The 2021 FINA World Cup continued on Friday at the Duna Arena, Budapest in front of a vocal crowd as spectators returned to swimming once more.
Kyle Chalmers was just 0.04secs off Matthew Abood’s Australian 100 free record in 45.50, Matthew Sates claimed his third title of the Budapest meet with victory in the 200 IM and Tom Shields obliterated the 200 fly.
Madi Wilson – on the road to health following Covid-19 – won the 200 free with Emma McKeon continuing her medal-laden 2021 in the 50 fly.
The session was followed by a tribute to Laszlo Cseh who retired following Tokyo 2020 after a career that secured six medals over five Olympics.
Women’s 400 IM
Italy’s Ilaria Cusinato wont he 400 IM to start the second finals session of the FINA World Cup stop in Budapest. Cusinato touched the wall in 4:31.35.
Hungary’s Zsuzsanna Jakabos finished second in 4:32.59. Switzerland’s Maria Ugolkova took third in 4:33.51.
Men’s 1500 Freestyle
Florian Wellbrock led from start to finish to repeat his 1500 victory from the Berlin stop in 14:42.70 ahead of Akos Kalmar (14:47.16) and Felix Auboeck (14:48.13).
Men’s 50 Backstroke
Kristof Milak got a reception from the Duna Arena crowd more akin to a rock star ahead of the 50 back and he rewarded them with victory in 23.08.
There was a beaming smile and wave to the crowd, the Hungarian followed home by Zak Incerti of Australia (23.36) and fellow Hungarian Szebasztian Szabo (23.47).
Women’s 200 Free
Australia’s Madison Wilson used a 26.71 first 50 to build a lead she would never relinquish in the 200 free. She won the race in 1:53.82.
Slovenia’s Katja Fain finished second in 1:54.25 with a strong back-half of the race that saw her move from fourth to second.
USA’s Erin Gemmell finished third in 1:55.04.
Men’s 200IM
Matthew Sates was only 0.46 outside the world record after the fly but he was overhauled on the backstroke by Danys Rapsys.
A breaststroke split of 32.70 propelled the South African to the head of the field once more and he was 1.19 ahead of Yakov Toumarkin in second going into the free.
Rapsys stormed back with a free leg of 26.56 but the 18-year-old took the touch in 1:53.43 with the Lithuanian second in 1:54.11 and Toumarkin next home in 1:55.32.
Women’s 100 Back
Kira Toussaint won in 55.72 – going sub-56 especially pleasing to the Netherlands swimmer – ahead of Minna Atherton (56.58) and Linnea Mack (56.96).
Men’s 50 Breaststroke
Peter Stevens won in 26.22, edging out Arno Kamminga – who completed the breaststroke clean sweep in Berlin – with the double Olympic silver medallist coming home in 26.225.
Women’s 50 Fly
Emma McKeon went 24.97 to lead home an Australian one-two with Holly Barratt (25.09). Maaike de Waard was third in 25.27.
Men’s 100 Free
Chalmers was just 0.08 off the WR at halfway and charged home in 45.50, only 0.04 outside Abood’s Australian record of 45.46 set at the Singapore World Cup meet in November 2009.
Splits: 21.80/23.70.
Vlad Morozov (46.25) and Milak – once again setting the crowd alight in 46.93 – were second and third.
Women’s 100 Breaststroke
Nika Godun claimed a clear victory in 1:04.71 ahead of Olympic champion Lydia Jacoby (1:05.40).
Cusinato took her second medal of the night following 400IM gold, the Italian clocking 1:06.34 for third.
Men’s 200 Fly
Tom Shields destroyed the field, taking hold of the race by the scruff of the neck from the start to win in 1:51.88 and add eight-length gold to his 100 title from Thursday.
Almost three seconds behind was local favourite Hubert Kos in 1:54.75, 0.07 ahead of Louis Croenen (1:54.82).
Mixed 4×50 Free Relay
Hungary dived in ahead on the final leg but Anna Moesch – who turns 16 on 17 October – overhauled Jakabos with an anchor of 24.23 to propel the USA home in 1:32.34.
Hungary took second in 1:32.44 with Sweden next home in 1:33.78.
