2024 WORLD AQUATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS
- February 11th – February 18th
- Doha, Qatar
- LCM (50m)
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- Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap
NIGHT 2 FINALS SCHEDULE
- Men’s 100 breast final
- Women’s 100 fly final
- Men’s 100 back semifinal
- Women’s 100 breast semifinal
- Men’s 50 fly final
- Women’s 100 back semifinal
- Men’s 200 free semifinal
- Women’s 200 IM final
Good morning, good evening, or good afternoon, depending on where you are. The second finals session is nigh upon us and starts off with a bang. The men’s 100 breaststroke is sure to be exciting; this is the best we have seen Adam Peaty in a long time. However, victory is not a foregone conclusion as the trio of Nic Fink, Arno Kamminga, and Nicolo Martinenghi are in the field and hungry for the podium.
The 100 fly continues the excitement as German Angelina Köhler will look to add her name to the list of German world champions. Claire Curzan hopes to dash those dreams as she chases after her first individual gold medal at a world champs.
We have two other finals on tap for the evening, the men’s 50 fly and women’s 200 IM. Expect a tight race in the 50 again after last night’s semifinal, as all of the top eight are separated by just three-tenths of a second. Michael Andrew looks to be in a good place to claim the first US gold medal, but it could be anyone standing atop the podium.
We end the evening with the 200 IM, which sees Kate Douglass looking to repeat as World Champ and cement her status as the top contender in Paris. Douglass faces some stiff competition from two other proven champions in the form Sydney Pickrem and Yu Yiting. Pickrem, the 2023 Pan-Ams champion, and Yu, the 2023 Asian Games Champion, will flank Douglass tonight.
MEN’S 100-METER BREASTSTROKE – FINALS
- 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
- Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 59.49, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 59.79
Final
- Nic Fink (USA) – 58.57
- Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) – 58.84
- Adam Peaty (GBR) – 59.10
- Sam Williamson (AUS) – 59.21
- Arno Kamminga (NED) – 59.22
- Ilya Shymanovich (NIA) – 59.22
- Lucas Matzerath (GER)/Capar Corbeau (NED) – 59.38
Nic Fink showed off the benefit of yards swimming, using a great start and turn to lead at the 50 (26.98). A lead that would not dissipate, as Fink held on to win in a time of 58.57, faster than his three-way tie for silver last summer. With the win, Fink claims the US’s first gold medal of these championships.
Nicolo Martinenghi, just 5th at the turn (27.43), has a great back half and surged past Adam Peaty, Ilya Shymanovich, and Sam Williamson to claim the silver medal. Entering the final as the top seed, Peaty, despite having the fastest reaction time of .62, had a poor start and couldn’t recover ultimately settling for the bronze in a time of 59.10.
WOMEN’S 100-METER BUTTERFLY – FINALS
- 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
- Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 57.92, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 58.21
Final
- Angelina Köhler (GER) – 56.28
- Claire Curzan (USA) – 56.61
- Louise Hansson (SWE) – 56.94
- Brianna Throssell (AUS) – 56.97
- Anna Ntountounaki (GRE) – 57.62
- Alexandria Perkins (AUS) – 57.68
- Erin Gallagher (RSA) – 57.83
- Chiharu IItsuke (JPN) – 58.23
Angelina Köhler led from start to finish but used her back half speed to ensure the victory as the Germans finished in 56.28 minutes. Köhler, who set a new national record of 56.11 yesterday, finished 5th in Fukuoka in a time of 57.05, showing a remarkable drop in time over the past few months. An obvious, and rightfully so, emotional win for the German adds her name to the mix for Olympic medals.
American Claire Curzan and Swede Louise Hansson were 2nd and 3rd and finished in the same order at the end of the race.
MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS
- World Record: Thomas Ceccon, Italy – 51.60 (2022)
- World Junior Record: Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia – 52.53 (2018)
- Championship Record: Thomas Ceccon, Italy – 51.60 (2022)
- 2023 World Champion: Ryan Murphy, United States – 52.22
- Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 53.74, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 54.01
Top 8:
- Hunter Armstrong (USA) – 53.04
- Pieter Coetze (RSA) – 53.07
- Hugo Gonzalez (ESP) – 53.22
- Apostolos Christou (GRE) – 53.62
- Roman Mityukov (SUI) – 53.64
- Evangelos Makrygiannis (GRE) – 53.67
- Miroslav Knedla (CZE) – 53.70
- Jack Aikins (USA) – 53.72
The first semifinal saw confusion as, apparently, Hunter Armstrong and Evangelos Makrygiannis swam in the wrong lanes. Lane 4, which was supposed to be filled by the Greek swimmer, finished with a time of 53.04, giving Armstrong the top seed into tomorrow.
Semifinal number two saw top seed Pieter Coetze take the win in 53.07 ahead of Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez. Gonzalez had the fastest back half of the field, coming home in 27.14, and now sits as the presumptive bronze medalist in tomorrow’s finals.
Both the USA and Greece put two into the final tomorrow, with UVA swimmer Jack Aikins sneaking into the final, finishing .08 ahead of 9th place finished Kai van Westering.
WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – SEMIFINALS
- World Record: Lilly King, United States – 1:04.13 (2017)
- World Junior Record: Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania – 1:04.35 (2013)
- Championship Record: Lilly King, United States – 1:04.13 (2017)
- 2023 World Champion: Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania – 1:04.62
- Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 1:06.79, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 1:07.12
Top 8:
- Tang Qianting (CHN) – 1:05.36
- Mona McSharry (IRL) -1:06.11
- Yang Chang (CHN) – 1:06.27
- Tes Schouten (NED) – 1:06.30
- Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 1:06.41
- Alina Zmushka (NIA) – 1:06.53
- Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU) – 1:06.61
- Sophie Angus (CAN) – 1:06.66
The first semifinal was a barn burner of an event with a showdown between the 50 specialist Benedetta Pilato; the more distance-orientated Tes Schouten, and freestyle star Siobhan Haughey. As expected, the Italian Pilato led at the 50 from lane 2 but could not hold as Schouten, Haughey, and Kotryna Teterevkova used the last 50 to pass her.
Semifinal two was more of a more straightforward and faster affair as China’s Tang Qianting cruised to victory in a time of 1:05.36, which not only stands as a new personal best but also makes her the top seed for tomorrow’s final and the only swimmer under 1:06. Joining her from the 2nd semifinal tomorrow and claiming the the 2nd and 3rd fastest times were Ireland’s Mona McSharry and Tang’s teammate Yang Chang.
With the results of the second semi-final taken into account, Pilato will miss the final tomorrow, as she sits .04 behind the 8th-place qualifier.
MEN’S 50-METER BUTTERFLY – FINALS
- 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
Final
- Diogo Ribeiro (POR) – 22.97
- Michael Andrew (USA) – 23.07
- Cameron McEvoy (AUS) – 23.08
- Isaac Cooper (AUS) – 23.12
- Dylan Carter (TTO) – 23.17
- Mario Molla Yanes (ESP) – 23.29
- Inchul Baek (AUS) – 23.35
- Shaine Casas (USA) – 23.47
Youth reigned supreme in the 50 Butterfly, as Diogo Ribeiro improved upon his silver medal from last year to claim victory tonight in 22.97. While a little slower than his time from 2023, 22.80, the Portuguese swimmer accomplished his task. Veterans Michael Andrew and Cameron McEvoy finished just .01 apart from each other to take the two minor medals. McEvoy, who had the fastest reaction time of .58, was the early leader but couldn’t hold on and had to settle for the bronze.
WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – SEMIFINALS
- World Record: Kaylee McKeown, Australia – 57.33 (2023)
- World Junior Record: Regan Smith, United States – 57.57 (2019)
- Championship Record: Kaylee McKeown, Australia – 57.53 (2023)
- 2023 World Champion: Kaylee McKeown, Australia – 57.53
- Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 59.99, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 1:00.29
Top 8:
- Claire Curzan (USA) – 58.73
- Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 59.55
- Jaclyn Barclay (AUS) – 59.83
- Iona Anderson (AUS) – 59.94
- Lauren Cox (GBR) – 1:00.03
- Kira Toussaint (NED) – 1:00.37
- Kathleen Dawson (GBR) – 1:00.40
- Maaike de Waard (NED) – 1:00.68
Ingrid Wilm booked her spot in the back-to-back 100-backstroke finals, continuing the great backstroke tradition among Canadian women. Wilm, who finished last summer, was just one of two in the semifinal to finish under the 60-second barrier, with the other being the young Aussie swimmer Jaclyn Barclay. Kira Toussaint has had a strong meet so far, qualifying for the final after missing last year and helping the Dutch team win gold in the 4×100 free last night.
The second semifinal also only saw two swimmers under 60 seconds, with Claire Curzan in her second swim of the evening, taking the win in 58.73, taking over the top time. Barclay’s fellow teenager and teammate Iona Anderson nabbed 2nd in the last semifinal, barely nipping under 1:00, touching in 59.83.
To note, last summer, it took a 59.63 to qualify for the finals, whereas this year 8th place was 1:00.68.
MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – SEMIFINALS
- World Record: Paul Biedermann, Germany – 1:42.00 (2009)
- World Junior Record: David Popovici, Romania – 1:42.97 (2022)
- Championship Record: Paul Biedermann, Germany – 1:42.00 (2009)
- 2023 World Champion: Matthew Richards, Great Britain – 1:44.30
- Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 1:46.26, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 1:46.79
Top 8:
- Danas Rapsys (LTU) – 1:44.96
- Hwang Sunwoo (KOR) – 1:45.15
- Lukas Martens (GER) – 1:45.21
- Luke Hobson (USA) – 1:45.53
- Elijah Winnington (AUS) – 1:45.90
- Rafael Miroslav (GER) – 1:45.95
- Guilherme Costa (BRA) – 1:46.06
- Duncan Scott (GBR) – 1:46.24
The first semifinal was a tight affair, with Elijah Winnington using some strong finishing skills to sneak past Duncan Scott and early leader Rafael Miroslaw, touching in 1:45.90. Brazil’s Guilherme Costa, who like the Aussie Winnington, swam the 400 last night snuck up from 5th at the 150 to finish 3rd. Scott faded to 4th and now must wait to see if he makes the final.
Hwang Sunwoo led at the 100 mark, just .50 off of the world record, but faded a little and was ultimately passed in the last meters by Danas Rapsys, who closed in a blistering 26.77.
While each semifinal put through four swimmers, the top four times came from the second semifinal, with Duncan Scott squeaking into the final in 8th.
WOMEN’S 200-METER INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – FINALS
- 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
- Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 2:11.47, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 2:12.13
Final
- Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:07.05
- Sydney Pickrem (CAN) – 2:08.56
- Yu Yiting (CHN) – 2:09.01
- Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 2:10.17
- Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 2:10.24
- Abbie Wood (GBR) – 2:11.20
- Charlotte Bonnet (FRA) – 2:11.23
- Ashley McMillan (CAN) – 2:13.48
Kate Douglass made it back to back in the 200 IM, taking the gold medal in a new personal best time of 2:07.05. The race looked closer than it would appear on paper, as Canadian Sydney Pickrem made up nearly half a second on the middle 100 and was just .50 off Douglass at the 150 turn, but couldn’t match Douglass’s freestyle as the American finished in 30.21 compared to Pickrem’s 31.22. Still, Pickrem should be happy as she hits a new personal best just five months out of Paris.
Douglass, who can throw down a blistering 50s, did not actually have the fastest last split as Dutch sprinter Marrit Steenbergen split 29.75 on the last leg, moving up from 8th to 5th.
That concludes the live recap of what was an exciting 2nd night of swimming action from Doha.
A little late, but I’m kinda happy for Letitia for making her 1st semi final appearance. She did the right thing scrapping 200 IM semis to conserve her energy for other events. (One of the comments on Facebook was kinda awful)
I was a bit surprised to see Douglass appear so exhausted after her first final here. I wouldn’t assumed she’s fully tapered, but is there any indication how much rest she got?
I thought Douglass needed something like 206.6 to potentially influence McIntosh into the 800 against Ledecky. I’m not sure Douglass recognized that opportunity. She wasn’t swimming solely toward tonight’s medal.
With 2:07 low it doesn’t change anything for McIntosh. If anything she becomes more confident.
Does the emergence of Sam Williamson make Australia medal contender in 4×100 medely and gold contneder in mixed medely?
Yes and yes, but the math on paper still points toward China and the US being the front dogs. We kinda have to add 0.5 seconds to McKeown backstrong leg in the mixed medley because of how difficult it is to swim with male backstroker’s waves
They’re always contending for m4x100 medley bronze thanks to Chalmers and mixed 4×100 medley thanks to MOC/Jack
The emergence of Sam Williamson means they are more competitive for bronze, but nowhere near what’s required for gold in both relays.
Disagree, Mckewon Williamson Temple MOC is gole medal contender. China probably favourite
I think “nowhere near gold” for the mixed is wrong. It would take everything going right but it could happen.
McKeown: 57.33 (PB)
Temple: 49.85 (PB – .40 relay start)
Williamson: 58.81 (PB -.40 relay start)
Jack: 51.53 (PB Split)
=3:37.52 (WR is 3:37.58)
Lol Summer and KD fans fighting over who is the obvious heavy favourite in 200IM when their PBs are 2:06.9 and 2:07.0.
And then no one even mentioning McKeown and Walsh who are 2:07.1.
Their PBs are all essentially the same. 0.2 in a 200 is not much. My money is on Summer because not only does she already have the fastest PB, but she is showing rapid improvement in other events and in particular on breast which is her biggest weakness.
But really, it’s still anyone’s game
my guess is that it’s because neither of them have had any (significant) improvements on any of their 200s since setting their 200 IM PB, at least not that any of us can see.
Summer is a teenager and has also set PBs in all four 200 strokes while Douglass obviously had that huge breakthrough in the 200 breast, and so people are expecting their improvements to carry over to some extent to the 200 IM as well
Kaylee set a signficant PB in the 200 free 6 months after her 200IM PB. She doesn’t swim the 200 fly but she has also set PBs in the 100 fly, 100 breast and 100 back since her 200IM PB.
You might be right about Walsh though.
McIntosh clocked a 2 second PB in the 200 breast just a couple of days ago at Orlando – 2:29:65 to 2:27:23.
McIntosh is the favorite. Numbers aren’t the only criteria. I emphasized that last year when many here tried to pretend that Regan was favored over McIntosh at 200 butterfly.
McIntosh has a higher power rating than Douglass period. That plays a massive role, instead of nitpicking everything by event. Fans are too eager to isolate and adjust.
McIntosh also earns the prodigy benefit of a doubt. That is something the bettors will not ignore, if you try to make her the underdog. The sportsbooks got swamped late ’90s whenever they adjusted odds against Tiger Woods for some ridiculous reason like he fared poorly on that course a year earlier.
sure, but if she is head to head with Kate going into the free leg, Kate takes her down. She does not have the sprint speed and power that Kate has developed. I don’t care what her prior splits were.
I think the various Paris swim trials will tell us more about where they are. SM hasn’t done a tapered 200IM since last spring at the Can trials. Who knows she might decide to do the 800fr instead as the flurry of related speculative articles last week got churning.(just to get that going again ) In Paris the 200 im is the last event of what would be a many event program for many of them. Whoever has the less busy program might have an edge. And/ or if one of them is having a great games then they may have the momentum. So many factors to consider & of course that makes it all the more fun to speculate,
Look what I just found on Weibo :
A famous chinese swim account that gives updates and news about swimming in general, gave the 50 fly results and called Michael Andrew “ The Preliminary Little Prince“🤣🤣🤣, and people are making fun of him in the comments lol.
that’s funny af
why is McEvoy “Wheat”
The first syllable of “Mc” in Chinese translates to Wheat
If “Mc”is translated into Chinese,the Chinese word means Wheat
What would Winnie the Pooh say?
😳😁😀😃😄😆😅😂🤣😆
Nah Weibo absolutely violated MA
anyone else surprised pickrem is back in the fray? i honestly didnt expect her to be top 3 and right behind kd
She’s always been pretty good when she’s swimming just hasn’t been consistent
she’s always a gatekeeper
She did 2.09.04 to win pan am games in October so that seemed to show that her training was going well.
Not totally surprised. She seems to be in a good place these days. Hope she swims well in 200 breast. I just wish she was swimming 400 IM too.
Not swimming the 400 IM might be why she’s in a good place.
Agree. She clearly has had a big mental block with that event in the past (and who can blame her, it’s terrible, lol). Now that Summer has that event on lock and we have a few younger ones coming up in it, Sydney should feel totally free to ditch it forever and stick to the 200 IM and 200 Br.
the 200 IM might just be the most stacked event, tough timing, but definitely exciting for her
Great progress from Peaty. Not tapered for this meet. Onwards…
Nic Fink is not tapered either.
Fink was .2 off his best
nobody ever tapers
True. There has never, in fact, ever been a case of tapering.