The 2021 FINA World Cup continued on Thursday with the first day of its stop in Budapest.
The first finals session of the stop at Duna Arena in Budapest, Hungary, will see 12 races.
Matthew Sates of South Africa broke a world junior record and won two events on the day, while Emma McKeon and Kira Toussaint also won events.
Women’s 400 Free
The first final of the night was the women’s 400 free. Germany’s Isabel Gose earned the night’s first win, touching the wall in 4:00.57 to hold off the field by more than a second to open the FINA World Cup session.
USA’s Cavan Gormsen took second in 4:01.46, followed by Australia’s Leah Neale (4:04.57) and USA’s Erin Gemmell (4:03.28).
Men’s 400 Free
It didn’t take long for South Africa’s Matthew Sates to make some more history. After earning world junior records, in the last World Cup stop, he added another one in the 400 free, winning the event in 3:37.92.
It broke the old mark of 3:38.00 set by Australia’s Thomas Neill in 2020.
Lithuania’s Danys Rapsys was second in 3:38.29, followed by Austria’s Felix Aubock (3:30.50).
Women’s 50 backstroke
Kira Toussaint of the Netherlands continued her stellar performances in 50 backstroke races. The world record holder in the event (25.60) touched the wall in 26.07 to win this World Cup race.
Australia went 2-3 with Holly Barratt (26.32) and Minna Atherton (26.36), finishing ahead of another Dutch star Maaike de Waard (26.42) and USA’s Linnea Mack (26.42).
Men’s 200 Backstroke
Hungary’s Hubert Kos won the men’s 200 backstroke, touching the wall in 1:52.79. It was enough to hold off South Africa’s Martin Binedell (1:53.12).
Israel’s Yakov Toumarkin was third in 1:53.50.
Women’s 200 Butterfly
Switzerland’s Maria Ugolkova won the 200 butterfly. She was the fastest out at the 50 and led start to finish to win in 2:06.44.
Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos took second in 2:06.52. USA’s Tess Howley was third in 2:06.67.
Men’s 100 Butterfly
USA Olympian Tom Shields held off a pair of Hungarian stars to win the 100 butterfly at the FINA World Cup stop.
Shields was out in 22.62 and came home in 26.21 to win the race in 48.83.
Hungary’s Kristof Milak was second in 49.92, ahead of compatriot Szebasztian Szabo (50.42).
Australia’s Matthew Temple was fourth in 50.77.
Women’s 200 Breaststroke
Turkey’s Viktoria Gunes made her move at the halfway point and went from third to first, hanging on for the rest of the race to win in 2:22.23.
Eszter Bekesi took the second spot in 2:23.70, followed by South Africa’s Emily Visagie (2:23.96).
Men’s 100 Breaststroke
Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands won the 100 breaststroke in 56.08 to hold off the field by a half second in a strong race.
Germany’s Fabian Schwingenschlogl was second in 56.64, followed by Lithuania’s Andrius Sidlauskas (57.71) and USA’s Zhier Fan (57.91).
Women’s 50 freestyle
Australia dominated the 50 free going 1-2-4, led by Olympic gold medalist Emma McKeon, who won the race in 23.50.
Madison Wilson finished second in 23.96 and Holly Barratt was fourth (24.04), finishing behind third-place Michelle Coleman of Sweden, who touched in 23.98.
Men’s 50 Freestyle
Australia’s Kyle Chalmers put together a strong race in the men’s 50 free, touching the wall in 20.97.
Russia’s Vladimir Morozov was second in 21.04, ahead of Jesse Puts of the Netherlands (21.11).
Hungary’s Szebasztian Szabo (21.20) and Kristof Milak (21.44).
Women’s 100 IM
Switzerland’s Maria Ugolkova won the 100 IM after being being second at the turn. She touched the wall in 58.81.
Sweden’s Michelle Coleman was first at the turn and finished second in 59.65.
Russia’s Nika Godun took third in 59.71, followed by Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos (1:00.00) and USA’s Leah Hayes (1:00.44).
Men’s 100 IM
South Africa’s Matthew Sates won his second event of the day, though this one was not a world junior record. Sates won the 100 IM in 51.77 to close the FINA World Cup Day 1.
Israel’s Yakaov Tourmarkin was second in 52.98. Slovakia’s Adam Halas was third in 53.47, followed by USA’s Blake Pieroni (53.82).
