Championship Records have not been rare at the 2014 World Short Course Championships, but historically, Championship Records in the men’s 400 freestyle have been incredibly rare in this event.
In fact, only two men, ever, had held the FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships Record in the men’s 400 free until Hungary’s Peter Bernek blazed his way to a 3:34.32 victory on Friday night in Doha
The first was Daniel Kowalski, who won the first-ever title in 1993 in 3:42.95. The second was Grant Hackett, who won the title in the 4th edition in 1999 with a 3:35.01 that at the time was the World Record.
The all time champions, which record holders in bold:
1993 – Daniel Kowalski, 3:42.95
1995 – Daniel Kowalski, 3:45.14
1997 – Jacob Carstensen, Denmark, 3:34.44
1999 – Grant Hackett, Australia, 3:35.01
2000 – Chad Cargin, USA, 3:41.13
2002 – Grant Hackett, Australia, 3:38.29
2004 – Yuri Prilukov, Russia, 3:40.79
2006 – Yuri Prilukov, Russia, 3:40.08
2008 – Yuri Prilukov, Russia, 3:37.35
2010 – Paul Biedermann, Germany, 3:37.06
2012 – Paul Biedermann, Germany, 3:39.15
2014 – Peter Bernek, Hungary, 3:34.32
It’s worth noting that every single swimmer in the final was sub 3:40! Never seen before.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! That’s one of those records, you knew eventually it would get beat but man you wanted it to stay forever.
Dan Kowalski (Aus), Grant Hackett (Aus), Peter Bernek (Hun),
Who will be the next Aussie to bring the record back home. Horton? Harrison?
Also, 3:35 from Hackett in 1999, that is insane.
Oz – Hackett is transcendent. His name is going to matter for a long, long, long time.
branden am I reading it right, in 97 a 4:34 won? that’s not a typo is it?
sorry braden autopilot hit the N in my last comment, didn’t mean to call you branden.
Chad CarVin, with a “V”