World Swimming ChampionshipsLeon Marchand and Ariarne Titmuss won the world title in a world record on the opening day of the World Long Course Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. A third world record was set for the Australian women’s relay team.
Frenchman Marchand was the best ever in the 400-meter individual medley and swam in Michael Phelps’ record time since 2008 with a time of 4:02.50 minutes. The American Carson Foster (4:06.56) and Japan’s Daya Seita (4:09.41) rose to the podium. “That was crazy,” Marchand said. “I’ve never been in so much pain. Time is weird.”
Titmus did it in the 400 freestyle. The Australian took gold in 3.55.38 minutes. She clearly pointed out America’s Katie Ledecky (3.58.73) and New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather (3.59.59). Summer McIntosh, the only 16-year-old world record holder from Canada, finished fourth in this high-quality final with 3.59.94.
1st individual final place in Steenbergen
Marit Steenbergen achieved her first ever individual final position at the World Long Course Championships. She will swim the final of the 200-meter individual medley on Monday. Her time of 2.09.30 was the third fastest on Sunday, putting her on course for a medal. Since this year, Steenbergen is the Dutch record holder for this mark with a time of 2:09.16. At least three swimmers were eliminated in the first semi-final. Along with Kylie McKeown, Katie Shanahan and Sarah Franceschi, three competitors were eliminated from the results. “That’s helpful. But I’m basically going to go swimming and see what happens,” Steenbergen says.
The only final with Dutch participation was the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle race. Kim Busch, Sam Van Nunen, Milo van Wijk and Steenbergen ran a 3.35.41 and sixth place. There was no match for Australia in the final. Molly O’Callaghan, Sheena Jack, Meg Harris and Emma McKeown set the world record with a time of 3.27.96. The fastest time of the day belonged to Jack, of Steenbergen who was never faster than 51.84 from a flying start. Bosch: “We are a fairly young team with a couple of new players. I think we can be satisfied with this.”
Kammenga to the final
Arnaud Kamminga returns on Monday to compete in the 100-meter breaststroke final. The world championship runner-up a year ago won the semifinal on Sunday in a time of 59.08 seconds, the fifth-fastest time overall. Earlier today it reached 58.71. With 57.82, Haiyang Chen dipped below 58 for the first time, and the Chinese placed himself emphatically in pole position for the world title with an Asian record. “I’m the first to finish in the semi-final. That’s good, because everything is close together. I’ll give everything I can in the final and I want to swim a good race and then we’ll see,” Kammenga said.
Nils Korstanje did not qualify for the final in the 50m butterfly. His semifinal time of 23.23 was slower than the 23.19 with which he qualified eighth. Korstanje finished twelfth.
The first world title in a Fukuoka pool went to Samuel Short in the 400-meter freestyle. The 19-year-old Australian beat Olympic champion Ahmed Hafnawi of Tunisia on the final course: 3:40.68 in 3:40.70 minutes. This second time is an African record. Bronze went to German Lucas Martins (3.42.20).
The fourth Australian gold came in the men’s 4 x 100 meters freestyle, with a time of 3.10.16.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.
