Reported by James Sutherland.
WOMEN’S 200 FREE FINAL
- U.S. Open Record: 1:54.40, Allison Schmitt, 2012
- Federica Pellegrini, Italy, 1:56.07
- Kayla Sanchez, HPCO, 1:58.46
- Zhu Menghui, China, 1:58.78 / Katerine Savard, CAMO, 1:58.78
Italy’s Federica Pellegrini was never seriously challenged, cruising to the win in a fast time of 1:56.07. That time is just 0.03 off her world leading time from December.
Kayla Sanchez of the High Performance Centre Ontario had a very impressive swim to get in there for second in 1:58.46, and China’s Zhu Menghui tied for third in 1:58.78 with Katerine Savard of CAMO. Sanchez takes over the 7th fastest time in the world, and Zhu and Savard tie for 10th.
Melanie Margalis of Saint Petersburg (1:59.42) took 5th. Jazmin Carlin of Great Britain won the B-final in 2:00.14.
We are very lucky to have not just one but 2 badass beauties in the sport currently . Rica is one . The job she did on Laure was just historic .
what a total babe.
We have to wait at least until May to get some idea of what going on with 200 free. What intentions and capabilities are. Federica Pellegrini has proven record of being very fast in season and not being able to show such speed at major competitions. 1:56.07 in March however is a very strong signal that she is still a very confident 1:55 low racer at 200 freestyle.
Weird Federica doesn’t speak a decent English after so many years of travel and international competitions.
But at the same time I like hearing Italians speaking. Beautiful, funny and singing language.
She does speak English – But not very confidently.
thats still a bit weird to me …..but thats me .
She has an accent even when she speaks Italian … 🙂
With Ledecky going 1;50 Low/1:49 high and Franklin nipping @ her heels plus Sweden’s Michele Coleman and, likely, Hosszu also in the mix La Lionness de Verona’s gonna hAvea tuf time making the podium @ Budapest. Lot of miles on those legs since Bejing/Rome nearly a decade ago.
What
You don’t know Bill Bell?
We don’t have to take very seriously most of his comments. 🙂
He likes predicting crazy scenarios. 🙂
The WR (held by her) is 1:52.98 from the shiny era. Textile best is 1:53 high. Anyone around 1:54 will likely stand on the podium. As of today they are Ledecky and Sjostrom (who probably scratches the event) and maybe McKeon. Hosszu has never been below 1:55. Ikee still needs to shave off 2 sec. So to speak, Pellegrini has a good chance to make the podium.
1.55 low will probably be enough to win a medal in Budapest.
Hosszu best is something like 1.55.80 so I don’t think she will race in the 200free.
1:55.41 from 2015.
200 free is on day 4, which doesn’t trouble her possible schedule apart from that stupid semi-final in the previous evening after that she really needs her top shape to keep up with Seebohm in 100 back.
BTW if that 200 free semi-final harms both of the two best female swimmers, cannot it be just simply rearranged?
Hosszu swim 2 times in her career under 1.56: 1.55.89 and 1.55.41.
She isn’t fast enough in the 200 free to compete with the best swimmer in this event (Pellegrini, KL, Mckeon, SS, Duo Shen)
Looking forward to Worlds. Federica can medal and I hope that she does.