2023 World University Games: Day 6 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 Recap
• Day 6 Prelims Live Recap
• Day 6 Finals Live Stream

The penultimate finals session of the 2023 World University Games will begin shortly. This evening’s session will be heavy on finals, featuring 7, while there are only 4 semifinals.

DAY 6 FINAL EVENT SCHEDULE

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

You can find the link to the finals live stream here.

Tonight, China’s Li Bingjie will be chasing another gold medal, this time in the women’s 800 free. Bingjie is fresh off breaking the Asian Record in the event, while also winning the silver medal, at the World Championships in Fukuoka.

Meanwhile, Chinese star Qin Haiyang will be looking to complete his sweep of the men’s breaststroke events here in Chengdu. Haiyang has lowered the Championship Record in the 50 breast already in both prelims and semifinals, so we’ll see if he has one more drop in him.

WOMEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – FINAL

• World Record: Katie Ledecky, United States – 8:04.79 (2016)
• Championship Record: Simona Quadarella, Italy – 8:20.54 (2017)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Li Bingjie (China) – 8:30.74
• SILVER: Dune Coetzee (South Africa) – 8:32.88
• BRONZE: Noemi Cesarano (Italy) – 8:33.12

China’s Li Bingjie won her 2nd individual gold medal of the meet, speeding to an 8:30.74 in the women’s 800 free final tonight. Bingjie set the Asian Record in the event last week at the World Championships, earning the silver medal with an 8:13.31. While Bingjie’s time tonight was well off her mark from Fukuoka, she did what she needed to do to win the gold.

Bingjie settled into l0w-32 splits on her 50s starting on the 3rd 50 and held that pace all the way through the race.

South Africa’s Dune Coetzee won the silver medal tonight, swimming an 8:32.88. Coetzee was in the 2nd from start to finish tonight, keeping close to Bingjie throughout the race.

WOMEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania – 29.16 (2023)
• Championship Record: Yulia Efimova, Russia – 30.12 (2013)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Dominika Sztandera (Poland) – 30.68
2. Jhennifer Conceicao (Brazil) – 31.11
3. Kotryna Teterevkova (Lithuania) – 31.13
4. Adelaida Pchelintseva (Kazakhstan) – 31.48
5. Anna Sztankovics (Hungary) – 31.70 (TIE)
6. Kaylene Corbett (South Africa) – 31.70 (TIE)
7. Klara Thormalm (Sweden) – 32.05
8. Yukino Miyasaka (Japan) – 32.10

Poland’s Dominika Sztandera was dominant in the women’s 50 breast semifinals tonight, tearing to a 30.68. Sztandera touched about half-a-second ahead of Brazil’s Jhennifer Conceicao, who was 2nd overall in 31.11. For Sztandera, the time was excellent, coming in just off her career best of 30.59, which she swam at the World Championships a little over a week ago. Her 30.59 also stands as the Polish Record in the event.

Lithuania’s Kotryna Teterevkova came in 3rd tonight in 31.13. Teterevkova has already won gold in the women’s 100 breast and 200 breast here in Chengdu.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – FINAL

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

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Jakub Majerski (Poland) – 51.41
• SILVER: Adrian Jaskiewicz (Poland) – 51.93
• BRONZE: Adilbek Mussin (Kazakhstan) – 52.03

Poland continues to swim exceptionally in Chengdu. Jakub Majerski won gold in the men’s 100 fly tonight with a time of 51.41, beating the field by a little over half a second. Majerski, the Polish Record holder in the event, boasts a career best of 50.92, which he swam at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago.

Notably, Majerski posted the fastest splits in the field on both 50s tonight. He was out in 24.10 and came home in 27.31.

Majerski’s Polish teammate, Adrian Jaskiewicz, came in 2nd tonight in 51.93. Jaskiewicz touched out Kazakhstan’s Adilbek Mussin, who earned the bronze medal in 52.03.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – FINAL

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

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Liu Yaxin (China) – 1:56.84
• SILVER: Giulia D’Innocenzo (Italy) – 1:58.69
• BRONZE: Oceane Carnez (France) – 1:59.73

China’s Liu Yaxin was dominant in the women’s 200 free final tonight, speeding to victory by nearly 2 seconds. Yaxin was 6th at the first 50 mark, flipping in 28.29. After that, she split 29.28 on the 2nd 50, which moved her into the lead, a lead which she would only grow throughout the back half of the race. She was 57.57 on the first 100m and came home in 59.27, marking a very tightly split 200 free.

Italy’s Giulia D’Innoncenzo had a great race tonight as well, earning the silver medal in 1:58.69. She was out just behind Yaxin, splitting 57.83 on the first 100. D’Innoncenzo just didn’t quite have the same back half speed as Yaxin, coming home in 1:00.86.

Oceane Carnez touched out Germany’s Leonie Kullmann by 0.01 seconds to earn the bronze medal.

WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

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

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Adela Piskorska (Poland) – 27.84 (Championship Record)
• SILVER: Paulina Peda (Poland) – 28.48 (TIE)
• SILVER: Anya Mostek (United States) – 28.48 (TIE)

After winning the women’s 100 back earlier in the meet, Poland’s Adela Piskorska was out like a bullet tonight in the women’s 50 back final. Utilizing an awesome start and breakout, Piskorska broke into the lead early. In the middle of the pool, it looked like she may get caught by the field, but she found another gear to close the race and tore into the finish to dip under 28 seconds.

The swim marks a new personal best for Piskorska, as well as a new Championship Record in the event.

This was also the 2nd event tonight in which Poland has gone 1-2. Paulina Peda tied for 2nd with American Anya Mostek, both of whom went 28.48.

Coming in 4th tonight was Italy’s Federica Toma, who touched in 28.49, just 0.01 seconds behind Peda and Mostek. Japan’s Yumi Shuno was right there as well, finishing 5th in 28.51.

MEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Cesar Cielo, Brazil – 20.91 (2009)
• Championship Record: Vlad Morozov, Russia – 21.67

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Giovanni Izzo (Italy) – 22.34
2. Lucas Peixoto (Brazil) – 22.38
3. Pedro Spajari (Brazil) – 22.48
4. Jokubas Keblys (Lithuania) – 22.51
5. Piotr Ludwiczak (Poland) – 22.54
6. Luca Armbruster (Germany) – 22.58
7. Wang Yi (China) – 22.59
8. Juran (Mizohata) – 22.61

Brazil’s Pedro Spajari won the first of the semifinals heats in 22.48. Spajari was the top seed coming into the meet.

The 2nd heat of semis was a bit faster than the first, seeing Italy’s Giovanni Izzo clock a 22.34 to win that heat. Izzo’s time, of course, also marks the top time of the semis, earning Izzo lane 4 for tomorrow night’s final.

Lucas Peixoto, the other Brazilian swimmer in the event, touched 2nd in heat 2, swimming s 22.38.

Semifinals of the 50 free were incredibly tight tonight, seeing 1st and 8th separated by just 0.27 seconds.

MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINAL

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

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Keaton Jones (United States) – 1:57.66
• SILVER: Kodai Nishiono (Japan) – 1:58.08
• BRONZE: Seongju Kim (South Korea) – 1:59.99

Despite a rough start, which saw him break out behind the field, American Keaton Jones managed to win gold in the men’s 200 back tonight. Jones was in 4th at the 50m turn, but moved into the lead at the 100m mark.

Jones was battling with Japan’s Kodai Nishiono the entire way. Nishiono had the far superior underwaters in this race. Given that, on each on the final 3 50s, Jones would catch Nishiono and turn (or finish, in the case of the final 50) ahead of him, but Nishiono would then pass Jones underwater, and break out around half a body-length ahead.

It was a big swim for Jones and for the US. His gold tonight marks the United States’ first gold medal of the meet.

South Korea’s Seongju Kim was the only other swimmer in the field under 2:00, earning the bronze medal in 1:59.99.

WOMEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Liu Zige, China – 2:01.81 (2009)
• Championship Record: Audrey Lacroix, Canada – 2:05.83 (2007)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Dora Hathazi (Hungary) – 2:09.73
2. Antonella Crispino (Italy) – 2:10.44
3. Chiho Mizuguchi (Japan) – 2:10.77
4. Dalma Sebestyen (Hungary) – 2:10.95
5. Hee Eun Lee (South Korea) – 2:11.33
6. Tabatha Avetand (France) – 2:12.37
7. Megan Van Berkom (United States) – 2:12.68
8. Jong Shangbeihua (China) – 2:12.80

Hungary’s Dora Hathazi, who trains in the U.S. at Washington State University, led the first of the women’s 200 fly semifinals in 2:09.73. Hathazi was locked in a race early on but broke away from the field on the 3rd 50 and ended up winning the heat by almost 3 seconds. The swim also marks a new personal best for Hathazi. Her time would also stand as the fastest of the semifinals.

Heat 2 of the semifinals went to Italian Antonella Crispino, who swam a 2:10.44. She was pushed by Japan’s Chiho Mizuguchi (2:10.77) and Hungary’s Dalma Sebestyen (2:10.95) the entire way.

Of note, Japan’s Kina Hayashi did not make it into the top 8 tonight. Hayashi, who was the top seed coming into the meet by a wide margin, just didn’t look right at all, and swam a 2:14.45 tonight.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – FINAL

• World Record: Adam Peaty, Great Britian – 25.95
• Championship Record: Qin Haiyang, China – 26.38 (2023)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Qin Haiyang (China) – 26.52
• SILVER: Ludovico Viberti (Italy) – 27.32
• BRONZE: Alessandro Pinzuti (Italy) – 27.53

There was never any doubt. China’s Qin Haiyang won the men’s 50 breast tonight in 26.53, marking his second sweep of the men’s breaststroke events in as many weeks. Of course, Haiyang became the first swimmer in history to sweep the breaststroke events at a World Championships, which ended a week ago in Fukuoka. He’s now done the same the World University Games in Chengdu.

While the time was actually Haiyang’s slowest, both at this meet and the World Championships, he still won by a massive margin.

Finishing 0.80 seconds behind Haiyang, Italy’s Ludovico Viberti earned the silver tonight with a 27.32. It was a great event for Italy, as Alessandro Pinzuti won bronze with a 27.53.

China very nearly had a second swimmer in the podium. Zheng Yinghao came in 4th tonight with a 27.56, finishing just 0.03 seconds behind Pinzuti.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINALS

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden – 23.61 (2023)
• Championship Record: Aliaksa Herasimenia, Belarus – 24.48 (2013)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Zhang Yufei (China) – 24.57
2. Erin Gallagher (South Africa) – 24.89
3. Kornelia Fiedkiewicz (Poland) – 25.11
4. Kalia Antoniou (Cyprus) – 25.24
5. Viola Scotto (Italy) – 25.40
6. Mei-Chien Huang (Taipei) – 25.42
7. Sonia Laquintana (Italy) – 25.59
8. Fanny Teijonsalo (Finland) – 25.60

South Africa’s Erin Gallagher took the first of the semifinals heats in the women’s 50 free tonight with a 24.89. The swim marks a new personal best for Gallagher, dipping under her previous mark of 24.95. Additionally, Gallagher is now closing in on the South African Record, which stands at 24.64.

Of course, China’s Zhang Yufei won the 2nd heat of semifinals swimming a 24.57. It was a solid swim for Yufei, who earned the bronze medal in this event at the World Championships about a week ago with a 24.15. Yufei was just off the Championship Record, which stands at 24.48.

Yufei and Gallagher were the only swimmers under 25 seconds tonight, setting themselves apart from the field as we head into the final tomorrow night.

MEN’S 4×200 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINAL

• World Record: United States – 6:58.55 (2009)
• Championship Record: Russia – 7:05.49 (2013)

PODIUM:

• GOLD: Japan – 7:14.86
• SILVER: Italy – 7:15.34
• BRONZE: Brazil – 7:15.39

Japan led at various points throughout the relay, however, a brilliant final 50 from anchor Shui Kurokawa sealed the deal, delivering gold to Japan. Konosuke Yanagimoto got the team out to a lead on the first leg, splitting 1:47.98, which was the fastest lead-off in the field. Ikki Imoto then split 1:48.92 on the 2nd leg, while Genki Terakado went 1:49.44 on the 3rd leg. Kurokawa anchored the team in 1:48.52, putting them into the finish in 7:14.86.

Italy earned the silver medal in 7:15.34. They were fueled by a 1:48.21 split from Caserta on the 2nd leg.