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2023 World Championships Day 3 Prelims Preview: Will Marchand Take Over the 200 Fly?

2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

DAY 3 PRELIMS START LIST

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.

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kevin
1 year ago

Australia 1/2 womens 200 free

Andrew
1 year ago

Honda will smack Marchand all the way back to France with his performance

Juan Cena
Reply to  Andrew
1 year ago

After that 400 IM fly split, Marchand is going 1:51

Madge
1 year ago

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.

Wow
Reply to  Madge
1 year ago

I consider him a favorite right alongside Bobby Finke right now to be quite honest

Troyy
Reply to  Wow
1 year ago

Hafnaoui will be in the mix as well.

Sub13
Reply to  Madge
1 year ago

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?

Popo(veni vidi)vici
1 year ago

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

Zippo
1 year ago

In Fukuoka’s pool they convene,
Day 3 prelims, the scene,
Marchand aims high,
But the 200 fly,
Is open, who will reign supreme?

Lauren
Reply to  Zippo
1 year ago

Come on.

Facts
1 year ago

He had a quick first 100 split with the IM along with Carson. Should be a good race!

mrbr
Reply to  Facts
1 year ago

that was a scary easy speed in that first 100 fly

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Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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