2022 COMMONWEALTH GAMES
- Friday, July 29 – Wednesday, August 3, 2022
- Birmingham, England
- Sandwell Aquatic Center
- Start Times
- Prelims: 10:30 am local / 5:30 am ET
- Finals: 7:00 pm local / 2:00 pm ET
- LCM (50m)
- Meet Central
- Event Schedule
- Entry List (PDF)
- Live Results
- Day 5 Finals Heat Sheet
Medals will be on the line in 10 events on the penultimate night of finals from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, with two of the sport’s biggest stars looking to further cement their place in the event’s history.
In the women’s 100 freestyle final, reigning Olympic champion Emma McKeon will be vying for her 13th career gold medal at the Commonwealth Games, which would further extend her lead in the all-time rankings.
McKeon has already won four golds in Birmingham for 12 total, overtaking fellow Australians Susie O’Neill, Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones who previously shared the all-time lead with 10.
One event later, in the men’s 100 fly, South Africa’s Chad Le Clos could become the most decorated swimmer in Commonwealth history if he gets on the podium, as he’s currently tied with sport shooters Michael Gault and Phil Adams with 18 in his career.
McKeon, who could match Le Clos, Gault and Adams in the women’s 100 free, could then either tie Le Clos or take the outright lead (if Le Clos misses the podium) in the final of the mixed 400 medley relay. If McKeon were to medal in both, she would have 19 career Commonwealth medals.
Another highlight tonight comes in the men’s 50 breaststroke, where Adam Peaty will be aiming for a redemption swim after missing the podium in the 100 breast.
Peaty has also never won the Commonwealth title in the 50 breast, getting beaten head-to-head by South African Cameron van der Burgh at back-to-back Games in 2014 and 2018 by a combined six one-hundredths of a second.
In the men’s 200 back, Australian Mitch Larkin has a chance to win his third consecutive title, though he hasn’t been on form here and has yet to win a medal. Larkin finds himself out in Lane 1 tonight, with England’s Luke Greenbank holding the top seed in 1:56.33.
The South Africans have a chance to complete the women’s breaststroke sweep in the final of the 100, as 50-meter winner Lara van Niekerk and 200-meter champion Tatjana Schoenmaker come in as the top two seeds out of the semis.
Their teammate Kaylene Corbett is also in the final, making it possible, though unlikely, to see a South African podium sweep.
Australian Elizabeth Dekkers has become the big favorite to win the women’s 200 fly after Summer McIntosh dropped it from her schedule, while Ariarne Titmus will seek a successful title defense in the women’s 800 free as she goes head-to-head with teammate Lani Pallister.
The mixed 400 medley relay will be head up by the Australian team, featuring a stacked lineup of Kaylee McKeown, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Matt Temple and McKeon.
England has notably used James Wilby over Peaty on breast, and slotted James Guy into the fly leg after Edward Mildred had a very strong 51.58 split this morning.
Find the full relay lineups for the mixed medley relay here.
WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 1:04.13, Lilly King (USA) – 2017
- Commonwealth Record: 1:04.82, Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA) – 2021
- Commonwealth Games Record: 1:05.09, Leisel Jones (AUS) – 2006
- 2018 Commonwealth Champion: Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA), 1:06.41
- Lara van Niekerk (RSA), 1:05.47
- Tatjana Schoenmaker (RSA), 1:06.68
- Chelsea Hodges (AUS), 1:07.05
- Molly Renshaw (ENG), 1:07.36
- Abbey Harkin (AUS), 1:07.47
- Jenna Strauch (AUS), 1:07.60
- Kaylene Corbett (RSA), 1:07.62
- Kara Hanlon (SCO), 1:08.67
Lara van Niekerk looked incredible en route to winning her second Commonwealth title of the week in the women’s 100 breaststroke, topping the field by over a second in a personal best time of 1:05.47.
The 19-year-old takes down her previous best of 1:05.67, and moves up from 19th into a tie for 14th all-time in the event.
van Niekerk’s victory makes it a second straight title in the women’s 100 breast for South Africa, with 2018 winner Tatjana Schoenmaker making it a 1-2 for the nation with a runner-up showing in 1:06.68.
Despite van Niekerk having won the 50 breast and Schoenmaker the 200, van Niekerk managed to extend her lead over Schoenmaker over the second half of the race, splitting 30.26/35.21 compared to Schoenmaker’s 30.92/35.76.
Australian Chelsea Hodges held on for the bronze medal in 1:07.05, fending off a tightly-bunched field of athletes led by England’s Molly Renshaw (1:07.36). Behind Hodges, the fourth through seventh-place finishers were separated by just 26 one-hundredths of a second.
MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 1:51.92, Aaron Peirsol (USA) – 2009
- Commonwealth Record: 1:53.17, Mitch Larkin (AUS) – 2015
- Commonwealth Games Record: 1:55.58, James Goddard (ENG) – 2010
- 2018 Commonwealth Champion: Mitch Larkin (AUS), 1:56.10
- Brodie Williams (ENG), 1:56.40
- Bradley Woodward (AUS), 1:56.41
- Pieter Coetze (RSA), 1:56.77
- Mitch Larkin (AUS), 1:56.91
- Luke Greenbank (ENG), 1:56.98
- Joshua Edwards-Smith (AUS), 1:57.50
- Craig McNally (SCO), 1:58.65
- Jay Lelliott (ENG), 2:01.64
The men’s 200 back turned out to be one of the most exciting finals we’ve seen in Birmingham, as six men battled for podium spots over the closing meters before England’s Brodie Williams ultimately claimed gold in a time of 1:56.40.
It looked like Luke Greenbank, the silver medalist from this year’s World Championships, had the gold medal locked up as he made the final turn, because although it was still close with Williams and Australian Bradley Woodward, Greenbank has always been a strong closer in this event.
However, Greenbank began to tie up over the last 50, and all of a sudden it was Williams in the lead, with Woodward hot on his feet. Two-time defending champ Mitch Larkin started to make a move out of Lane 1, and it was anyone’s race as the crossed the flags with five meters to go.
Williams managed to hold on, out-touching Woodward by .01, 1:56.40 to 1:56.41, to win gold and silver after they went 2-3 in the 100 back.
The time for Williams falls just shy of his 1:56.16 from the World Championships, while Woodward lowers his previous best, set in 2018, by .01.
In an unexpected turn of events, South Africa’s Pieter Coetze came back from sixth at the 150 to claim bronze in a time of 1:56.77, producing the fastest closing split in the field at 29.00. Coetze has now won a medal in all three backstroke events here, and one of each color.
Larkin fell just shy of the podium in 1:56.91 for fourth, while Greenbank faded to fifth in 1:56.98.
WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: 2:01.81, Liu Zige (CHN) – 2009
- Commonwealth Record: 2:03.41, Jessicah Schipper (AUS) – 2009
- Commonwealth Games Record: 2:05.45, Alys Thomas (WAL) – 2018
- 2018 Commonwealth Champion: Alys Thomas (WAL), 2:05.45
- Elizabeth Dekkers (AUS), 2:07.26
- Laura Stephens (ENG), 2:07.90
- Brianna Throssell (AUS), 2:08.32
- Abbey Connor (AUS), 2:08.36
- Holly Hibbott (ENG), 2:09.92
- Alys Thomas (WAL), 2:10.42
- Keanna MacInnes (SCO), 2:10.79
- Mabel Zavaros (CAN), 2:12.23
18-year-old Australian Elizabeth Dekkers overtook Laura Stephens on the last 50 to claim her first career Commonwealth title in the women’s 200 butterfly, putting up a time of 2:07.26 to near her lifetime best of 2:07.01.
Dekkers swam that PB at the World Championships in June, placing fifth.
England’s Stephens, who finished 10th at Worlds representing Great Britain, held a narrow lead on Dekker at the 100 and 150-meter turns, but couldn’t match the Australian coming home as she wins silver in a time of 2:07.90.
The 23-year-old, who was eighth in this event four years ago, owns a best time of 2:07.04, set in June 2021.
26-year-old Aussie Brianna Throssell picked up her second individual bronze in a time of 2:08.32, finishing in the same position in the 100 fly.
Throssell out-touched 17-year-old teammate Abbey Connor (2:08.36) by four one-hundredths, with O’Connor knocking more than two-tenths off her lifetime best of 2:08.58.
In fifth, England’s Holly Hibbott cracked the 2:10-barrier for the first time in 2:09.92, while defending champ Alys Thomas of Wales was back in sixth at 2:10.42.
WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 2017
- Commonwealth Record: 51.96, Emma McKeon (AUS) – 2021
- Commonwealth Games Record: 52.27, Bronte Campbell (AUS) – 2018
- 2018 Commonwealth Champion: Bronte Campbell (AUS), 52.27
- Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS), 52.63
- Shayna Jack (AUS), 52.88
- Emma McKeon (AUS), 52.94
- Anna Hopkin (ENG), 53.57
- Freya Anderson (ENG), 54.00
- Aimee Canny (RSA), 54.88
- Rebecca Smith (CAN), 55.09
- Katerine Savard (CAN), 55.22
Reigning world champion Mollie O’Callaghan chased down the early leaders with her patented closing ability to win gold in the women’s 100 freestyle, nearing her lifetime best with a blistering time of 52.63.
Australia’s Shayna Jack held the slight lead at the 50 in 25.45, and then Olympic champion Emma McKeon and England’s Anna Hopkin were close behind as O’Callaghan sat in fourth.
The 18-year-old O’Callaghan then dropped the fastest back-half split by a wide margin in 26.78, coming just 14 one-hundredths shy of her world-leading time of 52.49 set in May.
Jack held off McKeon for silver in 52.88, while McKeon claims her record-tying 18th career Commonwealth medal with a bronze in 52.94.
The Australians have now swept the podium in all three female freestyle events so far in Birmingham, with McKeon and Jack combining with Meg Harris to do so in the 50 free. In the 200 free, it was Ariarne Titmus, O’Callaghan and Madi Wilson.
Hopkin took fourth in 53.57, notably quicker than she was at the World Championships where she ended up ninth (53.92).
MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – FINAL
- World Record: 49.45, Caeleb Dressel (USA) – 2021
- Commonwealth Record: 50.39, Joseph Schooling (SGP) – 2016
- Commonwealth Games Record: 50.65, Chad Le Clos (RSA) – 2018
- 2018 Commonwealth Champion: Chad Le Clos (RSA), 50.65
- Josh Liendo (CAN), 51.24
- James Guy (ENG) / Matt Temple (AUS), 51.40
- –
- Chad Le Clos (RSA), 51.61
- Cody Simpson (AUS), 52.06
- Jacob Peters (ENG), 52.16
- Finlay Knox (CAN), 52.20
- Jamie Ingram (ENG), 52.33
Canadian Josh Liendo had a big bounce-back swim after missing the medals in last night’s 100 free, winning gold in the men’s 100 butterfly in a time of 51.24.
Liendo, 19, got out to the early lead with an opening 50 of 23.81, and with James Guy and Matt Temple charging from behind down the stretch, managed to time his finish well enough to get his hands on the wall first to win his first Commonwealth title.
Liendo won bronze in this event at the World Championships in June, and set a best time of 50.88 earlier in the year at the Canadian Trials.
The former North York Aquatic Club member becomes the first Canadian to win this event at the Commonwealth Games in 40 years, with the last being Dan Thompson in 1982.
Guy had the fastest closing 50 of anyone in the field at 27.29, producing matching 51.40s with Temple for the silver.
Guy finished in the same position four years ago on the Gold Coast, and now has won four medals here in Birmingham. His time here is also a new season-best, having previously been 51.50 at the World Championships.
Temple placed fifth in Budapest in a time of 51.15.
Chad Le Clos was aiming to take sole ownership of being the most decorated athlete in Commonwealth Games history, but will have to wait as he falls just shy of the podium in fourth, clocking 51.61. Le Clos won this event at the last two Games. He will have an outside shot at a medal later in the session in the mixed medley relay.
MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record: 20.91, Cesar Cielo (BRA) – 2009
- Commonwealth Record: 21.11, Ben Proud (ENG) – 2018
- Commonwealth Games Record: 21.30, Ben Proud (ENG) – 2018
- 2018 Commonwealth Champion: Ben Proud (ENG), 21.35
Finals Qualifiers:
- Ben Proud (ENG), 21.63
- Lewis Burras (ENG) / Josh Liendo (CAN), 21.92
- –
- Tom Nowakowski (AUS), 22.20
- Dylan Carter (TTO), 22.35
- Teong Tzen Wei (SGP), 22.36
- Lamar Taylor (BAH), 22.45
- Grayson Bell (AUS), 22.55
Two-time defending champion Ben Proud looked absolutely sensational in the second semi of the men’s 50 free, annihilating the field off the start before cruising into the finish in a time of 21.63.
Proud, coming off of winning the world title in this event just over a month ago, appears to be well on his way to becoming the first swimmer to three-peat in this event at the Commonwealth Games.
Fresh out of winning the 100 fly final, Josh Liendo came through with a very solid swim of 21.92 to qualify tied for second, matching Proud’s English teammate Lewis Burras, with all three coming from the second semi.
Burras was clearly well back of Proud off the blocks, but slowly clawed his way back into the mix over the course of the length.
Australian Tom Nowakowski topped the first semi in a time of 22.20 to qualify fourth overall. Nowakowski, 21, set a lifetime best of 21.86 at the Australian Championships in May.
MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL
- World Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (ENG) – 2017
- Commonwealth Record: 25.95, Adam Peaty (ENG) – 2017
- Commonwealth Games Record: 26.49, Adam Peaty (ENG) – 2018
- 2018 Commonwealth Champion: Cameron van der Burgh (RSA), 26.58
- Adam Peaty (ENG), 26.76
- Sam Williamson (AUS), 26.97
- Ross Murdoch (SCO), 27.32
- Michael Houlie (RSA), 27.36
- Craig Benson (SCO), 27.43
- James Wilby (ENG), 27.72
- Greg Butler (ENG), 27.98
- Grayson Bell (AUS), 28.31
Adam Peaty brought the crowd to its feet as he gutted out the win in the men’s 50 breaststroke, getting a bit of redemption after missing the podium in the 100 earlier on.
Peaty’s time of 26.76 was nowhere near his lifetime best of 25.95, but does mark a new season-best and earns him his first career Commonwealth title in this event after winning consecutive silvers in 2014 and 2018.
Australia’s Sam Williamson got himself under the 27-second barrier for the first time, claiming silver in 26.97 to move into 32nd all-time in the event.
Scotland’s Ross Murdoch, who is nearing retirement and set a best time of 27.25 in this event back in 2016, came close to that to get back on the podium with a bronze in 27.32, clipping South African Michael Houlie (27.36) and teammate Craig Benson (27.43) at the wall.
WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – SEMI-FINALS
- World Record: 26.98, Liu Xiang (CHN) – 2018
- Commonwealth Record: 27.16, Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 2021
Commonwealth Games Record: 27.56, Georgia Davies (WAL) – 2014- 2018 Commonwealth Champion: Emily Seebohm (AUS), 27.78
Finals Qualifiers:
- Kylie Masse (CAN), 27.47 GR
- Medi Harris (WAL), 27.64
- Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 27.75
- Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS), 27.76
- Bronte Job (AUS), 27.79
- Lauren Cox (ENG), 27.91
- Danielle Hill (NIR), 28.28
- Rebecca Meder (RSA), 28.69
Reigning 50 back world champion Kylie Masse set herself up to vie for Commonwealth gold in the event tomorrow night as the Canadian broke the Games Record in the semis to take the top seed into the final.
Masse blasted her way to a time of 27.47 in the second semi, breaking the previous Games Record of 27.56 set by Georgia Davies in 2014.
Wales’ Medi Harris touched second in the heat in 27.64, nearing her lifetime best of 27.56 to take the second seed into the final, while Aussie Mollie O’Callaghan came back after winning the 100 free with a solid 27.76 to advance fifth overall from the heat.
The opening semi-final was topped by Australian Kaylee McKeown, who will have a chance to sweep the women’s backstroke events in the final tomorrow.
McKeown clocked 27.75 to lead teammate Bronte Job (27.79), with Job having posted a near-best of 27.65 in the prelims.
England’s Lauren Cox made it six swimmers sub-28 in 27.91, just shy of her 27.83 PB set in April.
MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY S10 – FINAL
- World Record: 54.15, Maksym Krypak (UKR) – 2021
- Col Pearse (AUS), 56.91
- Alex Saffy (AUS), 57.53
- James Hollis (ENG), 58.55
- William Martin (AUS), 58.73
- Alexander Elliot (CAN), 59.38
- Barry McClements (NIR), 1:02.95
- Oliver Carter (SCO), 1:04.67
Australia’s Col Pearse used a strong closing 50 of 29.99 to claim gold in the men’s 100 butterfly S10 in 56.91, undercutting his previous best time to get by teammate Alex Saffy (57.53).
Pearse, 19, was the Tokyo Paralympic bronze medalist in this event and also won silver in it at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships in June.
Saffy, who is just 16, took bronze behind Saffy at Worlds in this race.
England’s James Hollis came out of retirement recently and comes through with the bronze medal in 58.55, denying William Martin (58.73) an Australian sweep.
WOMEN’S 200 IM SM10 – FINAL
- World Record: 2:24.84, Chantalie Zijderveld (NED) – 2021
- Commonwealth Games Record: 2:27.72, Sophie Pascoe (NZL) – 2018
- 2018 Commonwealth Champion: Sophie Pascoe (NZL), 2:27.72
- Jasmine Greenwood (AUS), 2:33.29
- Aurelie Rivard (CAN), 2:34.26
- Keira Stephens (AUS), 2:36.68
- Toni Shaw (SCO), 2:39.39
- Lakeisha Patterson (AUS), 2:42.25
- Katarina Roxon (CAN), 2:43.98
- Meghan Willis (WAL), 2:44.52
- Rebecca Lewis (WAL), 2:54.07
Australia’s Jasmine Greenwood held off a charge from Canadian Aurelie Rivard to win the women’s 200 IM SM10 in a time of 2:33.29, following up her bronze medal win in the event at Para Worlds six weeks ago.
Greenwood, 17, was fifth in this event in 2018 when she was just 13 years of age.
Rivard, a 10-time Paralympic medalist, had the fastest freestyle split in the field to move up one spot on the final lap and take silver in 2:34.26, winning her third straight medal in the event after claiming bronze in 2014 and silver in 2018.
Keira Stephens made it an Aussie 1-3 with bronze in 2:36.68.
WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – FINAL
- World Record: 8:04.79, Katie Ledecky (USA) – 2016
Commonwealth Record: 8:13.83, Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – 2021Commonwealth Games Record: 8:18.11, Jazmin Carlin (WAL)- 2018 Commonwealth Champion: Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 8:20.02
- Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 8:13.59
- Kiah Melverton (AUS), 8:16.79
- Lani Pallister (AUS), 8:19.16
- Eve Thomas (NZL), 8:32.63
- Katrina Bellio (CAN), 8:42.07
- Michaela Pulford (RSA), 8:44.77
- Mabel Zavaros (CAN), 8:53.50
- Harper Jean Barrowman (CAY), 9:13.97
Ariarne Titmus gradually pulled away from her Australian teammates in the final of the women’s 800 freestyle, successfully defending her title with a new best time and Commonwealth Record of 8:13.59.
Titmus’ time lowers her previous Commonwealth, Oceanian and Australian Record of 8:13.83, set at the last summer’s Olympic Games, and also knocks four and a half seconds off the Games Record set by Jazmin Carlin in 2014.
Titmus, Kiah Melverton and Lani Pallister sat at the front of the race from the beginning, and as Titmus began to pull away, Melverton held tough.
Melverton lost a couple of seconds over the final 200 meters, but still came in for silver with a pretty sizeable best time in 8:16.79, getting nearly two seconds under her old mark of 8:18.77. That was set at the World Championships in June where she won silver behind Katie Ledecky.
Melverton moves up from t-22nd into 15th all-time in the event.
Pallister, who was forced to withdraw from the event at Worlds due to COVID-19, fell off a little bit down the stretch but held 31-mids most of the way to take bronze in 8:19.16, just over a second shy of her 8:17.77 PB set in May.
Australia sweeps the podium in this event for the second straight Games, and has now swept all four female freestyle events through five days here in Birmingham. The 400 is still to come, where, barring something unforeseen, Canadian Summer McIntosh will put an end to that run.
New Zealand’s Eve Thomas, who set a PB to make the final of the World Championships in 8:27.82, was a distant fourth in 8:32.63, while Canadian Katrina Bellio rounded out the top five in 8:42.07.
MIXED 4X100 MEDLEY RELAY – FINAL
- World Record: 3:37.58, Great Britain – 2021
- Commonwealth Record: 3:37.58, Great Britain – 2021
Commonwealth Games Record: 3:45.34, Australia – 2022- Relay Lineups
- Australia, 3:41.30
- Canada, 3:43.98
- England, 3:44.03
- South Africa, 3:44.38
- Wales, 3:47.76
- Scotland, 3:48.55
- Jersey, 4:01.10
- Guernsey, 4:02.79
As expected it was all Australia in the mixed 400 medley relay, though we got a tantalizing battle for silver between England, South Africa and Canada.
The Australians led off with Kaylee McKeown, who clocked 59.01, and then Zac Stubblety-Cook (59.52) and Matt Temple (50.89) gave them the lead before Emma McKeon closed things off with a blistering 51.88 anchor leg.
Australia’s time of 3:41.30 marks a new Games Record, breaking their record of 3:45.34 from the heats (this was the first time the event has been raced at the Games).
McKeon claims her 19th career Commonwealth Games medal, taking over the all-time lead.
It was shaping up to be a battle between England and South Africa for silver, but the Canadians came storming home with Ruslan Gaziev running down Freya Anderson and Aimee Canny to give Canada the runner-up spot in 3:43.98.
Gaziev split 47.80 on the end, and he was joined by Kylie Masse (59.11), James Dergousoff (1:00.57) and Maggie MacNeil (56.50).
England’s Anderson overtook South Africa’s Canny late to earn bronze in 3:44.03, while South Africa was locked out of the medals in fourth at 3:44.38.
With this near miss, Chad Le Clos fails to join McKeon with 19 career medals for the most all-time.
Top 4 Team Splits:
Women’s 100m free – podium lockout. Meanwhile the rest of the world are trying to produce one 52 second swimmer. Aussies very lucky to have such 100m free depth.
They would be even luckier if they had a female breaststroker who could consistently go under 1.06,
Would pay the world for one of those.
If Australia had a consistent 1:05 low-mid breaststroker we would be unstoppable. Breast is the only stroke that no Australian woman medaled in.
Really wanted to see SA on the mixed medley podium :/
Yeah England left their no1 Womens 100 Free swimmer off the team. Would have liked to see them punished.
At present you have MOC & Mckeon, as out top 2 100 free, with Shanya Jack hot on their heels, that would currently be 3/4 of the relay team. The last spot with Maddi Wilson, being challenged by Meg Harris & possibility of C1 & C2 coming back, we have 1 missing out of the top 6. That doesn’t include any young-uns coming in.
Looking good to continue our dominance in the 4×100.
The 4×200 is also strong, but the dominance is not there with US & China right there, MOC, Titmus top 2 & then Maddi Wilson, Melverton, McKeon, Pallister & maybe even Harris & Jack (though both swimming well at 50).
Times are good for Aussie free.
Throssell isn’t out of the discussion in the 4×200 either.
This is how I see the relays.
100 free: MOC and McKeon seem to be locks at the moment. Harris, Jack and Wilson could all vie for the last two spots. I don’t believe Bronte has stated her intentions for Paris but I’m not sure I see her on the team. Cate seems likely to be at least top 6 at trials unless she decides against Paris after all. Cate is getting on in years but it’s never wise to count her out on a relay. Unless there are some dramatic tragedies in Australia and Canada or USA suddenly whips 2-3 absolute prodigies out of nowhere, this seems a heavy favourite for Paris.
200 free: Titmus and MOC are locks.… Read more »
Impress with Sam Williamson this week, can he step up into the 58 sec region.
Female swimming, I believe we are fully entrenched as no 2 in the world behind the US, at present we have some great freestylers but they are better all round & generally regarded as no 1.
Male swimming the US male way out in front, with Team GB, Italy Russia & Australia battling for 2nd spot.
I agree the 4×100 our best chance, if certain swimmers improve & stay injury free, but the 4×200 & 4×100 med we are battling for bronze at best.
Depends what you consider to be the “best”. In Tokyo, Australian women won 8 golds and 2/3 relays compared to US who won 3 golds and 0/3 relays. About half of Australia’s female team won a gold medal while only 2 American women won one.
USA won 18 total medals compared to 13 from Australia, but I would much rather have 5 more golds than 5 more total medals.
Obviously the world champs was a different story but Australia was missing their best swimmers including 4 individual medallists in Tokyo so it’s hard to draw any conclusions from that.
But yeah for the men it’s no contest.
You do know that every Olympics is different and yes Australia won 8 gold in women’s side and yes they won the 2 of the relay but one of them is really really close and the us teams sends like a very young team to Tokyo last year.
Robbos said USA was clearly the strongest women’s side and I made the point that Australian women performed better in Tokyo. I never said that Aussie women will definitely win the most events in Paris. I don’t understand what your arguing against.
I see similar medal total in Paris for both countries. Aussies have more stars but USA depth. Mckeown is a bit of a question mark. USA has some young possibilities but expecting them to rise up to gold medal status is asking a bit much. I’m sure there will be a surprise or two but overall not much change.
on the mens side Kyle vs Caeleb may be a dead rivalry. Not sure what other rivalry or drama we have going as gold medal talent is pretty well spread around. USA men had all those 47 guys seem to disappear I don’t know what happened.
European men seem to be rising….but US v AUS in the women looks like it has a way to go.
Two years is a long time so things could certainly change. But breaking down into categories:
Women
Sprint free: Australia looks the ones to beat in the 50 and 100 but Sjostrom/Haughey are both right up there. USA unlikely to medal here.
Mid distance free: Titmus should be favourite for the 200 and 400 but certainly isn’t the prohibitive favourite. Haughey , MOC, Summer and China in the 200 plus Ledecky and Summer in the 400 will challenge.
Long distance: You never know what might happen but Ledecky is the odds on favourite until someone does something to change that.
Back: Kaylee, Kylie, Smith and Bacon are likely to make up most of the podium for both events. What… Read more »
Yeah I agree with a lot of that. And to add the IMs, I think Summer is a runaway fav for the 400 and Kaylee vs Walsh could be interesting in the 200, if Kaylee swims it. If Kaylee doesn’t swim it, I think Walsh wins. Katie Grimes could medal in the 400 but I don’t see anyone beating Summer, especially if she continues on this trajectory or even just maintains it. I feel like a lot of the podiums will depend on what she decides to swim.. she could easily medal in 6-7 events.
That said, two years ago Summer, Alex Walsh, and Katie Grimes weren’t nearly at this level on really on the international scene at all, so… Read more »
Oh yes IMs. I knew I was forgetting something haha
Yeah, i think it depends on what you prioritize. The US women didn’t get many gold medals but there were a lot of events in which they got 2/3 podium spots (silver and bronze in both IMs, 200 fly, 200 breast, gold and silver in the 1500, gold and bronze in the 100 breast…) and personally I’d prioritize more people with any medal than fewer with golds. The US women seem to have more depth overall (for example AUS with only one swimmer with an IM Olympic cut), except of course for freestyle in which they got 0 medals in anything under a 400.
The US really has to develop sprint/mid distance freestylers to achieve “dominance” but I don’t… Read more »
Hopefully C1 and this crew come together in the next two years to drop a relay all splitting under 52.5, very very doable
The average leg for the current WR is 52.42 already because of McKeon’s 51.3 bringing the average down.
Those top three 800 swims from Australia are all very impressive – that’s great depth in that event.
That’s with Paliister having COVID only a few weeks ago.
Jack would’ve won bronze at the world champs.
with a broken hand?
Yes amazingly, just like Ledecky would’ve won gold in the 200 free even though she did not swim it. Both amazing athletes.
Katie Ledecky will most likely not swim the women’s 200 meter freestyle at a major international competition going forward. However, Katie Ledecky will swim the women’s 200 meter freestyle at the USA Swimming Trials (International, Olympic) to qualify for the women’s 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay.
It’d be funny for FINA/IOC to go to such trouble getting rid of the 200/1500 double after her complaints last year only for Ledecky to scratch it again.
It’s honestly such a rare double that they shouldn’t have changed it. Instead they replaced it with a 2IM/2back double which is a much more common combo. There is no need for the 2IM to be a double with any other 200 because the crossover is massive.
lol – amazing indeed 😀
Watching the interview after the 100 women’s was like watching the handing over the BATON.
Cate Campell interviews Emma Mckeon who gives credit for Cate leading the way & then chases she’s inspired to chase these young girls MOC & Jack.
all of her 28 times will always amaze me
And I do think no one gonna beat her in 800 until she is retired
fr she’s not giving anyone a chance
And she’s even win this when she’s not feeling well at 2019 wc and that’s how good she is
See she is that good in the 800, but in the 200, there are others that are better. Titmus & MOC.
Yes but I would say she is on the same level as both of them and slightly better than moc and her best time at national this year in 200 is not her best and I believe she could go 1.53 just like she did in relay.
Ledecky is not improving & her time is already slower than MOC this year, while MOC is 18 years old still improving (her best times will come in Paris) & already is faster than Ledecky
ledecky is throwing phenomenal seasons best in a while ever since going with nesty so…
Ledecky has obviously won titles at 200 but she has never been the dominant, all-conquering figure she has been at longer distances. Whilst, she can clearly still be a player at 200, should she see fit, is it really worth the “return on investment” as against her chances in the races where she is still dominant (800 & 1500) or at least equal top-billing (400).
Yes, she will continue to swim the 200 to some extent, but I suspect more to “keep her hand in” for 4X200 relay duty. What happens beyond Paris (should she continue) with regards to her race program …. ?
Her 200 is about the same as usual tho.
2017 1:54.69
2018 1:54.56
2019 1:55.68
2020 1:54.59
2021 1:54.40
2022 1:54.50
And the world has moved on, Titmus has 6 times better than this, including 3 swims in the 1.53, Haughey 1.53.92, MOC 154.01, Tang 1.54.26, Yang 1.54.37.
Yes in 200m free but i also believe she could go the same time as she did with the relay with 1.53
So you’re just gonna ignore the relay start advantage?
No absolutely not but I think last year at Tokyo was like a one off in 200 for Ledecky and I feel like going forward when it comes to 200 she’s only gonna focused on relay event
yeah i realized the context was about the 200 and like nothing else haha. maybe she’ll rip a 1:53.XX in a couple months, who knows.
Yeah and I don’t know why people keeps saying she is not improving and maybe not improving in 200m but so far this year her times is improving especially in the relay and looks like she is consistently fast and I would say this is good
i’m very optimistic given with her improvement this season. with the coach and training group she’s got i’m not that hopeless for a ledecky 1:53.XX flat start in a couple months given the improvement trajectory
KL in relay 200m free:
2013: 1:56.32 (flat) – 16 years old
2014: 1:54.36
2015: 1:55.64
2016: 1:53.74
2017: 1:54.02
2018: 1:53.84
2019: 1:54.61
2021: 1:53.76
2022: 1:53.67
AT in relay 200m free:
2017: 1:56.61 – 17 years old
2018: 1:55.59 (CG) 1:55.27 (flat – PP)
2019: 1:54.27 (flat)
2021: 1:54.51 (flat)
2022: 1:52.82
KL is not improving in relay. She is reliable in relay, but not improving.