2023 World University Games: Day 5 Finals Live Recap

2023 WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES

• August 1-7, 2023
• Dong’an Lake Sports Park Swimming and Diving Hall, Chengdu, China
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Page
• Live Results + Schedule
• Live Stream Schedule (All Sports)
• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
• Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
• Day 3 Prelims Live Recap | Day 3 Finals Live Recap
• Day 4 Prelims Live Recap | Day 4 Finals Live Recap
• Day 5 Prelims Live Recap
• Day 5 Finals Live Stream

The finals session for Day 5 of the 2023 World University Games in Chengdu, China will be underway shortly. We have another even split between semifinals and finals tonight, with 5 of each.

DAY 5 PRELIMS EVENT SCHEDULE

• Men’s 800 Free – Final
• Women’s 200 Free – Semifinals
• Men’s 100 Fly – Semifinals
• Women’s 50 Back – Semifinals
• Men’s 200 Back – Semifinals
• Women’s 200 Breast – Final
• Men’s 100 Free – Final
• Women’s 100 Fly – Final
• Men’s 50 Breast – Semifinals
• Mixed 4×100 Free Relay – Final

You can find the live stream for Day 5 finals here.

All eyes will be on China’s Zhang Yufei in the women’s 100 fly final tonight. Yufei, who has already won individual gold in the women’s 50 fly and 100 free already this week, and broken the Championship Records in both, enters tonight’s final as the top seed. Moreover, Yufei won gold in this event last week at the World Championships in Fukuoka.

The women’s 200 breast will also play host to another battle between South Africa’s Kaylene Corbett and Lithuania’s Kotryna Teterevkova. Corbett is historically the more successful 200 breaststroker, but Teterevkova won their first showdown this week, earning the gold medal in the 100 breast. In last night’s semifinals, Corbett led the field, with Teterevkova posting the 2nd-fastest time.

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: Zhang Lin, China – 7:32.12 (2009)
• WUGS Record: Gregorio Paltrinieri, Italy – 7:45.76 (2017)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Matteo Lamberti (Italy) – 7:54.12
• SILVER: Kaito Tabuchi (Japan) – 7:57.37
• BRONZE: Ivan Giovannoni (Italy) – 8:00.00

Italian Matteo Lamberti spent the majority of the race in 2nd tonight in the final of the men’s 800 free. With 300 meters to go, Lamberti moved into the lead and he continued to pull away from the field through the finish. He ended up finishing in 7:54.12, touching first by a little over 3 seconds.

Lamberti swam a very well-split race. He was out in 3:57.19 on the first 400m, then came home in 3:56.93 on back half, for a slight negative split.

Japan’s Kaito Tabuchi was in first until the 500m mark, when Lamberti took over. Tabuchi swam the race differently than Lamberti, going 3:55.93 on the first 400m, then coming home in 4:01.44.

Ivan Giovannoni, the champion in the men’s 1500 free, came in 3rd tonight, swimming an 8:00.00. Giovannoni was in 6th through the first 200m of the race. He then moved into 4th for the next 250m before inching into 3rd, where he would stay through the rest of the race.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Mollie O’Callaghan, Australia – 1:52.85 (2023)
• Championship Record: Siobhan Haughey, Hong Kong – 1:56.71 (2017)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Giulia D’Innoncenz o(Italy) – 1:59.96
2. Amy Tang (United States) – 2:00.27
3. Leonie Kullmann (Germany) – 2:00.49
4. Liu Yaxin (China) – 2:00.78
5. Hyunju Jo (South Korea) – 2:00.89
6. Oceane Carnez (France) – 2:00.90
7. Macky Hodges (United States) – 2:00.91
8. Maria Heitmann (Brazil) – 2:01.43 (TIE)
9. Wiktoria Wusc (Poland) – 2:01.43 (TIE)

First things first. There was a tie for 8th in the women’s 200 free semifinals tonight. Both Brazil’s Maria Heitmann and Poland’s Wiktoria Wusc touched in 2:01.43. That means a swim-off we be necessary to determine which swimmer will advance to the final tomorrow night.

Italian Giulia D’Innocenzo clocked the top time of the evening, touching in 1:59.96, marking the only sub-2:00 performance in the field. D’Innocenzo was out faster than anyone, splitting 57.90 on the opening 100m. That put her into the halfway turn at least half-a-second ahead of everyone else.

Amercian Amy Tang improved on her prelims swim from the morning, posting the 2nd-fastest time of the night with a 2:00.27. The other American, Macky Hodges, also made it into the top 8, finishing 7th tonight in 2:00.91. That means the U.S. will be the only country with both its swimmers in the final tomorrow night.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Caeleb Dressel, United States – 49.45 (2021)
• Championship Record: Jason Dunford, Kenya – 50.85 (2019)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Chen Juner (China) – 51.73
2. Jakub Majerski (Poland) – 51.83
3. Adrian Jaskiewicz (Poland) – 51.93
4. Genki Terakado (Japan) – 52.26
5. Adilbek Mussin (Kazakhstan) – 52.34
6. Christian Ferraro (Italy) – 52.41
7. Luca Armbruster (Germany) – 52.45
8. Matheus Gonche (Brazil) -52.50

In a pretty quick semifinals of the men’s 100 fly, it took a 52.50 to finish in the top 8 and advance to the final tomorrow night. 1st through 8th was separated by just 0.77 seconds tonight, which means the final tomorrow ought to be a great race.

China’s Chen Juner clocked the top time of the evening, swimming a 51.73. Poland’s Jakub Majerski and Adrian Jaskiewicz were right there with him, however, both going under 52 seconds as well. Juner has the superior speed in this field. He was out in 24.14 tonight, marking the fastest opening 50m split in the field.

WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Liu Xiang, China – 26.98 (2018)
• Championship Record: Anastasia Zueva, Russia – 27.89 (2013)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Adela Piskorska (Poland) – 28.18
2. Paulina Peda (Poland) – 28.59
3. Anya Mostek (United States) – 28.70 (TIE)
4. Federica Toma (Italy) – 28.70 (TIE)
5. Francesca Pasquino (Italy) – 28.75 (TIE)
6. Camila Rebelo (Portugal) – 28.75 (TIE)
7. Yumi Shuno (Japan) – 28.77
8. Tayla Jonker (South Africa) – 28.80

It took a 28.80 to make it into the top 8 tonight. Poland’s Adela Piskorska, the women’s 100 back champion from last night, led the event once again this evening, clocking a 28.18. It was another very strong swim for Piskorska, who looked like she was a bit sluggish off the start tonight, Nonetheless, her 28.18 comes in just 0.29 seconds off the Championship Record of 27.89, so perhaps she’ll make a run at that mark in finals.

It was a great event for Poland, as Paulina Peda took 2nd behind Piskorska in 28.59.

American Anya Mostek and Italian Federica Toma tied for 3rd tonight, both touching in 28.70.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Aaron Peirsol, United States – 1:51.92 (2009)
• Championship Record: Rysuke Irie, Japan – 1:54.13 (2009)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Keaton Jones (United States) – 1:59.29
2. Kodai Nishiono (Japan) – 1:59.42
3. Seongju Kim (South Korea) – 1:59.61
4. Jan Cejka (Czech Republic) – 2:00.04
5. Michele Lamberti (Italy) – 2:00.33
6. Christophe Brun (France) – 2:00.45
7. Riku Matsuyama (Japan) – 2:00.87
8. Marcin Goraj (Poland) – 2:00.91

American Keaton Jones, the top seed in this event coming into the meet, won the first of the semifinals tonight, clocking a 1:59.29. He was pushed by Japan’s Kodai Nishiono and South Korea’s Seongju Kim to the finish, however, with Nishiono posting a 1:59.42 and Kim a 1:59.61.

The first of the semis would prove to be the faster of the two, at least at the top. Jones, Nishiono, and Kim would be the only swimmers in the event to go under 2:00 this evening.

Heat 2 saw Poland’s Marcin Goraj out ahead of the field once again. Flipping at the 150m in 1:28.9, Goraj faded hard in the final 20m of the race, and went from a convincing 1st to 5th by the finish. His 2:00.91 was just enough for him to make it into the final tomorrow night.

Cech Republic’s Jan Cejka would pull into the lead in the final meters of the 2nd heat, touching in 2:00.04. Meanwhile, Italian Michele Lamberti, who has already medaled in the 50 back and 100 back this week, took 5th overall with a 2:00.33.

WOMEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World Record: Evgeniia Chikunova, Russia – 2:17.55 (2023)
• WUGS Record: Rie Kaneto, Japan – 2:22.32 (2009)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Kotryna Teterevkova (Lithuania) – 2:22.86
• SILVER: Kaylene Corbett (South Africa) – 2:22.99
• BRONZE: Zhu Leiju (China) – 2:28.71

This race was everything we had hoped it would be. Lithuanian Kotryna Teterevkova, the 100 breast champion, and South Africa’s Kaylene Corbett, an Olympic finalist in this event and the bronze medalist from last summer’s Commowealth Games, went head-to-head.

Staying within about 0.2 seconds of each other throughout the race, Teterevkova would slightly pull into the lead on the final 50m. At the touch, Teterevkova was 2:22.86, finishing 0.13 seconds ahead of Corbett, For Corbett, her 2:22.99 marks her first time under 2:23 in the event. The pair were just off the Championship Record of 2:22.32.

China’s Zhu Leiju earned the bronze medal in 2:28.71.

MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: David Popovici, Romania – 46.86
• WUGS Record: Vlad Morozov, Russia – 47.62 (2013)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Kamil Sieradzki (Poland) – 49.08
• SILVER: Giovanni Carraro (Italy) – 49.18
• BRONZE: Lucas Peixoto (Brazil) – 49.34 (TIE)
• BRONZE: Mateusz Chowaniec (Poland) – 49.34 (TIE)

Brazil’s Pedro Spajari was once again the fastest swimmer in the field going out, splitting 23.42 on the opening 50m. He faded hard on the back half of the race, however, and ended up finishing 8th with a 49.75.

Meanwhile, Poland’s Kamil Sieradzki, the 200 free champion from a few nights ago, earned his 2nd gold of the meet, swimming a 49.08. Sieradzki was in 3rd at the turn, flipping in 23.63 and held his pace well, coming home in 25.45.

Sieradzki is joined on the podium by teammate Mateusz Chowaniec, who tied for 3rd tonight at 49.34. He tied with Brazil’s Lucas Peixoto, who also swam a 49.34 for bronze.

Swimming out of lane 8, Italy’s Giovanni Carraro earned the silver medal tonight in 49.18.

WOMEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden – 55.58 (2016)
• WUGS Record: Katerine Savard, Canada – 57.63 (2013)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Zhang Yufei (China) – 56.57 (Championship Record)
• SILVER: Erin Gallagher (South Africa) – 57.64
• BRONZE: Giulia D’Innocenzo (Italy) – 58.33

China’s Zhang Yufei left no doubt she was due for a great swim. Breaking out ahead of the field, Yufei jumped out to an early lead. She would hit the 50m turn in 26.06, at which point, it was clear she was going to take down the Championship Record of 57.63, which has stood for 10 years.

Yufei would tear home, finishing in 56.57. With the performance, the World Champion in the event shattered the CR by over a second. Coming in 2nd was South Africa’s Erin Gallagher, who clocked a 57.64. The performance not only marks a new career best for Gallagher, but an African Record in the event as well. The African Record was previously held by Egypt’s Farida Osman at 57.66.

After leading the women’s 200 free semifinals at the beginning of the session, Italy’s Giulia D’Innocenzo picked up the bronze medal in the 100 fly, finishing 3rd in 58.33.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Adam Peaty, Great Britian – 25.95
• Championship Record: Qin Haiyang, China – 26.44 (2023)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Qin Haiyang (China) – 26.38 (Championship Record)
2. Ludovico Viberti (Italy) – 27.55
3. Michael Houlie (South Africa) – 27.57 (TIE)
4. Alessandro Pinzuti (Italy) – 27.57 (TIE)
5. Zheng Yinghao (China) – 27.59
6. Jan Kalusowski (Poland) – 27.72
7. Christian Bart (United States) – 27.96
8. Kevin Houseman (United States) – 27.99

Qin Haiyang did it again. The Chinese superstar was dominant tonight in the men’s 50 breast semifinals, swimming a 26.38. the swim dipped under his prelims swim of 26.44, marking another Championship Record in the event. It was a great swim for Haiyang, who has been off his times from last week’s World Championships up to this point in Chengdu. Haiyang won gold in Fukuoka in 26.29, just 0.09 seconds faster than his time from tonight. He set the Asian Record in semifinals at Worlds, where he swam a 26.20.

Italian Ludovico Viberti was the 2nd-fastest swimmer tonight, coming in at 27.55. His Italian teammate, Alessandro Pinzuti, tied for 3rd with South Africa’s Michael Houlie (27.57).

The Americans in this event, Christian Bart and Kavin Houseman, both snuck into the final, finishing 7th and 8th respectively.

MIXED 4×100 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

• World Record: Australia – 3:19.38
• Championship Record: Brazil – 3:31.14 (2023)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: China – 3:25.38 (Championship Record)
• SILVER: Italy – 3:26.75
• BRONZE: Brazil – 3:27.82

This being the first time the mixed 4×100 free relay is included at WUGS, the Championship Record of 3:31.14, which was set by Brazil in prelims this morning, was obliterated, seeing the top 6 teams finish under that mark tonight.

There was no doubt China would win the event at the halfway point of the race. At the 200m exchange, China was trailing Brazil by just 0.23 seconds, and with Li Bingjie and Zhang Yufei waiting in the wings, the race was over at that point. The only glimmer of hope for the other teams in the race was that Yufei was only 10-15 minutes removed from the women’s 100 fly final, so she might have been facing some fatigue.

Indeed, she was, as Yufei clocked a 54.26 to anchor China, a time which is nearly a full second off the 53.34 she swam to win the indvidual women’s 100 free on day 3 of the meet. Even so, Yufei managed to pull away from both Italy and Brazil a bit on the anchor.

China was led off by Chen Juner in 48.40, then Lin Tao clocked a 48.77 on the 2nd leg, followed by a massive 53.95 from Li Bingjie on the 3rd leg, and, of course, Yufei anchored in 54.26. Their time of 3:25.38 marks a new Championship Record in the event.

Italy was right there with China through the first half of the race. A 48.60 lead-off from Giovanni Izzo set a good tone for the Italian squad.