2016 SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- December 6th – December 11th, 2016
- Windsor, Ontario, Canada
- WFCU Centre
- SCM (25m)
- Prelims: 9:30 AM EST/Finals: 6:30 PM EST
- Start Lists/Results
- Live Stream ($)
It was a long wait, but the host Canadians finally got their gold medal at the Short Course World Championships. After a disappointing disqualification on day 1 in the 4×100 free relay, where they would’ve won silver, the Canadian women pulled together to smash the existing National Record by over 11 seconds and scare the World Record in the 4×200 free relay en route to gold.
They put up a time of 7:33.89, destroying the 2009 record of 7:45.04 and nearly coming within a second of the existing World Record, which stands at 7:32.85. The World Record is held by the Netherlands, set at the 2014 Championships in Doha.
After the relay disqualification and Penny Oleksiak‘s 3rd place finish in the 100 freestyle, this was their best shot at a gold medal. Katerine Savard led them off in 1:55.53, and then a massive leg from Taylor Ruck in 1:51.69 moved them into the lead. Kennedy Goss (1:54.62) and Oleksiak (1:52.05) finished the job. Ruck and Oleksiak had the two fastest splits in the field.
The Americans posed the biggest threat, but they fell off over the last 300m and took silver in 7:38.65. Bronze went to Russia in 7:39.93.
Short course racing is an entirely different swimming way- when I race short course as an older master’s competitor, I just put my head down and forget about breathing ( free) in which Penny forgot in the first relay race. Turns ; if you are a sprinter will propel you faster, long course- one changes their stroke and rhythm and can breathe more. Short is intense and explosive, long is more measured ( lol) and structured.
Congratulations on that fabulous 4x 200 relay missing the WR by ine second!
Canada was the big favorite on paper. Very logical win.
With Ruck and Oleksiak in that relay at least until 2024, they will be a serious threat to USA.
No more DiRado. Allison Schmitt? If Missy is not back at her best next year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Canada in gold in Budapest. The US relay also needs a Katie McLaughlin back to her best. Cierra Runge and Mallory Comerford can swim 1.56 high/1.57 low. Simone Manuel can help too.
But overall the American relay needs new young stars to go with Katie Ledecky in Tokyo. Isabel Ivey is one of the 200 free rising stars. Let’s see how develop Ella Ristic, Claire Tuggle and Justina Kozan.
Let me remind you that just before OT you favored Hali Flickenger. Have you change your heart? 🙂 You just listed everybody in U.S. who swims 200 free. What kind of prediction is that.
In Rio American team had three 1:56ers and Katie Ledecky. This team was just little shy of world record. China had two 1:55 swimmers. Sweden had 1:55 and 1:54. Australia had 1:55 and 1:54. And that was still not enough for win. If Katie can still be that excellent as she was in Rio then Americans are safe.
Please, somebody explain me how it is possible to have 1:57.87 personal best at 200 free LCM and to split 1:51.69 SCM. Is it the best demonstration of how different swimming competition is in long and short pools.
That 1:57 was in the 200 Free at Jr Worlds in 2015. Ruck was really sick at Canadian Trials and was a discretionary pick for relays in Rio. She split 1.56.18 in Rio and didnt have another LCM taper meet in 2016. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women%27s_4_%C3%97_200_metre_freestyle_relay
thanks, but still about 5sec difference between two relay splits in August (Rio, where she was healthy) and four months later in Windsor. It looks like she is suddenly 1:55LCM swimmer. I don’t think so. Most likely short pool fits better her abilities at 200m distance.
Or she could be 16 and still improving.
this was also in the short track, and everyone tends to swim nearly 1 second faster for every 100m in the short track because there are twice as many turns and underwater segments.
@Ben:
Let me illustrate your point with example.
Pellegrini: 2009 1:52.98 (wr) LCM – 1:51.17 (wr) SCM
Sjostrom: 2014 1:53.6 (relay)LCM – 1:50.78 (wr) SCM
Franklin: 2015. 1:55.43 LCM – 1:39.1 (yards)
Oleksiak: 2016 1:54.9 (relay)LCM – 1:52:05 (relay) SCM
Yes, sprinters and FLYers benefit most from short pool, but look how Taylor Ruck’s time doesn’t fit this statistics. She either indeed made tremendous progress at 200 LCM ( just not proven yet) or (as Craigh noticed) she wad out of her mind.
Both Ruck and Oleksiak are 16. Kids improve fast so comparing her to adults is not the greatest comparison since natural improvement skews the conversion. She swam 1.52.50 in the 200 Free individually. She was entered witb her long course time because her family lives in the US and only had yards times in short course leading up to this.
Sure, in my examples Pellegrini – 21, Sjostrom – 21, Franklin – 20.
Look I’m only welcome great results and like to be pleasantly surprised. Ruck’s time surprised me very much (pleasantly 🙂 ).
For the last several years 200 free was the most open and the most exciting competition with so many great talents making break through: Pellegrini (1:52), Mufat (1:54), Schmitt (1:53), Franklin (1:54), Heemskerk (1:54), Sjostrom (almost 1:53), McKeon (1:54), Ledecky (1:53).
If these two Canadian teenagers can join this elite and challenge world title next summer what can be better to this golden age in women swimming.
The Pellegrinis, Sjostroms, and Franklins of the world want to be at the top, and that means being the best in long course. Training for short course is just a way of mixing things up for them.
Taylor Ruck may get to the top, but as a high schooler (not a pro), I expect she trains a lot more short course (and yards!) than the others.
She honestly just swam out of her mind. I could see her going 1:55 with all cylinders firing like they were tonight.