King Breaks American, Pilato Ties European Record In Epic 50 Breast Showdown

2020 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE – FINAL

• Saturday, November 21: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM CET (8 AM – 10 AM U.S. Eastern, 10 PM – 12 AM Japan)
• Sunday, November 22: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM CET (12 PM-2 PM U.S. Eastern, 2 AM-4 AM Monday J+1 Japan)
• Duna Arena – Budapest, Hungary
• Short Course Meters (SCM) format
• ISL Technical Handbook
• 2020 ISL Scoring Format
• 2020 ISL Prize Money and Bonuses
• How To Watch
• Teams: Energy Standard / Cali Condors / London Roar / LA Current
• Day 1 Start Lists
• Omega Results

Lilly King and Benedetta Pilato entered the International Swimming League (ISL) Grand Final tied for the season’s top time in the women’s 50 breaststroke, bringing things to a head in what was only their second matchup of the season.

King, who set the American Record facing Pilato head-to-head in a time of 28.86 back in Match 1, did so again in the final, winning over the Italian youngster in a time of 28.77.

That swim moves King, who competes for the Cali Condors, up from fourth to second all-time in terms of performers, trailing only world record holder Alia Atkinson. It’s also the third-fastest performance ever.

Pilato, a 15-year-old who races for Energy Standard, put up a time of 28.81 to tie Ruta Meilutyte‘s European Record set back at the 2014 Short Course World Championships in Doha. Pilato also takes out her own Italian and world junior records of 28.86 set in her last appearance in Semi-final 1, and ties with Meilutyte for the fifth-fastest performance ever.

Atkinson, who competes for the London Roar, took third in a time of 28.88, which registers as the 10th-fastest swim of all-time.

Five of the 10-fastest swims ever have come during the 2020 ISL season.

Fastest Performances of All-Time, Women’s 50 Breaststroke (SCM)

Despite Jessica Hardy having been faster than King’s old American Record of 28.86 in 2009, Hardy’s swim wasn’t officially recognized as an AR. This was because USA Swimming stopped recognizing national records officially over the final few months of 2009 due to the super-suits. The only exception was if the swim was a world record, such as Rebecca Soni‘s 2:14.57 in the 200 breast.