2020 INTERNATIONAL SWIMMING LEAGUE FINAL – DAY 2
- Saturday, November 21: 2:00PM – 4:00PM CET (8 AM – 10 AM U.S. Eastern, 10 PM – 12 AM Japan)
- Sunday, November 22: 6:00PM – 8:00PM 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 2 Start Lists
- Day 1 Full Results
- Omega Results
LA Current swimmer Tom Shields swam to a second consecutive personal best time during the ISL Grand Final, setting a new American Record in the men’s 200 butterfly in 1:48.66.
Shields’ swim takes down his previous mark of 1:49.02, set last week during the semi-finals, and moves him past Laszlo Cseh (1:49.00) to become the third-fastest man of all-time.
When he broke the national record in the semis, Shields lowered his five-year-old mark of 1:49.05 set at the 2015 Duel in the Pool.
Split Comparison
Near identical over the middle 100, Shields was better opening and closing today compared to his swim in the semis.
| Shields, Semis | Shields, Final |
| 24.65 | 24.42 |
| 27.59 (52.24) | 27.59 (52.01) |
| 28.02 (1:20.26) | 28.07 (1:20.08) |
| 28.76 (1:49.02) | 28.58 (1:48.66) |
The 29-year-old was out-touched at the finish by Energy Standard’s Chad Le Clos, who won the race in 1:48.57 for the fourth-fastest swim ever. That gives Shields the sixth-best of all-time, while Le Clos incredibly owns seven out of the top-10.
All-Time Performances, Men’s 200 Butterfly (SCM)
| Rank | Swimmer | Time | Year |
| 1 | Daiya Seto (JPN) | 1:48.24 | 2018 |
| 2 | Chad Le Clos (RSA) | 1:48.32 | 2018 |
| 3 | Chad Le Clos (RSA) | 1:48.56 | 2013 |
| 4 | Chad Le Clos (RSA) | 1:48.57 | 2020 |
| 5 | Chad Le Clos (RSA) | 1:48.61 | 2014 |
| 6 | Tom Shields (USA) | 1:48.66 | 2020 |
| 7 | Chad Le Clos (RSA) | 1:48.67 | 2017 |
| 8 | Chad Le Clos (RSA) | 1:48.76 | 2016 |
| 9 | Daiya Seto (JPN) | 1:48.77 | 2019 |
| 10 | Chad Le Clos (RSA) | 1:48.88 | 2014 |
On the opening day of the meet, Shields recorded a PB of 48.47 in the 100 fly, under his old American Record, but Caeleb Dressel took that accolade by setting the world record in 47.78. Shields also recorded the fastest 100 fly relay split in history in 48.04.
And there’s not one dislike in this whole comments section. That speaks to how loved Tom is as an athlete
Smokin’ fast, congratulations Tom. No pianos for you in the ISL, & truly hope you can translate this to LCM as well now with no pianos either. Then one possibility could be Luca & you for Tokyo for USA next year.
I really hope his ISL dominance gives him the boost he needs to crush it next summer, this was a great season of racing for Shields!
Shields has been on 🔥 all season. Hopefully this translates to LCM for him.
I bow before his greatness.
The ISL was made for Shields. Absolute underwater beast.
Amazing to see Tom at the top of his game!
So happy for him !!!