2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 23 to 30, 2023
- Fukuoka, Japan
- Marine Messe Fukuoka
- LCM (50m)
- SwimSwam Finals Watch Party Daily
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Entry Book
- Live Results (Omega)
- Day 1 Prelims Live Recap
- Day 1 Finals Live Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap
- Day 2 Finals Live Recap
Day 3 Prelims Events:
- Men’s 50 breaststroke
- Women’s 200 Freestyle
- Men’s 200 butterfly
- Men’s 800 freestyle
The morning session will kick off with the men’s 50 breast. For the most part, a lot of these swimmers have already competed as the prelims and semi-finals of the men’s 100 breast were on day 1 and finals were on day 2.
Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi comes in as the top seed in the 50 breast, just about a tenth ahead of Nic Fink of the United States. Last year at Worlds, Martinenghi led the way after prelims and semis. In finals though, Fink had the final touch finishing 0.03 seconds ahead of Martinenghi. Both swimmers tied for silver on night 2 in the 100 breast.
The women’s 200 free looks to be a fun one to watch, just as the 400 free was exciting on day 1. Australia’s Ariarne Titmus comes in as the top seed and is less than half a second off of the World Record. Titmus has already had a great meet so far, winning gold in the women’s 400 free on night 1 by over three and a half seconds, breaking the World Record in the process. Can she go two for two with World Records so far?
Fellow Australian Mollie O’Callaghan also leads the field as the second seed. O’Callaghan earned second in the race last year but has already been much faster this season than she was at Worlds a year ago. Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh is also one to look out for as the #3 seed. McIntosh is the World Junior Record holder in the event as she swam a 1:53.91 earlier this year. The women’s 200 free has the only top 20 scratches of the morning as #12 seed Isabel Gose has scratched.
The men’s 200 butterfly is without defending champion and World Record holder Kristof Milak, so the field is potentially more wide open than expected. Although not even the top seed, Leon Marchand had a huge swim on day 1, breaking Michael Phelps’ 400 IM World Record by over a second. Marchand was second behind Milak last year so he is the highest returner coming into the field as the second seed.
The top seed in the event is Tomoru Honda who will swim in front of his home crowd. Honda was third in the event last year finishing right behind Marchand.
The men’s 800 free will close the morning session. American Bobby Finke enters the tight field as the top seed. The top five entries are all within a second and a half of each other. Coming in as the second seed in Florian Wellbrock of Germnay. Finke and Wellbrock went 1-2 in the race last year. Mykhailo Romanchuk was third on the podium a year ago and comes in as the third seed here.
Australia 1/2 womens 200 free
Honda will smack Marchand all the way back to France with his performance
After that 400 IM fly split, Marchand is going 1:51
Sam Short hasn’t been mentioned once as a chance in the 800m on here after his 400 heroics. I hope he ruffles some feathers.
I consider him a favorite right alongside Bobby Finke right now to be quite honest
Hafnaoui will be in the mix as well.
Yeah he’s got the second fastest time of the year by 0.05 and just set a 2 second PB in the 400… no guarantees but would it be a surprise for him to win the 800?
Marchand seems to have gotten much faster and more explosive this past year (he went out significantly faster short course and long course IMs) his 2 fly is about to be great. Also can’t wait to see how fast he goes in 2im
In Fukuoka’s pool they convene,
Day 3 prelims, the scene,
Marchand aims high,
But the 200 fly,
Is open, who will reign supreme?
Come on.
He had a quick first 100 split with the IM along with Carson. Should be a good race!
that was a scary easy speed in that first 100 fly