2023 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- July 23 to 30, 2023
- Fukuoka, Japan
- Marine Messe Fukuoka
- LCM (50m)
- WORLD CHAMPS WATCH PARTY – DAILY
- Meet Central
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- Entry Book
- Live Results (Omega)
- Day 1 Prelims Live Recap | Day 1 Finals Live Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap | Day 2 Finals Live Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Live Recap | Day 3 Finals Live Recap
- Day 4 Prelims Live Recap | Day 4 Finals Live Recap
In the women’s 200 free final at the 2023 World Championships, we saw history made in more ways than one. First of all, Mollie O’Callaghan broke Federica Pellegrini’s super-suited 200 free world record from 2009, becoming just the 2nd woman ever to break the 1:53 mark. Her AUS teammate, Ariarne Titmus, touched for silver at 1:53.01, the 3rd-fastest swim in the event ever. Summer McIntosh earned bronze in 1:53.65, breaking her own world junior Canadian records in the process and becoming the 5th fastest performer ever with the 8th fastest performance ever.
Perhaps most surprising, though, was that Mollie O’Callaghan came home in 28.11, an absolutely staggering last 50. She did not appear to be close to the world record until the final 15 meters, using her signature coming home speed to its fullest. This was not only a faster final 50 than any other woman in the field, but it was also faster than David Popovici‘s last 50 in the 2023 final of the 200 free.
Popovici, the 2022 World Champion and the only man to have gone under 1:43 in a textile suit, split 28.12 in his last 50 of the 200 free en route to a 1:44.90 4th place finish. Obviously, this was not Popovici’s best swim. But it is surprising anytime we see a female out split a male in the same race at the same meet.
side note but it’s really nice to see the homage to pellegrini at the start of this video. feel like her ’09 WR has caused her to be bunched in with the so-called “supersuit swimmers” when in reality she was dominant long before and long after that era. will never forget those surprise golds in ’17 and ’19. what a force
so what was Bobby Finke’s last 50 in the 800 same day? i get that its a totally different race.
Finke 26.79
Hafnaoui 26.24
Finke got Finked
interesting stat. How did her last 50 compare to the other men in the 200m final?
David P. has “senioritis”.
I think Popovici was out in 50 low which isn’t too far off from year, but instead of keeping up his torrid pace like last year this time he inexplicably fell victim to the piano. obviously he isn’t anywhere near the shape he was in last year, both with his speed and even more with his endurance, Unclear why that is, but he might have been sick or injured earlier in the year and missed valuable time training or partying too much (jk) after the unprecedented season last year. I don’t think he will the 100 either but he could at best finish third. He is still very young and should recover.
Swimswam gets a trolling score of 10/10 for this one.
It’s a fun factoid, people. Chill.
I’m just sensitive from absolutely eating sh!t on the way home on every single race ever 🙁
My god, I would LOVE a place to be able to analyze swimming without being immediately told that any attempt to do so is too mean, or that you can’t say anything if you’re not a world record holder yourself. People here are constantly bemoaning the fact that swimming isn’t more popular, but do you think football, basketball, or baseball forums have comment sections like this? I just want to talk about swimming with fellow swim nerds, but that’s basically impossible to do here.
I’ve been staying out of the comments for most of this meet. The vibe just ain’t right.