2017 FINA WORLD SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Sunday, July 23rd – Sunday, July 30th
- Budapest, Hungary
- LCM (50m)
- Full Competition Schedule
- Meet Info
- Psych Sheets
- Omega Results
- Pick ’em Contest
- Event-by-Event Previews
Swedish sensation Sarah Sjostrom was well under world record pace in the 100 fly final, ultimately just missing the mark in a time of 55.53. The record stands at 55.48 from the Olympic Games last August.
After shattering the 100 free record leading off Sweden’s relay last night in 51.71, the 23-year-old was back at it again on day 2. She has shown incredible form thus far at the championships, and her campaign is just getting started. Individually, Sjöström still has the 50 free, 100 free and 50 fly remaining on her schedule, and she’s the big favorite in all three.
She’s the only woman ever under 25 seconds in the 50 fly, and has done so eleven times. Her six sub-24 second 50 frees this year was groundbreaking, as she inched towards the 23.73 world record, and her 100 free world record on day 1 speaks for itself.
She now owns the eleven fastest swims in the history of the women’s 100 fly, with Dana Vollmer sitting as the 2nd fastest performer ever with her 55.98 from the 2012 Olympic Games.
This is her third straight title in the event, and her fourth overall. Along with titles in 2013 and 2015 in Barcelona and Kazan, she won the title and broken the world record at just 15 years of age in 2009.
In terms of splitting, Sjostrom had been out under world record pace at the 50m mark in both the heats and semis, so it was no surprise to see her crush the field opening up in 25.67 Check out the splits from her fastest three swims over the past three years:
- Sjostrom, 2017 World Championship Final: 25.67 / 29.86 = 55.53
- Sjostrom, 2016 Olympic Games Final: 26.01 / 29.47 = 55.48
- Sjostrom, 2015 World Championship Final: 26.17 / 29.47 = 55.64
Top 10 All-Time Swims – Women’s 100 Fly
| 1 | Sarah Sjostrom | 55.48 | 2016 Olympic Games |
| 2 | Sarah Sjostrom | 55.53 | 2017 World Championships |
| 3 | Sarah Sjostrom | 55.64 | 2015 World Championships |
| 4 | Sarah Sjostrom | 55.68 | 2016 Stockholm Open |
| 5 | Sarah Sjostrom | 55.74 | 2015 World Championships |
| 6 | Sarah Sjostrom | 55.76 | 2017 Mare Nostrum – Canet |
| 7 | Sarah Sjostrom | 55.77 | 2017 World Championships |
| 8 | Sarah Sjostrom | 55.84 | 2016 Olympic Games |
| 9 | Sarah Sjostrom | 55.89 | 2016 European Championships |
| 10 | Sarah Sjostrom | 55.95 | 2016 Swedish Nationals |
In the battle for the minor medals, Australia’s Emma McKeon lowered the Australian Record in 56.18 for silver, and American Kelsi Worrell threw down a new best time for bronze in 56.37. Olympic silver medalist Penny Oleksiak took 4th in 56.94.
So, the second fastest 100 fly in history and people are … disappointed?
Good times for all three on the podium. Maybe an event that’s about to be competitive again two years from now. Though McKeon and Worrell are less than a year younger than Sarah. Oleksiak and Ikee in the mix of course aswell going forward.
On the one hand it is a petty that she was so close to world record and hasn’t broken it. It may happen that out of potential epic four records in one meet she ends up with one only showed in leadoff leg of relay.
On the other hand we should not devalue the meaning of world record. It is something that hasn’t been achieved by anybody else in human history. It doesn’t happen casually before the morning cup of coffee.
Ledecky hasn’t broken 400 record. Hosszu was far away from so anticipated by Hungarian fans 200IM record. Give world records some lifetime. So we can fully appreciate and celebrate the moments of breaking them.
The real epic would be sweeping sprint butterfly and freestyle, I think. Breaking records you already own is not quite the same.
It’s definitely good for swimming that the records are not broken left and right anymore. Makes regular people appreciate them more and better relate to great performances.