-year-old also overtakes Cate Campbell (24.08) for top spot in the world this season.
2012 Olympic champ Ranomi Kromowidjojo produced a season-best to edge fellow Dutchwoman Femke Heemskerk for second — 24.42 to 24.70.
Men’s 200 Breast
- Arno Kamminga, NED, 2:09.00
- Marco Koch, GER, 2:09.81
- Dmitriy Balandin, KAZ, 2:13.58
- Josh Prenot, USA, 2:13.60
Coming off of his Dutch National Record in the 100 breaststroke on Day 1, Arno Kamminga continued his momentum with his second win of the competition in the men’s 200 breast, touching in a time of 2:09.00 to defeat German Marco Koch by over eight-tenths.
Kamminga sits third in the world this season with his 2:07.96 set in October.
Koch, the 2015 world champ, was second in 2:09.81, while 2016 Olympic champion Dmitriy Balandin came back on the final 50 to edge 2016 silver medalist Josh Prenot by .02 in 2:13.58.
Women’s 100 Back
- Kira Toussaint, NED, 59.52
- Fu Yuanhui, CHN, 1:00.17
- Michelle Coleman, SWE, 1:01.23
- Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 1:03.24
Kira Toussaint of the Netherlands was the class of the field in the women’s 100 back, opening up a lead of two-tenths on China’s Fu Yuanhui on the opening 50 before really taking off on the back half for a victory by over six-tenths in 59.52.
Toussaint has now had the 10 fastest swims of her career since the beginning of September — she set and then equalled the current Dutch Record of 59.14 on the FINA World Cup in November. This swim ranks as her fifth-fastest ever.
Fu was the clear runner-up in 1:00.17, and Michelle Coleman came back shortly after the 50 free for a solid third in 1:01.23. Katinka Hosszu struggled to fourth in 1:03.24 after the 200 fly.
Men’s 400 Free
- Sun Yang, CHN, 3:44.07
- Danas Rapsys, LTU, 3:46.62
- Ji Xinjie, CHN, 3:48.11
- Dominik Kozma, HUN, 3:57.91
Sun Yang removed any thought of another stroke-for-stroke finish with Danas Rapsys as we saw in yesterday’s 200, as he broke away on the third 100 of the men’s 400 free en route to a win by over two and a half seconds in 3:44.07. With a one-second lead at the 350, Sun torched a 25.96 split on his way home.
The 2012 Olympic champ and four-time world champ in this event, Sun moves past Rapsys’ 3:44.60 from November to take over the top spot in the world this season.
Rapsys was 3:46.62 for second, while China’s Ji Xinjie took third in 3:48.11 to put himself into the world’s top-five.
Women’s 50 Fly
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED, 25.78
- Jeanette Ottesen, DEN, 26.20
- Elena Di Liddo, ITA, 26.69
- Michelle Coleman, SWE, 27.20
Coming off of her runner-up finish in the 50 free, Ranomi Kromowidjojo claimed her first win of the meet in the women’s 50 fly, clocking a time of 25.78 to narrowly miss her season-best of 25.63 which ranks her second in the world.
Denmark’s Jeanette Ottesen matched her finish in the 100 fly with another second place showing in 26.20, while Italian Elena di Liddo took third in 26.69.
In her third consecutive event, Michelle Coleman posted a respectable 27.20 in fourth.
Men’s 100 Free
- Andrei Minakov, RUS, 48.94
- Vladimir Morozov, RUS, 49.02
- Marcelo Chierighini, BRA, 49.38
- Pieter Timmers, BEL, 49.45
Andrei Minakov edged out fellow Russian Vladimir Morozov to win the men’s 100 freestyle in a time of 48.94, giving the 17-year-old his second victory of the session. Minakov comes less than a half-second off his best time of 48.50 set last April, out-splitting Morozov by .04 on both 50s (out in 23.73, back in 25.21).
Morozov finished second in 49.02, and Marcelo Chierighini of Brazil, who led at the 50 in 23.54, held off Belgium’s Pieter Timmers (49.45) for third in 49.38. Timmers closed faster than anyone in 25.18.
Women’s 200 IM
- Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 2:10.42
- Sydney Pickrem, CAN, 2:10.84
- Ye Shiwen, CHN, 2:12.35
- Yu Yiting, CHN, 2:14.14
Similar to what we saw early in the session in the 200 fly, Katinka Hosszu simply refused to be denied in arguably her best event as she took down Canadian Sydney Pickrem on the freestyle leg to win the women’s 200 IM in 2:10.42. Hosszu currently ranks fourth in the world this year with a 2:09.50.
Pickrem clocked 2:10.84 for second, putting herself sixth in the world, and China’s Ye Shiwen — who led after a quick 32.68 breast split — took third in 2:12.35. Ye was the 2012 Olympic champion in this event, along with the 400 IM, as was Hosszu in 2016.
Men’s 50 Breast
- Ilya Shymanovich, BLR, 27.28
- Joao Gomes, BRA, 27.39
- Arno Kamminga, NED, 27.40
- Felipe Lima, BRA, 27.74
After finishing fourth in the 100 breast on Day 1, Belarusian Ilya Shymanovich rebounded with a win in the men’s 50 breast here on Day 2, clocking in with a time of 27.28. The swim slots him into eighth in the world this season.
Brazilian Joao Gomes, the 2019 World Championship bronze medalist, was the runner-up in 27.39, and Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands was denied the breaststroke sweep as he took third in 27.40. Kamminga currently sits atop the world rankings with his 27.00 from the Budapest World Cup in October.
Women’s 100 Breast
- Martina Carraro, ITA, 1:06.85
- Yu Jingyao, CHN, 1:07.59
- Alia Atkinson, JAM, 1:08.15
- Sydney Pickrem, 1:09.59
Italian Martina Carraro came back in a blistering 34.90 to fly by China’s Yu Jingyao and earn the win in the women’s 100 breast, touching in a final time of 1:06.85 to rank her third in the world. Carraro was the 2019 World Championship bronze medalist in this event, setting the Italian National Record in that final in a time of 1:06.36.
Yu was the runner-up in 1:07.59, and Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson clocked 1:08.15 for third. Just minutes after the 200 IM, Sydney Pickrem was back in the water to take fourth in 1:09.59.
Men’s 50 Back
- Xu Jiayu, CHN, 24.63
- Robert Glinta, ROU, 24.91
- Apostolos Christou, GRE, 25.01
- Michael Andrew, USA, 25.08
Xu Jiayu opened up a slight lead right off the start in the men’s 50 back and sailed his way to victory in a time of 24.63, giving him the 50/100 back double and the #3 time in the world this season.
Romania’s Robert Glinta really upped his stroke rate down the final 15 metres en route to snagging second in 24.91, while Apostolos Christou of Greece edged American Michael Andrew for third in 25.01.
Women’s 200 Free
- Yang Junxuan, CHN, 1:55.52
- Siobhan Haughey, HKG, 1:56.88
- Femke Heemskerk, NED, 1:58.23
- Katinka Hosszu, HUN, 2:06.30
China Yang Junxuan battled head-to-head with 100 freestyle winner Siobhan Haughey throughout the early stages of the women’s 200 free, opening a slight lead at the 150 before rocketing home in 29.83 to win handily in 1:55.52.
Yang, 17, narrowly misses her Junior World Record of 1:55.43 set at the 2019 World Championships. After sitting #2 in the world behind Katie Ledecky coming into the day, she now takes over the top spot.
Haughey, who was faster at the 100 here than she was in her Hong Kong Record swim of 1:54.98 at the 2019 Worlds, was a clear second in 1:56.88, and Femke Heemskerk had identical 29.97 50 splits on the back half for third in 1:58.23.
Mixed 4×100 Medley Relay
- Team di Liddo (Christou, Yan, di Liddo, Kesely), 3:48.13
- Team Hulkko (Grevers, Hulkko, Kenderesi, Haughey), 3:50.30
- Team Liu (Liu, Lima, Santos, Heemskerk), 3:50.85
- Team Hannis (Andrew, Hannis, Chimrova, Ervin), 3:52.66
As the only team to use the traditional mixed medley order of two males swimming back and breast, Team di Liddo opened up a huge lead at the halfway mark that they would not relinquish, topping the field by over two seconds in 3:48.13.
Apostolos Christou (54.60) kept within striking distance of Team Hulkko’s Matt Grevers (54.08) on the lead-off, and then Yan Zibei unloaded a 58.81 breast split to put them up by close to eight seconds. Elena di Liddo (58.45) and Ajna Kesely (56.27) successfully closed things out.
Grevers was the key leg for Team Hulkko, joined by Ida Hulkko (1:07.14), Tamas Kenderesi (53.69) and Siobhan Haughey (55.39) for second place and a time of 3:50.30. Haughey narrowly held off Team Liu’s Femke Heemskerk, who raced her just minutes prior in the 200 free, as Heemskerk split 54.09 but ran out of room and finished third for her squad in 3:50.85.
Molly Hannis had the top female breast split of 1:07.00 for Team Andrew who took fourth in 3:52.66.
I know YOZHIK is basically a meme at this point, but it is absurd that Hosszu got paid to swim a 2:06 200 Free.
If she can’t handle the program she needs to scale it back.
People make fun of Michael Andrew for trying to swim programs he can’t handle at the world level, but he still posts respectable times, you would never accuse him of lacking effort. 2:06 is flat out not trying.
the whole event results were pretty bad… only a few fast times.
I don’t know how long is the evening for all the races, that 200 free was her 4th event of the night and she chose to accept the invite….
I am still a little disappointed in Michael Andrew’s result in the last two day… He is good at swim fast in season (which make those in season meet more exciting to see him popped a fast time, vs other swimmers in traditional heavy training mode). But his time today was very slow by his standard.
I tend to agree. I don’t really blame Hosszu: she had 4 races today and clearly decided to swim hard in the first and third, and treat the second and fourth as swim downs. Probably looking to maximise earnings and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, but with only four swimmers in each event you really want to see them all at least trying their best.
And yes, Rapsys’s 200 back last year was even worse. Should be no prize money if you’re too far away from the winner (similarly to penalty points in ISL).
Another problem is that FINA seem to be sometimes struggling to even get four good swimmers for some events, so end up putting… Read more »
Maybe FINA couldn’t find enough good swimmers to attend or enough “Champions” to swim all these events. Or maybe FINA had an agreement with Katinka to allow her to swim multiple events?!? Obviously it is a money grab for most of these athletes!
Great commentary by Mel, almost died laughing when I heard his comment about Tusup. Maybe time for Mel to replace Rowdy!
thx…I felt it was a fair comment. I wasn’t trying to be funny, just accurate.
Rapsys definitely becoming one of the big names in swimming
it took him like 2 years or so …….great swimmer
My man Rapsys is in Sun’s head after the 200 race: he made Sun go extra fast on the third 100 of the 400 because he was afraid Rapsys would overtake him on the last lap. Watch in Tokyo when Sun’s Rapsys-fear forces him to go out way too fast on the first 150 of theIr much-awaited 200 free showdown. Rapsys will bury him on the final fifty!
Agree, Rapsys giving pressure on SUN obviously and might have affect his normal pace, SUN said after his race today that he believed he could have a better result if he was “more relaxed” today.
Uh, love Rapsys over Sun, but Sun came home in 25 high. He ain’t gonna die even taking it out fast. He took it out fasty AND was waiting for Rapsys to blaze on the final 50. Rapsys is going to get burned one of these times waiting too long. Like today.
Shameless ugly greed. Doesn’t Hosszu understand how it makes her look like?
There are a lot of people here saying: “If some Idi.t throws money away why not to stoop to pick it up. I will”. Or – “she is a professional. What does else professional do rather then grabbing money”.
Well, I hope that even those who are saying that understand that there are limits.
I’m beginning to suspect that that is mental. Is she starving? Or doesn’t have home to sleep? Or does have big family to feed? Shame.
Half of her 6 races have FINA’s qualification standard “n/a”. If this is a new face of professional sport then I hate it and prefer… Read more »
I’m starting to believe…
Minakov’s shoulders !! And he’s 17 . Gulp
Ignoring controversy for a second, ….Sun Yang has very average underwaters compared to Rapsys, but catches up each lap due to his amazingly efficient stroke . First 200 free he had such a slow stroke rate … but then increased it and won fairly easily. Rapsys also increased his own stroke rate the last two laps so looked like he was sprinting .
Edit – what was his winning time at worlds ?
haven’t seen many inspiring finishes or times from the Americans as of yet
It’s January. Most athletes aren’t going to be peaking until later in the year when it comes to trials and olympics.
not before Mei , thats for sure .