2021 SC World Champs: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2021 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Thursday, December 16th – Tuesday, December 21st
• Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
• SCM (25m)
• Prize Money
• Meet Site
• Psych Sheet
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• FINA Live Results
• Omega Live Results

Day 4 finals will include finals of the men’s 4×50 free relay, women’s 50 fly, men’s 100 IM, women’s 100 IM, women’s 400 free, men’s 50 back, and men’s 4×200 free relay. There will also be semifinals of the men’s 50 fly, women’s 50 back, and women’s 100 breast.

After breaking the Championship Record in the women’s 800 free, Chinese 19-year-old Li Bingjie will be back in action tonight. Bingjie clocked a 4:01.26 to lead prelims of the women’s 400 free this morning. She’ll have her hands full, however, as this final also includes the on-fire Siobhan Haughey (Hong Kong), Canada’s Summer McIntosh, and RSF’s Anastasiia Kirpichnikova.

After a great performance in the semis, Netherland’s Ranomi Kromowidjojo will be trying to hold off Sarah Sjostrom and China’s Zhang Yufei in the women’s 50 fly. USA’s Ryan Held will be in lane 4 for a very tight final of the men’s 50 free.

MEN’S 4×50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 1:21.80 – United States – 14 DEC 2018
• Championship Record: 1:21.80 – United States – 14 DEC 2018

Podium:

• GOLD: Italy – 1:23.61
• SILVER: Russian Swimming Federation – 1:23.75
• BRONZE: Netherlands – 1:23.78

The USA led the race for the first 140-ish meters, but they weren’t able to hold on, and fell to 4th in a true photo-finish. The Americans were operating with middle-distance freestyler Kieran Smith as the anchor leg, due to the swimmers who have been pulled from the meet because of COVID protocols.

Italy got the job done at the finish, with Alessandro Miressi coming up big for his team with a 20.61 split on the anchor. The only anchor who was faster was Netherlands’ Thom de Boer, who split 20.41 to get Netherlands onto the podium. De Boer’s split was the fastest in the field.

WOMEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – FINALS

• World Record: 24.38 – ALSHAMMAR Therese (SWE) 22 NOV 2009
• Championship Record: 24.47 – KROMOWIDJOJO Ranomi (NED) 14 DEC 2018
• World Junior Record: 25.14 – IKEE Rikako (JPN) 14 NOV 2017

Podium:

• GOLD: Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands) – 24.44
• SILVER: Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) – 24.51
• BRONZE: Claire Curzan (USA) – 24.55

What a race! American 17-year-old Claire Curzan took an early lead, operating out of lane 7. Veteran superstars Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Sarah Sjostrom pulled even with Curzan down the stretch, and at the touch, Kromowidjojo got it done.

The the 24.44 for Kromo marks a personal best for the 31-year-old, as well as a Dutch Record, and she broke the Championship Record, which she held from 2018. Additionally, Kromo’s swim tonight is the 2nd-fastest women’s 50 fly of all-time, behind only the World Record performance of 24.38 by Therese Alshammar.

Claire Curzan broke the World Junior Record with a massive personal best. After going low-25s in prelims and semifinals, Curzan broke through with a 24.55. The swim shattered the WJR of 25.14, which was held by Japan’s Rikako Ikee. Curzan’s swim also marks a new American Record.

MEN’S 100 IM – FINALS

• World Record: 49.28 – DRESSEL Caeleb (USA) 22 NOV 2020
• Championship Record: 50.63 – KOLESNIKOV Kliment (RSF) 14 DEC 2018
• World Junior Record: 50.63 – KOLESNIKOV Kliment (RSF) 14 DEC 2018

Podium:

• GOLD: Kliment Kolesnikov (RSF) – 51.09
• SILVER: Tomoe Hvas (NOR) – 51.35
• BRONZE: Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 51.40

Kliment Kolesnikov established an early lead, thanks in large part to his backstroke 25. He posted the 2nd-fastest split in the field on the 2nd 50 as well (28.14), earning him his first Gold medal of the meet.

Tomoe Hvas clipped his own Norwegian Record of 51.39 from semifinals to take 2nd tonight. Italy’s Thomas Ceccon grabbed a Bronze medal, while the 200 IM champion, Daiya Seto, finished 4th in 51.46.

WOMEN’S 100 IM – FINALS

• World Record: 56.51 – HOSSZU Katinka (HUN) 7 AUG 2017
• Championship Record: 56.70 – HOSSZU Katinka (HUN) 5 DEC 2014
• World Junior Record: 57.59 – SHKURDAI Anastasiya (BLR) 22 NOV 2020

Podium:

• GOLD: Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 57.80
• SILVER: Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 57.96
• BRONZE: Mariia Kameneva (RSF) – 58.15

Israeli 18-year-old Anastasia Gorbenko is having a meet to remember. One of the stars of this meet, Gorbenko took over on the breaststroke leg of the race to take the lead heading into the final 25. She got her hand on the wall first, swimming a new personal best of 57.80. The swim also clipped the Israeli Record of 57.90, which Gorbenko held.

France’s Beryl Gastaldello earned Silver with a 57.96. The performance marks Gastaldello’s first-ever World Championships medal, short course or long course. Russia Swimming Federation picked up Bronze with a 58.15 from Mariia Kameneva.

MEN’S 50 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 21.75 – SANTOS Nicholas (BRA) 6 OCT / SZABO Szebasztian (HUN) 6 NOV 2021
• Championship Record: 21.81 – SANTOS Nicholas (BRA) 15 DEC 2018
• World Junior Record: 22.34 – MINAKOV Andrei (RSF) 18 DEC 2020

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Szebastian Szabo (HUN) – 22.11
2. Nicholas Santos (BRA) – 22.12
3. Dylan Carter (TTO) – 22.18
4. Matteo Rivolta (ITA) – 22.20
5. Tom Shields (USA) – 22.29
6. Oleg Kostin (RSF) – 22.36
7. Grigori Pekarski (BLR) – 22.44
8. Nyls Korstanje (NED) – 22.45

Nicholas Santos won the first semifinals heat comfortably, clocking a 22.12. The 41-year-old is the World Record holder, along with Szebastian Szabo, who won the 2nd semifinals heat in 22.11. Santos has a chance to become the oldest World Championships medalist ever tomorrow night. He currently holds those honors with his Gold medal performance from the 2018 SC Worlds, back when he was 38. We can look forward to a showdown between the World Record holders tomorrow night.

Dylan Carter grabbed 3rd in 22.18, marking a new Trinidad & Tobago Record. Another longtime veteran made it into the final, as 30-year-old American Tom Shields grabbed the 5th seed for tomorrow night.

WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 3:53.92 – TITMUS Ariarne (AUS) 14 DEC 2018
• Championship Record: 3:53.92 – TITMUS Ariarne (AUS) 14 DEC 2018
• World Junior Record: 3:53.97 – WANG Jianjiahe (CHN) 4 OCT 2018

Podium:

• GOLD: Li Bingjie (CHN) – 3:55.83
• SILVER: Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 3:57.87
• BRONZE: Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 3:58.12

Chinese 19-year-old Li Bingjie left no opportunities for anyone to take the lead over her. Just 24 hours after cracking the Championships Record in the 800 free, Bingjie took the lead immediately in the 400, and managed to build that lead through the back half of the race. The 3rd 100 was huge for Bingjie, as she split 59.85, marking the only sub-1:00 split in the field.

Canadian 15-year-old Summer McIntosh grabbed Silver with a 3:57.87, just 0.12 seconds off her Canadian Record from this fall. Siobhan Haughey grabbed another medal, this time Bronze. After breaking the World Record in the 200 free, Haughey swam this race rather conservatively, splitting 1:58.38 on the opening 200.

USA’s Paige Madden broke 4:00 for the first time in her career, swimming a 3:59.58 for 5th.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 20.16 – DRESSEL Caeleb (USA) 21 NOV 2020
• Championship Record: 20.26 – MANAUDOU Florent (FRA) 5 DEC 2014
• World Junior Record: 20.98 – SIMONS Kenzo (NED) 22 DEC 2019

Podium:

• GOLD: Ben Proud (GBR) – 20.45
• SILVER: Ryan Held (USA) – 20.70
• BRONZE: Josh Liendo (CAN) – 20.76

Ben Proud had a great start and breakout, popping off another 20.4. His 20.45 was just 0.05 seconds off his own British Record (20.40), which he set just a few weeks ago at the ISL final. Ryan Held held on for 2nd, touching just ahead of a surging Josh Liendo. Liendo a Canadian 19-year-old, and the only teenager in this final, grabbed bronze in 20.76. Liendo broke the Canadian Record for the 3rd time with his swim. He first lowered the mark in prelims, then semifinals, now, again in finals.

Liendo’s medal tonight marks Canada’s first men’s medal since 2012.

WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 25.60 – TOUSSAINT Kira (NED) 14 NOV 2020 / 18 DEC 2020
• Championship Record: 25.67 – MEDEIROS Etiene (BRA) 7 DEC 2014
• World Junior Record: 26.13 – SMOLIGA Olivia (USA) 16 DEC 2012

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Louise Hansson (SWE) – 25.83
2. Kylie Masse (CAN) – 25.84
3. Maggie MacNeil (CAN) – 25.92
4. Maaike de Waard (NED) – 25.97
5. Analia Pigree (FRA) – 26.07
6. Julie Jensen (DEN) – 26.25
7. Caroline Pilhatsch (AUT) – 26.29
8. Holly Barratt (AUS) – 26.38

Louise Hansson dominated the first semifinals heat with a 25.83. It was a huge swim for Hansson, marking a personal best and new Swedish Record. Hansson had already broke the Swedish Record earlier in the meet, leading off the women’s 4×50 medley in 25.91. She now sits just 0.23 seconds off the World Record, and 0.16 off the Championships Record.

The 2nd semifinals heat was faster overall. It looked like Canada’s Maggie MacNeil was going to touch first, but fellow Canadian Kylie Masse had a great finish, getting her hand on the wall first in a 25.84. With the swim, Masse, coincidentally, ties MacNeil’s Canadian Record in the event.

Kira Toussaint, the World Record holder in the event, did not make it back for finals, finishing 10th with a 26.43. Netherlands still got a swimmer into the final, however, as Maaike de Waard clocked a 25.97 for 4th tonight.

MEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – FINALS

• World Record: 22.22 – MANAUDOU Florent (FRA) 6 DEC 2014
• Championship Record: 22.22 – MANAUDOU Florent (FRA) 6 DEC 2014
• World Junior Record: 22.77 – KOLESNIKOV Kliment (RSF) 14 DEC 2018

Podium:

• GOLD: Kliment Kolesnikov (RSF) – 22.66
• SILVER: Christian Diener (GER) – 22.90
• SILVER: Lorenzo More (ITA) – 22.90

This was possibly the tightest finish I’ve seen in a World Championships final. Kliment Kolesnikov won the race handily, posting a 22.66 to grab his 2nd Gold medal of the night.

Behind Kolesnikov, it was a bloodbath. Germany’s Christian Diener and Italy’s Lorenzo Mora tied for Silver at 22.90, but the race was so close the 100 back champion Shaine Casas came in 7th with a 22.99. RSF nearly had another man on the podium, as Pavel Samusenko clocked a 22.93 for 4th. Italy was in the same boat, with Michele Lamberti touching in 22.94 for 5th. Poland’s Kacper Stokowski came in 6th with a 22.98.

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: 1:02.36 – MEILUTYTE Ruta (LTU) 12 OCT 2013 / ATKINSON Alia (JAM) 6 DEC 2014 / 26 AUG 2016
• Championship Record: 1:02.36 – ATKINSON Alia (JAM) 6 DEC 2014
• World Junior Record: 1:02.36 – MEILUTYTE Ruta (LTU) 12 OCT 2013

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Qianting Tang (CHN) – 1:03.99
2. Sophie Hansson (SWE) – 1:04.17
3. Mona McSharry (IRL) – 1:04.22
4. Alia Atkinson (JAM) – 1:04.26
5. Nika Godun (RSF) – 1:04.34
6. Molly Renshaw (GBR) – 1:04.43
7. Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU) – 1:04.54
8. Emily Escobedo (USA) – 1:04.81

China’s Qianting Tang wasted not time getting out to the lead, and it paid off. The 17-year-old won the first semifinal handily, swimming a 1:03.99. The swim marks a personal best for Tang, and establishes new Chinese and Asian Records.

In the 2nd semifinals heat, Sweden’s Sophie Hansson closed on Alia Atkinson on the final 25, touching the wall first in 1:04.17. It was a personal best and a Swedish Record for Hansson. Atkinson, competing in her 2nd-to-last race of her career, came in 2nd in the 2nd semi with a 1:04.26, finishing 4th overall.

Mona McSharry touched 3rd overall, swimming a 1:04.22 to break her own Irish Record. GBR’s Molly Renshaw swam a 1:04.43 to establish a new British Record.

MEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE – FINALS

• World Record: 6:46.81 – Brazil – 14 DEC 2018
• Championship Record: 6:46.81 – Brazil – 14 DEC 2018

Podium:

• GOLD: United States – 6:47.00
• SILVER: Russian Swimming Federation – 6:49.12
• BRONZE: Brazil – 6:49.60

Operating out of lane 1, the U.S. took control of the race, and, improbably, held on to win Gold and nearly break the World Record. The time of 6:47.00 took down the previous American Record of 6:49.58 from back in 2010. Each of the Americans had a great swim to make it happen. Kieran Smith led off in 1:41.79, followed by Trenton Julian with a 1:41.35, then Carson Foster in 1:41.65, and Ryan Held in 1:42.21.

Brazil anchor Breno Correia nearly ran down Russian anchor Ivan Girev, splitting 1:41.87 to Grinev’s 1:4292, but it wasn’t enough, and Russia took Silver. Ireland swam a national record as well, clocking a 6:59.54 for 6th.