Cesar Cielo easily advanced through prelims and semifinals of the men’s 50 freestyle, setting himself up for a showdown with Olympic champions Florent Manadou (2012) and Anthony Ervin (2000), Nathan Adrian, and the upstart Vlad Morozov. Cielo, the defending World champion in this event and winner of the 50 fly earlier in the week, clocked a 21.60 in semis to tie with Adrian for third overall. Manadou (21.37) and Ervin (21.42) hold the top two seeds.
Fellow Brazilian and Auburn Tiger Marcelo Chierighini failed to make it through to the final with Cielo. Chierighini swam a season best 21.84 in the semifinal, but had to settle for a tenth place finish overall, just 0.10 out of the top 8. Grabbing the last spot in the championship final of the 50 was George Bovell (another former Auburn Tiger) of Trinidad and Tobago. The 30-year-old Bovell has landed in the final of this event each of the last three top-level world meets (2012 Olympics, 2011 Worlds, 2009 Worlds), but has yet to come away with a medal in the 50. His lone Olympic and Worlds medals have actually come in the IM events, highlighted by his 2004 bronze in the 200 IM. Speaking to his versatility, Bovell is also the fourth fastest performer in history in the 50 free.
Some other notes from day 6…
- Jesserick Pinto of Venezuela was the only record breaker from the region on night six, with a new national record in the women’s 50 butterfly (26.94).
- Coming into World Championships, Hanser Garcia was widely considered a darkhorse to medal in the sprint freestyle events, particularly in the 100, where he was 7th in London a year ago. Garcia, a former water polo player from Cuba, has been considered a very “raw” swimmer since he made the transition into swimming competitions, but all indications were that he made significant technical improvements this season. However, Garcia hasn’t really been a factor in Barcelona, failing to advance to the championship final in the 100 free on Wednesday, and not even making it out of prelims yesterday morning in the 50.
- Thiago Pereira of Brazil, last night’s bronze medalist in the 200 IM, failed to make it through semifinals in the men’s 100 fly. We weren’t expecting much out of Pereira in a 100 of stroke; this is probably his 4th or 5th best event overall, and he’s never really shown a lot of pure sprint speed. His 52.43 placed him 15th.
for someone who has never won worlds or olympics medal, hanser garcia sure has the biggest fan group
Such a shame Garcia didn’t have that start at the Olympics last year!
I will root for him too; of course my first loyalty is with Tony and Nathan!
As for Hanser Garcia, I didn’t really see much technical improvement; his still looks like a (very fast) water polo player’s stroke to me.
I am really rooting for George Bovell, he continues to do Trinidad proud! #i4tandt