2015 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Pool swimming: Sunday, August 2nd – Sunday, August 9th
- Prelims 9:30AM/Finals 5:30PM (Local Time)
- Prelims 2:30AM EST / Finals 10:30am EST
- Kazan Arena Stadium
- Kazan, Russia (UTC+3 hours)
- Full coverage
- All sport medal tables
- Live stream (Universal Sports)
- Schedule and Results
MEN’S 100M FREESTYLE – Semi-finals
- 2013 World Champion: James Magnussen, AUS – 47.73
- World Record: 46.91 – Cesar Cielo, BRA – 2009
- Championship Record: 46.91 – Cesar Cielo, BRA – 2009
Australia’s Cameron McEvoy found his stride in the first semi-final heat of the men’s 100 freestyle, earning the top seed with his time of 47.94. McEvoy was the only swimmer to break 48 seconds, but that doesn’t mean the field was far behind.
Ning Zetao of China finished second with a time of 48.13, just ahead of Argentina’s Federico Grabich at 48.20.
The rest of the top 8 was very tight with fourth through eighth all finishing under 48.49.
Pieters Timmers of Belgium finished fourth, just ahead of Nathan Adrian of the United States. Adrian was supposed to swim in the finals of the 4×100 freestyle relay earlier in the week, but never had a chance to swim. He is fifth at 48.36.
Also joining them in the final will be Marcelo Chierighini (BRA), Alexandr Sukhorukov (RUS), and Santo Condorelli (CAN).
WOMEN’S 50M BACKSTROKE – Semi-finals
- 2013 World Champion: Zhao Jing, CHN – 27.29
- World Record: 27.06 – Zhao Jing, CHN – 2009
- Championship Record: 27.06 – Zhao Jing, CHN – 2009
It was almost a World Record for Fu Yuanhui of China, claiming the top seed in the women’s 50 backstroke with her time of 27.18. She finished just ahead of the Brazilian sprinter Etiene Medeiros who qualified second at 27.41.
Mie Nielsen, the bronze medalist in the 100 backstroke from Denmark, had the third fastest time in the semi-final with a 27.67.
Almost the entire final finished under 28 seconds to qualify. Liu Xiang was fourth at 27.67, finishing just ahead of the 100 backstroke Gold medalist, Emily Seebohm, at 27.70.
MEN’S 200M BUTTERFLY – FINALS
- 2013 World Champion: Chad le Clos, RSA – 1:54.32
- World Record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps, USA – 2009
- Championship Record: 1:51.51 – Michael Phelps, USA – 2009
GOLD: Laszlo Cseh, HUN – 1:53.48
SILVER: Chad Le Clos, RSA – 1:53.68
BRONZE: Jan Switkowski, POL – 1:54.10
Laszlo Cseh held of Chad Le Clos to win the men’s 200 butterfly by .20 seconds. Cseh touched the wall at 1:53.48 ahead of Le Clos’ 1:53.68. The Bronze medal went to Jan Switkowski of Poland with a 1:54.10.
Masato Sakai of Japan just missed the podium with his time of 1:54.24. Viktor Bromer (DEN) was the final swimmer under 1:55, finishing fifth.
Daiya Seto and Louis Croenen finished sixth and seventh at 1:55’s, while American Tom Shields finished eighth at 1:56.17.
WOMEN’S 200M FREESTYLE – FINALS
- 2013 World Champion: Missy Franklin, USA – 1:54.81
- World Record: 1:52.98 – Federica Pellegrini, ITA – 2009
- Championship Record: 1:52.98 – Federica Pellegrini, ITA – 2009
GOLD: Katie Ledecky, USA – 1:55.16
SILVER: Federica Pellegrini, ITA – 1:55.32
BRONZE: Missy Franklin, USA – 1:55.49
Katie Ledecky continues to impress every time she dives in the water. Ledecky hammered through the second half of her 200 freestyle to pull out the win and take home another gold medal. She touched the wall first with a time of 1:55.16, finishing just ahead of the silver medalist and world record holder, Federica Pellegrini. Pellegrini touched second with a 1:55.32. The 2013 World Champion, Missy Franklin, earned the bronze medal with her time of 1:55.49.
The entire podium finished under 1:56, while the rest of the field remained above the barrier. Russia’s Veronika Popova just missed the podium, finishing in fourth at 1:56.16.
Katinka Hosszu (HUN), Shen Duo (CHN), Emma McKeon (AUS), and Femke Heemskerk (NED) all finished fifth through eighth, respectively, with 1:56’s.
MEN’S 50M BREASTSTROKE – FINALS
- 2013 World Champion: Cameron Van Der Burgh, RSA – 26.77
- World Record: 26.42 – Adam Peaty, GBR – 2015
- Championship Record: 26.42 – Adam Peaty, GBR – 2015
GOLD: Adam Peaty, GBR – 26.51
SILVER: Cameron Van Der Burgh, RSA – 26.66
BRONZE: Kevin Cordes, USA – 26.86
Adam Peaty continues to push the boundaries of reaction time with a legal .57 off the blocks en route to a 26.51 in the men’s 50 breaststroke final.
While the swim didn’t break his semi-finals World Record of 26.42, it is the second-fastest swim in history. This is the same pattern we saw from him at last year’s European Championships, his big break-through, where he broke the record in the semi’s, then back-slid on time, but still won gold, in the finals.
The swim beat out South African and defending champion Cameron van der Burgh (26.66) for the victory.
American Kevin Cordes earned bronze with a 26.86, which is a tenth slower than his American Record swim in the semi-finals. In eight editions of the 50 breaststroke at the World Championships, since 2001, the Americans have now won four minor medals, but not a single gold.
With two of the three defending medalists (Rickard and Zorzi were the others beside van der Burgh) not participating, this final was a reset of the global sprint breaststroke field, with the young Peaty at the top. The rest of the A-final, though, was mostly by chalk. Brazil’s Felipe Franca palced 4th in 26.87 He’s the 2011 champ), and then there was a big drop-off to Damir Dugonjic and Giedrius Titenis, who tied for 5th in 27.23.
New Zealand’s Glenn Snyders (27.36) and Serbia’s Caba Siladi (27.45) took 8th.
WOMEN’S 200M BUTTERFLY – Semi-finals
- 2013 World Champion: Liu Zige, CHN – 2:04.59
- World Record: 2:01.81 – Liu Zige, CHN – 2009
- Championship Record: 2:03.41 – Jessicah Schipper, AUS – 2009
Natsumi Hoshi of Japan put up a big 2:06.36 to earn the top seed heading into finals of the women’s 200 butterfly. She pulled away from the field with Franziska Hentke of Germany, who was the only other qualifier to finish under 2:07.
The second semi-final heat was much faster that the first with the top four swimmers from heat two qualifying first through fourth tomorrow. Lillian Szilagyi of Hungary qualified third at 2:07.05 and Yufei Zhang is fourth at 2:07.08.
This morning during the prelims session, Zhang broke the Jr World Record with her time of 2:06.92.
Katie McLaughlin and Cammile Adams faired will in the first semi-final heat, finishing first and second at 2:07.52 and 2:07.57, respectively. Brianna Throssell of Australia also tied Adams for sixth at 2:07.57.
China’s Zhou Yilin earned the final spot in finals with her time of 2:07.69.
MEN’S 200M IM – Semi-finals
- 2013 World Champion: Ryan Lochte, USA – 1:54.98
- World Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte, USA – 2011
- Championship Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte, USA – 2011
American Ryan Lochte earned the top seed in the men’s 200 IM with a 1:56.91 during the semi-final heats. He was the only swimmer under 1:57, but he’s not in the clear yet. Wang Shun of China qualified second with a 1:57.07 and Thiago Pereira touched third at 1:57.33.
Dan Wallace broke the Scottish record en route to qualifying in fourth with a time of 1:57.77.
Simon Sjodin (SWE), Marcin Cieslak (POL), and Henrique Rodrigues (BRA) all secured their spots with 1:58’s, but Conor Dwyer (USA) and Roberto Pavoni (GBR) can’t relay yet.
Dwyer and Pavoni both tied at 1:58.54 during the first semi-final heat, and now are tied for eighth. A swim-off will be required to determine who will advance to the final.
Men’s 800m Freestyle – FINALS
- 2013 World Champion: Sun Yang, CHN – 7:41.36
- World Record: 7:32.12 – Zhang Lin, CHN – 2009
- Championship Record: 7:32.12 – Zhang Lin, CHN – 2009
GOLD: Sun Yang, CHN – 7:39.96
SILVER: Gregorio Paltrinieri, ITA – 7:40.81
BRONZE: Mack Horton, AUS – 7:44.02
Sun Yang was the only swimmer in the field to break 7:40, winning the Gold medal. Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy earned his spot in the history books, breaking the European record to win the silver medal with his time of 7:40.81.
Mack Horton and Connor Jaeger were in a dead-locked race for the bronze medal, but it was Horton that got his hand on the wall first for third place, touching with a time of 7:44.02. Jaeger finished fourth with his time of 7:44.51, just missing the podium.
Henrik Christiansen of Norway and Wojciech Wojdak of Poland finished together in fifth and sixth with 7:45’s.
Stephen Milne of Great Britain finished seventh at 7:49.86 and Michael McBroom topped of the final with his time of 7:55.30.
MIXED 4×100 Medley Relay – FINALS
- 2013 World Champion: N/A
- World Record:
3:42.33 – United States – 2015 - Championship Record:
3:42.33 – United States – 2015
GOLD: Great Britain – 3:41.71 WR
SILVER: United States – 3:43.27
BRONZE: Germany – 3:44.13
The British team of Chris Walker-Hebborn, Adam Peaty, Siobhan Marie O’Connor, and Francesca Halsall combined to win the first ever mixed medley relay world title, breaking the world record with their time of 3:41.71.
Splits:
- Walker-Hebborn – 52.94
- Peaty – 57.98
- O’Connor – 57.02
- Halsall – 53.77
Every relay team lead off their two male swimmers and let the female swimmers swim butterfly and freestyle except for Russia. Russia led off with Anastasiia Fesikova and Yuliya Efimova, which let Vlad Morozov finish the relay as the anchor. The strategy didn’t work as well as they had hoped, however. The Russian’s missed the podium by .70 despite Morozov’s 47.29 split.
The United States were a second slower than there time from prelims this morning, but even if they had repeated their time, they still would have finished in the same position.
Finishing order:
- Great Britain – 3:41.71
- United States – 3:43.27
- Germany – 3:44.13
- China – 3:44.65
- Russia – 3:44.83
- Italy – 3:45.59
- Canada – 3:46.23
- Hungary – 3:50.06
Dwyer Vs. Pavoni – 200 IM Swim-off
American Conor Dwyer won a tight swim off to earn the eighth spot in the final of the men’s 200 IM. He topped Roberto Pavoni (GBR) with a time of 1:58.18 to Pavoni’s 1:58.26.
Dwyer gained an early lead after the butterfly and backstroke, but Pavoni started creeping back up on the breaststroke leg. Pavoni nearly ran down Dwyer in the final 50 but ran out of room before Dwyer beat him to the wall.
Splits:
- Dwyer
- 25.27
- 29.61
- 34.67
- 28.63
- Pavoni
- 25.81
- 30.28
- 33.75
- 28.42
Also, I’m not sure where everyone got this impression, but I’m reading from multiple posters/articles that Morozov was favored in the 100m free coming in this meet. Not sure where everyone got this impression, as he wasn’t all that impressive last year and didnt come in with the times he did in 2013. He was at best, a strong contender for the podium and a gold contender.
No one mentioned how long Cseh glided into each wall. He definitely has a 1:52 in him.
Looking at the potential gold medals going forwards- Australia may regret not fielding a team in the mixed medley today as it would’ve been an easy gold for them with Campbell taking 2 seconds off what GB did today at the end.
A number of very good reasons
1. Non-Olympic event therefore lesser priority
2. A number of key swimmers who would notionally have been part of said line-up still have major events to come
3. Poor form of so many AUS 2nd stringers at this meet would’ve meant the likes of Larkin & McKeon swimming both heats & finals (also taking into account point 2)
In some countries the laws are that men and women cant swim together to get national records. So maybe the same thinking here
It’ll be US, AUS and GB on the podium IMO
Who on earth is the favorite for the 4x200m for men’s?
USA, Aus and Japan have all established major holes in their line up. A 7:04 looks like it could win.
i think it will be USA to win. Dwyer and Lochte look like the best 1-2 punch for 200 free at this worlds ( not saying much). After that Jaeger
Quotes of several US swimmers on the USA swimming website
Katie Ledecky surprised that her time was enough to win.
And Missy says she has no speed right now and looks very motivated for next year.
Article here
http://www.usaswimming.org/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=0&itemid=9056&mid=14491
I’m watching all sessions of finals on France 2 every day, the public French TV channel, and I can tell you that Philippe Lucas as consultant, that’s something! 😆
He doesn’t have his tongue in his pocket and jokes very often but what a pleasure to hear someone who knows so well the world of swimming.
I’m definitely a fan.
They have also hired Laure Manaudou in the team. I know that many French people don’t like her presence but I find her very natural and very cool behind the micro. The team she makes with Lucas works very well; They have such a strong relation.
By the way, talking about French TV, and I would like to… Read more »
Yes, the US swimmers would rather talk to the likes of NBC who make them do morning finals (Beijing) or midnight finals (Rio)….. crazy!
Bobo, why do so many French not like Laure?
Most of French people, unfortunately, hate the winners!
They do talk to British tv, well BBC anyway but I haven’t seen them this time, but that could be because we actually have our own swimmers to speak to for once lol.
Lochte, Franklin, Ledecky etc. gave interview for Eurosport. What I know about Finnish and Swedish TVs, they tend to get those interviews from multiple nationals as well. At least after someone has medalled. Of course speaking multiple languages help, I can tell you Bobo that it’s easier to stop French swimmer if you can politely ask it in French.
If French TV has experienced problems with getting interviews, one explaining factor may well be, what you already mentioned yourself, the physical place of your booth in media area in relation to others. Let’s say, If the French booth comes first and, If an American swimmer has to or feel compelled to give interview first for American media, he/she probably… Read more »
Laure Manaudou and Phillippe Lucas may be icons in swimming but they are terrible commentators; I watch live on France2 as well and they seem somewhat shy and too calm, not getting excited about anything, not even for Florent Manaudou or Camille Lacourt. The journalist does all the talking, Laure frequently checks his phone and Lucas gets lost in his thoughts at times. I miss Roxanna and her hysterical voice from 2013; at least she was excited about the races. I also miss the commentators from 2011 worlds on France 2, they were the best in my opinion
Team Rwanda, I totally disagree with you.
You can remark that Lucas has a terrible relation with Boyon. He doesn’t take the guy very seriously.
Yesterday (Wednesday), Boyon didn’t comment and Lucas was again himself. Laure and Philippe are very funny and know what they talk about.
And unlike you, I don’t miss Roxana at all! Her hysterical voice was a disaster.
The problem of the coverage is that it’s almost entirely focused on French swimmers. We see irrelevant reports. Florent Manaudou Florent Manaudou Florent Manaudou Camille Lacourt Camille Lacourt Camille Lacourt It looks like they know only 2 names in swimming. They show us the same race of these 2 guys 5 or 6 times… Read more »