Hungarian swimming superstar Laszlo Cseh continued his shockingly stellar performances here at the 2015 World Championships with the first sub 51-second 100m butterfly in over three years.
Cseh took the top seed heading into tonight’s semifinals with a 50.91 performance, knocking over half-a-second off his best time.
The last time anyone broke 51-seconds in the 100m fly was at the 2012 Olympic Games when Michael Phelps swam a 50.86 in the semifinals on August 2.
The time also makes Cseh just the second swimmer behind Phelps to break 51-seconds since the 2009 World Championships in Rome. It also makes Cseh the third fastest 100m fly performer in a textile suit behind Phelps and current textile-best record holder Ian Crocker.
Not only was Cseh’s performance the best since London, it marked a gigantic improvement for him and a Hungarian national record. Cseh’s previous best time was a 51.45 from the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona. Cseh finished second there behind South African Chad Le Clos.
Cseh is the clear leader in the 100m butterfly now heading into tonight’s semifinals. His fastest competitor is second seed Tom Shields from the United States who put up a 51.09 this morning.
Cseh is already on track to put up his best showing ever at a world championships. Winning his first world title in 10-years, Cseh took home gold in the 200m fly earlier in the meet defeating Le Clos. He also took bronze in the 50m butterfly.
With the two fly medals he already achieved, a medal in the 100m fly would make him the first swimmer to ever medal in all three fly events in World Championship history.
If he’s able to win gold in the event Saturday evening, he will be the only swimmer other than Phelps to win both the 100 and 200m butterflys at the same World Championships.
CSEH IS AN ANIMAL!!! Definitely 50.6 in finals.
What was supposed to be a ‘bleh’ event looks like it will turn out to be pretty exciting!!
Shields swims a PR and gets an “also ran”? I know Shields didn’t break 51 and that was this articles focus, but that’s a best time since Trials. Great swim to both guys!
Great prelims from Shields.
Now he has to swim that in final if he wants to medal.
Finally someone breaks 51! Only took three years.. No disrespect to le Clos or Cseh, but the event has been stagnant. I miss the days of Crocker and Phelps. Or Cavic and Phelps to a lesser extent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96rJBRMM12s
Might want to check for Greg Jagenberg USA (Cali, Columbia WC) somewhere on the 1970’s. I think he was the the first to win the 100 and 200 at a world championships. At that time Jago was the man!!!
DR EVIL HAS SPOKEN!!