2024 World Championships: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2024 WORLD AQUATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

• February 11th – February 18th
• Doha, Qatar
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• Day 1 Prelims Live Recap

Day 1 Finals Heat Sheet

Women’s 4×100 Free Relay Start List 

Men’s 4×100 Free Relay Start List 

It’s time for the first swimming finals session of the 2024 World Championships in Doha, Qatar. And as always, it’s a packed session; there are four finals (including two relays) and four semifinals on tap.

Day 1 Finals Schedule:

• Men’s 400 freestyle — final
• Women’s 100 butterfly — semifinals
• Men’s 50 butterfly — semifinals
• Women’s 400 freestyle — final
• Men’s 100 breaststroke — semifinals
• Women’s 200 IM — semifinals
• Women’s 4×100 freestyle relay — final
• Men’s 4×100 freestyle relay — final

The session kicks off with the men’s 400 freestyle final. The big news of the prelims session was that defending champion Ahmed Hafnaoui missed the final with a 3:48.05, finishing 17th. Without him and his personal best of 3:40.70 in the field, the two favorites are the top two qualifiers: Australia’s Elijah Winnington and Germany’s Lukas Märtens. Both are familiar with the podium, Winnington is the 2022 champion and Märtens has a silver and a bronze from the last two Worlds.

Winnington and Märtens were the only two sub-3:45 this morning, but don’t count out Kim Woomin or Daniel Wiffen. They’re sitting 3rd and 4th after prelims, respectively.

There’s a close race brewing in the women’s 400 freestyle as well. After prelims, Li Bingjie and Erika Fairweather are separated by just five-hundredths. Fairweather controlled their heat for a majority of the race, but Li caught her in the closing meters, posting the top time of the morning in 4:04.65. Fairweather broke 4:00 in Fukuoka, stunning for the bronze medal, so and we’ll see if she’s brought that form to Doha.

The other two finals of the session are the women’s and men’s 4×100 freestyle relays. Australia, the world record holders and defending champions–lead the women’s field by almost a full second, qualifying first for the final with a 3:38.33. Meanwhile, the U.S. men put up the top time on the men’s side (3:12.32) ahead of Italy and Great Britain, the latter of whom hit their Olympic qualification time with a 3:13.96 after being disqualified from prelims in Fukuoka.

MEN’S 400-Meter Freestyle – Final

• World Record: Paul Biedermann, Germany – 3:40.07 (2009)
• World Junior Record: Petar Mitsin, Bulgaria – 3:44.31 (2023)
• Championship Record: Paul Biedermann, Germany – 3:40.07 (2009)
• 2023 World Champion: Sam Short, Australia – 3:40.68

Final:

1. Kim Woomin (KOR) — 3:42.71
2. Elijah Winnington (AUS) — 3:42.86
3. Lukas Märtens (GER) — 3:42.96
4. Guilherme Costa (BRA) — 3:44.22
5. Lucas Henveaux (BEL) — 3:44.61
6. Victor Johansson (SWE) — 3:45.87
7. Daniel Wiffen (IRL) — 3:46.65
8. Felix Auboeck (AUT) — 3:51.60

First event, first upset. 22-year-old Kim Woomin jumped out from the start of the men’s 400 free final and didn’t look back, giving South Korea their first 400 free medalist since Park Tae-Hwan in 2011.

Kim was second to Märtens at the first turn but by the 100-meter mark had taken over the lead. He turned in 52.71, 1.71 seconds under world record pace. The first three swimmers Kim, Märtens, and Winnington were all out under world record pace at that point. Kim extended his lead, getting clear of the rest of the field and getting another .14 seconds under world record pace.

That line began to catch up to him on the back half of the race, but his direct competitors were less successful at catching him. Märtens had a consistent grip on second place and by the 300, Winnington had caught Lucas Henveaux, who was having a solid swim way out in lane 1.

The last 100 meters was chaos; Kim clung to his lead but behind him Märtens, Winnginton, and Guilherme Costa were all charging. Winnington closed with a massive 26.67–the only one in the field sub-27 seconds–but ran out of room to catch Kim. Kim claimed the first gold medal of the meet with a 3:42.71, a personal best by about 2 seconds.

Winnington got back on the podium with a 3:42.86, with Märtens making his third consecutive podium in this event just a tenth behind in 3:42.96.

Costa, Henveaux and Victor Johansson both set national records with their swims.

WOMEN’S 100-Meter Butterfly – Semifinals

• World Record: Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden – 55.48 (2016)
• World Junior Record: Claire Curzan, USA – 56.43 (2021)
• Championship Record: Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden – 55.53 (2017)
• 2023 World Champion: Zhang Yufei, China – 56.12

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Angelina Köhler (GER) — 56.11
2. Claire Curzan (USA) — 57.06
3. Brianna Throssell (AUS) — 57.22
4. Louise Hansson (SWE) — 57.28
5. Anna Ntountounaki (GRE) — 57.86
6. Erin Gallagher (RSA) — 57.92
7. Chiharu Iitsuka (JPN) — 58.01
8. Alexandria Perkins (AUS) — 58.05

Germany’s Angelina Köhler continues to make her case as a Olympic medal contender here in Doha. After breaking 57 seconds for the first time in prelims and breaking her own national record, she took another chunk off the record in the semifinals. She threw down a 56.11 in the second semi, cutting another three-tenths off the 56.41 standard she swam this morning.

Kohler’s 56.11 leads the way into tomorrow’s final by almost a second. She was the only one to crack 57 across the two heats as the United States’ Claire Curzan earned the 2nd seed with a 57.06. That’s a solid improvement on her 57.94 swim from this morning for Curzan.

Australia has two women slated to appear in the final with Brianna Throssell and Alexandria Perkins qualifying 3rd and 8th. Throssell won the first semifinal, coming on strong during the back half of the race to out-touch Louise Hansson. 

After setting a national record in the prelims (57.59), Erin Gallagher added a few tenths with a 57.92, but still qualified safely for the final in 6th.

MEN’S 50-Meter Butterfly – Semifinals

• World Record: Andrii Govorov, Ukraine – 22.27 (2018)
• World Junior Record: Diogo Ribeiro, Portugal – 22.96 (2022)
• Championship Record: Caeleb Dressel, USA – 22.35 (2019)
• 2023 World Champion: Thomas Ceccon, Italy – 22.68

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Michael Andrew (USA) — 22.94
2. Dylan Carter (TTO) — 23.15
3. Mario Molla Yanes (ESP) — 23.17
4. Diogo Matos Ribeiro (POR)/Isaac Cooper (AUS) — 23.18
5. (tie)
6. Cam McEvoy (AUS) — 23.21
7. Shaine Casas (USA) — 23.22
8. Baek Inchul (KOR) — 23.24

Michael Andrew set the standard in the first semifinal taking the win with a 22.94. After the second semifinal, that time would still stand as the fastest time in the men’s 50 fly semifinals and the only one under 23 seconds. Dylan Carter finished second in that heat behind Andrew (23.15), which qualified him for the final in 2nd.

It was a tight second semifinal as the top four swimmers were separated by just four-hundredths. Coming out on top was Spain’s Mario Molla Yanes, who swims in the NCAA at Virginia Tech. His time of 23.17 is just a hundredth off his personal best from Fukuoka and puts him in a strong position for the final tomorrow.

Diogo Matos Ribeiro, the 2023 silver medalist, will be in tomorrow’s field as well. That medal represented Portugal’s first swimming medal at Worlds, and he’ll look to add to that total tomorrow. He tied with Australian sprinter Isaac Cooper for 4th in 23.18, just three-hundredths ahead of 2023 50 freestyle world champion Cam McEvoy.

Notably, Nyls Korstanje finished 9th and will miss the final. He was top seed after prelims with a 23.03.

WOMEN’S 400-Meter Freestyle – Final

• World Record: Ariarne Titmus, Australia – 3:55.38 (2023)
• World Junior Record: Summer McIntosh, Canada – 3:56.08 (2023)
• Championship Record: Ariarne Titmus, Australia – 3:55.38 (2023)
• 2023 World Champion: Ariarne Titmus, Australia – 3:55.38

Final:

1. Erika Fairweather (NZL) — 3:59.44
2. Li Bingjie (CHN)– 4:01.62
3. Isabel Gose (GER) — 4:02.39
4. Maria Fernanda De Oliveria Da Silva Costa (BRA) — 4:02.86
5. Gabrielle Roncatto (BRA) — 4:04.18
6. Yang Peiqi (CHN) — 4:05.73
7. Eve Thomas (NZL) — 4:05.87
8. Agostina Hein (ARG) — 4:10.33

Erika Fairweather got caught by Li Bingjie in the final 15 meters of their 400 freestyle prelim. There was no repeat of that in the final, as Fairweather used a similar strategy to Kim in the men’s race–jetting out from the start of the race. Fairweather led from start to finish to claim New Zealand’s first swimming gold medal at a World Championships.

Not only is the swim historic because of the medal, but Fairweather also reset her own national record in the process. She touched the wall in 3:59.44, getting under 4:00 again and the 3:59.59 she swam for bronze in Fukuoka.

Fairweather out-split Li on every 50, refusing to let Li get too close to challenge her for the gold. Li earned the silver medal with a 4:01.62, about six-tenths off her own national record of 4:01.08, which she swam last spring.

Germany’s Isabel Gose kept things rolling for the Germans. She earned her first Worlds medal with a 4:02.39 for bronze, holding off Maria Fernanda De Oliveria Da Silva Costa (4:02.86).

MEN’S 100-Meter Breaststroke – Semifinals

• World Record: Adam Peaty, Great Britain – 56.88 (2019)
• World Junior Record: Nicolo Martinenghi, Italy – 59.01 (2017)
• Championship Record: Adam Peaty, Great Britain – 56.88 (2019)
• 2023 World Champion: Qin Haiyang, China – 57.69

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Adam Peaty (GBR) — 58.60
2. Nic Fink (USA) — 58.73
3. Arno Kamminga (NED) — 58.87
4. Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) — 59.13
5. Lucas Matzerath (GER) — 59.30
6. Caspar Corbeau (NED) — 59.33
7. Sam Williamson (AUS) — 59.35
8. Ilya Shymanovich (NIA) — 59.40

After a brief delay, we’ve got the official results for the men’s 100 breaststroke. And there’s a familiar name at the top; Adam Peaty put together his fastest swim since the Tokyo Olympics, claiming lane 4 for tomorrow’s final. Peaty has been steadily working his way back since his comeback last year, improving through the World Cup stops that he competed at last fall.

The second semifinal was much quicker than the first, as Peaty, Nic Fink, and Arno Kamminga took the top three spots for tomorrow’s final all from the second heat. It was Ilya Shymanovich who led that group around at the turn (27.03), followed by Peaty’s 27.17 opening split. Shymanovich fell off the pace on the second half of the race but Peaty stayed strong and was able to hold off Fink’s 31.10 closing split and Kamminga’s 30.98.

Nicolo Martinenghi won the first semifinal in 59.13, which held up to move him through to the final in 4th. Fink, Kamminga, and Martinenghi all tied for silver in this race in Fukuoka and with Peaty’s swim, it looks like we’re set for another competi final tomorrow even without Qin Haiyang in the field.

It was a close race to get into the final as 5th through 9th were separated by just .18 seconds. Lucas Matzerath qualified in 5th with a 59.30 and Shymanovich made it through with a 59.40 just a tenth back. Missing out was Jake Foster, who clocked 59.48 for a new personal best.

WOMEN’S 200-Meter Individual Medley – Semifinals

• World Record: Katinka Hosszu, Hungary – 2:06.12 (2015)
• World Junior Record: Summer McIntosh, Canada – 2:06.89 (2023)
• Championship Record: Katinka Hosszu, Hungary – 2:06.12 (2015)
• 2023 World Champion: Kate Douglass, USA – 2:07.17

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Kate Douglass (USA) — 2:08.41
2. Sydney Pickrem (CAN) — 2:08.76
3. Yu Yiting (CHN) — 2:08.83
4. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) — 2:10.15
5. Charlotte Bonnet (FRA) — 2:10.24
6. Marrit Steenbergen (NED) — 2:11.23
7. Abbie Wood (GBR) — 2:11.35
8. Ashley McMillan (CAN) — 2:12.23

Kate Douglass went to work in the second semifinal. The defending champion and the fastest qualifier after the prelims, Douglass built up a lead over two seconds through the first 150-meters of her race. She shut it down during the freestyle lead because of her comfortable lead and was still much faster than her prelims time, getting well under her 2:10.01 with a 2:08.41.

The 22-year-old looks primed to repeat as the world champion, but she wasn’t the only one to get into the 2:08 range. From the first semifinal, Sydney Pickrem and Yu Yiting swam 2:08.76 and 2:08.83, respectively. It was a strong swim for Pickrem especially as she held off Yu’s charge on freestyle and was just a tenth off her personal best. Yu is the defending bronze medalist from Fukuoka.

Fukuoka finalists Anastasia Gorbenko and Marrit Steenbergen also return to the final.

WOMEN’S 4×100-Meter Freestyle Relay – Final

• World Record: Australia – 3:27.96 (2023)
• Championship Record: Australia – 3:27.96 (2023)
• 2023 World Champion: Australia – 3:27.96

Final:

1. Netherlands (Busch, van Kooten, Toussaint, Steenbergen) — 3:36.61
2. Australia (Throssell, Perkins, Harkin, Jack) — 3:36.93
3. Canada (Smith, Fournier, Savard, Ruck) — 3:37.95
4. Poland — 3:38.65
5. Italy — 3:38.67
6. Brazil — 3:40.56
7. China — 3:41.11
8. Slovenia — 3:41.72

Without many of the big names that are usually in the field during a women’s 4×100 freestyle relay, it was a wild final. Poland led the race for the first three legs powered by Kasia Wasick‘s national record 54.12 leading off the relay. Kornelia Fiediewicz (54.23) and Zuzanna Famulok (55.04) held onto the lead through the next two legs of the race, giving their anchor Julia Maik a lead of almost a second over Italy.

But neither of those teams ended up on the podium. After being in 8th place at the halfway point, Netherlands’ had worked their way into 3rd thanks to a 53.81 split from Kira Toussaint. Then, Marrit Steenbergen, fresh off her 200 IM semifinal, dove in. She fired off the fastest split in the field (52.35) to take the lead and earn gold for the Netherlands.

Australia, the world record holders and perennial favorites in this event, were without their usual firepower and didn’t assert themselves until Shayna Jack‘s anchor. Jack brought them home in 52.64, but was unable to hold off Steenbergen and the Australians took silver in 3:36.93, three-tenths behind the Netherlands.

After their heroics on the first three legs of the race, Poland wasn’t able to hold off Canada on the final leg of the race. Taylor Ruck split 53.26 to grab the bronze for Canada in an overall time of 3:37.95 to Poland’s 3:38.65.

MEN’S 4×100-Meter Freestyle Relay – Final

• World Record: USA – 3:08.24
• Championship Record: USA – 3:09.06
• 2023 World Champion: Australia – 3:10.16

Final:

1. China (Pan (WR), Ji, Zhang, Wang) — 3:11.08
2. Italy (Miressi, Zazzeri, Conte, Frigo) — 3:12.08
3. USA (King, Casas, Hobson, Foster) — 3:12.29
4. Great Britain — 3:12.59
5. Hungary — 3:13.66
6. Greece — 3:13.67
7. Serbia — 3:13.88
8. Spain — 3:14.83

What a way to end the first night of finals. Leading off China’s 4×100 free relay, 19-year-old Pan Zhanle took down the men’s 100 freestyle world record. He dropped a sizzling 46.80, taking six-hundredths off the world record that fellow teenager David Popovici swam in August 2022.

At the Asian Games, Pan broke 47 seconds for the first time with a 46.97. Afterward, he said he was disappointed with the swim because he was aiming for the world record. Now, it’s his, along with a $30,000 (USD) bonus for the accomplishment. And to top it all off, he ends up with a gold medal as China held on to win their first gold medal in the men’s 4×100 free relay.

He handed things off to Ji Xingjie (48.18) and Zhang Zhanshou (48.63). Wang Haoyu split 47.47 on the anchor leg, bringing them home for a final time of 3:11.08 and the win over the Italians by a full second.

After Miressi’s opening swim of 47.90, the Italians were running 3rd but Lorenzo Zazzeri (47.99) pulled them into 2nd where they stayed for the rest of the race. It was tight at the end though, as they had to hold off both the Americans and the Great Brits.

Despite Duncan Scott‘s 47.37 anchor–the fastest relay split in the field–the Brits ended up off the podium in 4th place. They touched in 3:12.59, three-tenths behind the U.S. squad of Matt King (48.02), Shaine Casas (48.47), Luke Hobson (47.68), and Carson Foster (48.12)