Australian James Magnussen who leads the world in the 100 freestyle this year having posted a time of 47.53 in April, showed that he is right on track to put in a great performance in Barcelona, winning the event at the French Open in a time of 47.67. Magnussen who had a tremendous morning swim, recording a time of 48.05 has now posted four of the top five times in the world this year.
47.53 – April 29th – Adelaide
47.67 – Today
Vladimir Morozov – 47.93 – April 16 – Kazan
47.97 – April 30th – Adelaide
48.05 – Today in prelims
The Olympic silver medalist had a stronger second 50 meters in Vichy val d’Allier than he did when posted his season’s best:
47.53 – 22.80/24.73
47.67 – 23.11/24.56
Magnussen was the first of three Aussies to land on the podium. Daniel Tranter finished second in a time of 49.77 followed by Matthew Abood who recorded a time of 49.82.
In the first A final of the night Kiwi Lauren Boyle took the 800 freestyle posting the third fastest time in the world winning the event 8:23.08. Boyle’s time was just off her own national record of 8:22.72, which was good enough for fourth place in London last year:
Boyle’s splits in the win: 2:06.50/4:12.59 (2:06.09)/6:18.17 (2:07.58)/8:23.08 (2:04.91)
German Sarah Kohler finished second, well behind Boyle, in a time of 8:35.99. She was followed by Australian Jessica Ashwood who recorded a time of 8:37.41.
Cesar Cielo took the first dash of the competition winning the men’s 50 butterfly in a time of 23.15, which is a season’s best by one one-hundredth of a second and is the sixth fastest time in the world this year. The man who sits just ahead of him in the world rankings, Florent Manaudou finished second in a time of 23.61.
Russian Evgeny Korotyshkin finished third in a time of 23.74.
Camille Muffat destroyed the field in the women’s 200 freestyle winning the event in a time of 1:56.45. Muffat who is on top of the world rankings having posted a time of 1:55.48 has swum four of the fastest times in the world this year:
Camille Muffat, 3-time 2012 Olympic medalist
1:55.48 – Rennes – April 14th
1:55.69 – Rennes – April 13th
1:56.00 – Monte-Carlo – June 8th
1:56.01 – Rome – June 15th
The only swimmer to interrupt her streak of top times is American Missy Franklin who posted a time of 1:55.56 at the US World Championship Trials.
Muffat’s French teammate Charlotte Bonnet finished second in a time of 1:58.65. She was followed Lauren Boyle who finished third in a time of 1:58.77. Boyle returned to the podium only moments after winning the 800 freestyle.
South African Giulio Zorzi won the men’s 50 breaststroke in a time of 27.66. He was followed by Irishman Barry Murphy who finished in a time of 27.88 and Giacomo Perez Dortona of France who posted a time of 27.90.
Germany went one, two, three in the women’s 100 breaststroke. Caroline Ruhnau won the event in a time of 1:09.15 followed by Vanessa Grimberg who recorded a time of 1:09.59. Julia Wilkers finished third in a time of 1:11.20.
German Jacob Heidtman had an easy win in the men’s 400 IM out swimming his fellow countryman Kevin Wedel by over five seconds. Heidtman won the event in a time of 4:19.34, while Wedel finished in a time of 4:24.71. Nathan Capp of New Zealand finished third in a time of 4:25.80.
Inge Dekker of the Netherlands won the 100 butterfly in a time of 58.89. That time is a season’s best for Dekker who posted a 59.46 in early June. Slovak Katarina Listopadova finished second in a time of 59.18, followed by Alexandra Wenk who recorded a time of 1:00.05.
Jeremy Stravius took the men’s 100 backstroke in a time of 54.11, which is well off his season’s best and world leading time of 54.11. He was followed by Gareth Kean of New Zealand who finished second in a time of 54.86, with Stravius’s fellow countryman from France Camille Lacourt who posted a time of 55.26.
At the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai Stravius and Lacourt tied for the win in a time of 52.76.
Spaniard Duane Da Rocha Marce won the women’s 50 backstroke in a time of 29.13. She was followed by Cloe Credeville of France who recorded a time of 29.40 and German Johann Roas who finished in a time of 29.54.
Hungarian Laszlo Cseh took the men’s 200 butterfly in a time of 1:57.07, which is off his season’s best of 1:56.35 that he recorded at the Hungarian Nationals last weekend. He was followed by Italian Matteo Pelizzari who posted a time of 1:58.38 and Frenchman Jordan Coelho who finished in a time of 1:58.60.
Fatine Lesaffre of France won the women’s 200 IM in a time of 2:16.95. Canadian Alexa Komarnycky finished second posting a time of 2:17.19, with Israeli Amit Ivry finishing third in a time of 2:17.47.
Canadian Ryan Cochrane, the Olympic silver medalist in the 1500 freestyle, won the men’s 400 freestyle in a time of 3:49.67. Cochrane whose season’s best is 3:47.08 and has a lifetime best of 3:44.85 put together a very solid swim splitting:
Ryan Cochrane, Swimming Canada (Photo Credit: Tim Binning, theswimpictures)
56.43/154.55 (58.12)/2:52.82 (58.27)/3:49.67 (56.85)
He was followed by Matthew Stanley of New Zealand who finished in a time of 3:51.39 and Damien Joly who recorded a time of 3:53.03.
German Britta Steffan took the women’s 50 freestyle in a season’s best time of 24.77, which is also good enough to rank eighth in the world. She was followed by fellow German Dorothea Brandt who posted a time of 24.80, which is currently ranked ninth in the world.
After winning the 100 butterfly Inge Dekker finished third in a time of 25.45.
Marco Koch of Germany won the men’s 200 breaststroke easily in a time of 2:09.40, which is a season’s best and the seventh ranking time in the world this year. He was followed by Tomas Klobucnik of Slovakia who recorded a time of 2:13.40 and Christian Vom Lehn of Germany who finished in a time of 2:13.97.
German Lisa Graf took the women’s 200 backstroke in a time of 2:11.74 just ahead of Canadian Hilary Calwell who finished second in a time of 2:11.86. Duane Da Rocha Marce, who won the 50 backstroke earlier in the evening finished third in a time of 2:13.22.
Full results can be found here
There’s a picture of Magnussen from the French Open over on the SwimVortex site:
http://www.swimvortex.com/magnussen-the-missile-cuts-a-three-diamonds-deal/
Holy smokes! The dude is HUGE! He is definitely much bigger than he was in 2011 and, to my eyes, he looks bigger than he did in London.
Interesting article, too. Talking about his deal with Arena, the fallout in Oz from London and his preparation for Rio.
Anyone has 100 free video?
The only one i found was 50 fly:
http://bandsports.band.uol.com.br/noticia.asp?id=100000612010
No, I have scoured youtube, and it has not been placed there.
Nothing for the moment! It’s desperate! It’s pathetic! Shame on the French swimming federation!
Of course Eurosport doesn’t have to share their assets freely across the globe but I just wonder wouldn’t it be a good way to attract people and market your main product if you uploaded such a thriller on your website?
If Magnussen was 0.02s faster in London than he was, he would go into Barcelona as the clear favorite. Objectively, that 0.01 difference is an imperceptible different, and Nathan could just as easily have been 0.01 faster as that much slower. However, in light of this performance, Magnussen has been much stronger this season, and as we know from last year, he has world record potential. His assets have improved from last year as he is already markedly faster in the 50 and I see no reason why he couldn’t improve upon his personal best.
Also, isn’t this the fastest inseason nonchampionship swim in history?
Just like the 47.1 leading up to London 2012, what you swim in season is important, but what really matters is what you swim on the big stage. I felt bad for Magnussen at the Olympics because of what was expected of him. He performed well and as John26 said could have very well won the Gold and lost by the slimmest of margins. Swimming for Australia has it’s own set of expectations given their great history and I’m really rooting for him this time around. Being an American I would of course like to see Adrian win, but if he took second to the missile I would definitely be happy for James.
Very true.
Magnussen faced enormous pressure and exposure pre and during the olympics from the Australian media and public, something which is not experienced by any american swimmer.
And Australian media are extremely personal also when it comes criticizing their swim stars (witness their treatment towards Leisel Jones last year).
In a way, swimmers like Adrian are lucky that they don’t have to deal with those kind of unnecessary pressure.
With Magnussen I believe he is the favorite in the 100m in Barcelona, but I’m a bit skeptical based on his past performances on the big stage.
He definitely should be the favorite – had last year’s best time and has been swimming the fastest this year. Though if he’s 47.mid or slower at WC then we might be able to start talking about poor performances at big meets.
Last year he placed unnecessarily huge pressure on himself before the olympics and his (and his teammates) antics during the camp and in London.
But to be able to comeback after that horrendous relay swim and crushed expectation and got silver and only 0.01 second behind showed some strength, methinks.
2011 Shanghai was also a big stage, no? he delivered in the 100 free final after setting textile WR in the relay.
2011 Shanghai was huge, but he wasn’t the favorite there like he was at the Olympics. He wasn’t expected to break the WR and win Gold. It may be that he has grown from the Olympic experience and can better handle those expectations, but in 3 weeks we will know:)
It’s the same with Adrian, then.
There was no pressure whatsoever for Adtrian in the Olympics, but now he is the olympic champion in the event, the pressure is on him, and we’ll see how he performs in Barcelona.
I saw the meeting in HDTV.Magnussen leg kicks is AWESOME.Very,very powerful kicks.Seeing from above is impressive.
Despite his near half-second win, i wasnt impressed with Cielo time.I was expecting 22.8/22.9…his start looks better, but he is not doing his best in a matter of kicks.
Agnel swimming 200 free in Barcelona will be good!
Where did you find the race? I want to see the mens 100 free the most.
I saw the live coverage in a cable channel called SportvHD.
BREAKING NEWS!!!! Nothing official so far but Lionel Horter, the French swimming director, will probably announce next week Yannick Agnel will swim the 200 free in Barcelona! I believe I will update my picks very quickly!
I said that a few days ago. You are late! ha!
He will garner my respect if he does, I hope your’re right.
the 4 gold count will diminish to 3 gold to sun now.. and Locthe is getting farther and farther of podium with this..
I’m no fan of Lochte’s, but if Agnel comes back then both he and Sun will certainly beat Ryan. I don’t think Lochte will dip under 1:45 and I think a low 1:44 or high 1:43 will be required to win if Sun and Agnel are in the race.
I will be extremely surprised if Lochte goes sub 1:45
You are no fan of Lochte’s, and your name is Nolochtefan. Thanks, Captain Obvious.
JOSH…point taken…I am taking it a bit to far with the NoLocheFan:)
Hope to see Agnel go 1:42..
No way he swims 1.42 this year! He has had so many stops in his training since last March. If he swims 1.44 low it will be very good and enough to win the race.
I agree with Bobo.
No way Agnel go 1:42 in Barcelona. Next year, yes, but not this year.
Give Agnel a solid year or two of training with Bowman and maybe he’ll get that 1:42, but if he’s taken off all the training time that’s been reported then 1:42 is going to be very difficult for him.
I agree.
That’s why I said that Agnel may swim 1:42 next year.
Agnel will need a 1:44 low to win.. based on the beginning of the year I think sun will go 1:44 mid.. or even low.. he won´t go 14:30 this year.. but will go 1:44 low even 1:43 high and 3:39 I think.. some focus shift
Oh this is great news.
Still don’t understand why Agnel threatened not to swim individual events.
Still not official but the director was very happy after his trip to USA when he has met Mr Agnel. Here’s an article in French.
http://www.lequipe.fr/Natation/Actualites/Horter-yannick-agnel-a-envie-de-nager/383984
Thanks!
Agnel seems to be doing well in Baltimore. This is good news for the french.
Oh, there was also a mixed relay. Two German teams but no French – weird. Lauren Boyle anchored New Zealand’s team in a time of 58.22. She must have taken it easily.
Bobo, will French Natation upload the videos to youtube?
I believe the best hope is eurosport itself if they upload some of the races on the swimming section of their website. Check the French Eurosport:
http://video.eurosport.fr/natation/
For me some are visible but the rest are blocked. For example a thriller, Men’s 200m free at the French Nationals, is not blocked.
Nothing on the eurosport website so far!
No chance! French meets are on eurosport! You must pay for that! No live webcast! No official videos on youtube! USA swimming is very very very nice in comparison.
Mare nostrum meets are on sport plus and it’s also a satellite channel.
Bobo, I think you need to tell French natation to upload the videos to youtube, just like you did when complaining about grand prix series.
I’m not even sure they know what youtube is! Seriously, the TV channel has the rights and the French federation is very happy with that. It’s cool! We can’t watch the race again on the web!
all swimming federations should follow the example set by USA Swimming, and set up youtube account and post events/race videos there!