2021 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE – SEASON 3, MATCH 9
- Thursday, September 23 – Friday, September 24
- 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm EST (8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Local Time)
- Piscina Felice Scandone, Naples, Italy
- Short Course Meters (25m – SCM) Format
- ISL Season 3 Schedules, Start Times, & More
- Teams Competing: Energy Standard, London Roar, Toronto Titans, DC Trident
- Omega Live Results
- Match 9 Preview
Russian youngster Evgeniia Chikunova dipped under her World Junior Record in the women’s 200 breaststroke (SCM) during Match 9 of the International Swimming League (ISL) regular season on Thursday, winning the event in a time of 2:17.57 for Energy Standard.
That time knocks off her previous mark of 2:17.71, set in December 2019 at the Vladimir Salnikov Cup in her hometown of Saint Petersburg, and maintains her position as the 16th-fastest performer of all-time.
Split Comparison
| Chikunova, 2019 | Chikunova, 2021 |
| 31.96 | 31.98 |
| 35.08 (1:07.04) | 35.44 (1:07.42) |
| 35.37 (1:42.41) | 35.43 (1:42.85) |
| 35.30 (2:17.71) | 34.72 (2:17.57) |
Slightly slower than she was in setting the previous record over the middle 100, Chikunova really made up all of her ground on the last 50, charging home in 34.72 to out-split her 2019 closing leg by nearly six tenths.
That final 50 also helped propel the 16-year-old to the victory in the race, as Chikunova sat second to DC Trident swimmer Bailey Andison by .01 at the 150 before out-splitting her by over two seconds coming home for a decisive win.
Chikunova ended up jackpotting three swimmers, scoring 15 points for Energy Standard.
Chikunova has gone a perfect four-for-four in the event over the course of the regular season. She’s also added a pair of runner-up finishes in the 100 breaststroke through her first three matches.
Chikunova 200 Breast Results, 2021 ISL Season
- Match 1 – 2:19.21 (1st)
- Match 3 – 2:17.82 (1st)
- Match 8 – 2:18.44 (1st)
- Match 9 – 2:17.57 (1st)
The only swimmer that’s been faster than Chikunova so far in the ISL this season is Cali Condor Lilly King, who blasted a time of 2:16.83 in Match 6.
Coming into Match 9, Chikunova sat in a tie for 42nd in the MVP scoring this season with 81.5 points.
The Russian National Record in the event stands at 2:15.62, set by Yuliya Efimova in 2018. Efimova has been even faster, setting what was previously the world record in 2:14.39 in 2013, but the time has since been unratified due to a doping violation.
Set to turn 17 in November, Chikunova will only be eligible to break World Junior Records until December 31, 2021.
The 2019 World Junior Championship gold medalist in the women’s 100 and 200 breaststroke (LCM), Chikunova made her Olympic debut this summer in Tokyo, narrowly missing a medal by .04 in the 200 breast, finishing fourth.