I’m not going to lie, this World Record caught me off guard a little bit. Though, with how Rikke Moeller-Pedersen from Denmark has been swimming since the Olympics, and finally healthy, it certainly shouldn’t have.
Moeller-Pedersen took the top seed in the semi-finals of the women’s 200 breaststroke with a 2:19.11, which broke the 2:19.59 set by American Rebecca Soni at last year’s Olympics as a new World Record. This swim also broke the Championship Record of 2:20.12 set by Canadian Annamay Pierse in 2009.
Moeller-Pedersen already ranked in the top 5 of all-time with her European Record from earlier this year of 2:20.53, but she blew that swim away here.
Moeller-Pedersen’s new speed (she dipped under 1:06 in the 100 meter race earlier this week), but that’s clearly the difference maker for her. Her back-half wasn’t much different than her old personal best and certainly not faster than Soni’s back-half, but Pedersen was out very fast in this race, splitting 1:07.2 in the first 100 meters.
| Soni ’12 | Moeller-Pedersen ’13 | Moeller-Pedersen ’13 |
| Old WR | New WR | Old PB |
| 32.49 | 31.80 | 32.49 |
| 35.61 | 35.47 | 35.84 |
| 35.85 | 35.62 | 35.65 |
| 35.64 | 36.22 | 36.55 |
| 2:19.59 | 2:19.11 | 2:20.53 |
She’s the first Danish swimmer to hold a long course World Record in over 50 years.
Russia’s Yulia Efimova was a 2:19.85 for the 2nd seed, making her just the third woman to ever break 2:20.
I just realized that at the 2009 World Championships, one year after Rebecca’s gold medal and world record at the Olympics, her world record was broken. Now, one year after London, her world record is broken at the World Championships again. Hmmmm…..strange pattern. So does this mean she comes back and wins the gold AND breaks the world record in Rio 2016?
I feel back for Efimova. Two great 100/200 swims so far, only to face a new WR swim (although she might get Pederson tomorrow), and the 50 seems like it will be more of the same with Meilutyte.
Shannon Rollason seems to be making all the right move in Denmark.
Nothing is rotten there.
I expect to see a 2:18 tomorrow. She can definitely do it.
My contacts in SoCal report that they just saw Soni dive in the pool at USC. #gettingbacktowork
hahaha. I heard the same splash! Oh, it was coming from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean?
Good job Rikke, Denmark is very proud of you. Now go get a massage and a good night’s sleep and finish the job tomorrow 🙂
We all are very proud of her. Her feelings were running high so she must put this swim quicly behind and, just as you put it, have a good night’s sleep in order to be ready to face Efimova tomorrow.
Go RMP!
I love this tweet from Lotte:
So proud of roomie @Rikkemp89. NEW WORLD RECORD! Our room have now been under two WR, two European records and 4 Danish records. #roompower
https://twitter.com/lottefriis/status/363007132678897664
I hope their room has a room for another records and medals as I feel there is more to come. 🙂