Budapest 2024, Day 5 Semifinals: Ruta Meilutyte Scares WR In Chase for Fourth World Title in 50 Breaststroke
On three occasions during her career, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte has stood on top of the podium in the 50-meter breaststroke at the World Short Course Championships. The chance to claim her fourth title will arrive on Sunday.
Racing in the second semifinal, Meilutyte clocked a time of 28.39 to nail down the top seed for the championship race. Not only did the performance put the veteran in position to add to her gold medals from 2012, 2014 and 2022, it scared her own world record of 28.37, which she produced for the world crown two years ago in Melbourne.
Meilutyte was one of three athletes to break the 29-second barrier in the semifinals, but her effort was nearly a half-second clear of China’s Tang Qianting, who was second-quickest into the final in 28.86. Tang, the champion in the 100 breaststroke earlier in the meet, was followed as the No. 3 seed by American Lilly King, who touched the wall in 28.99.
Men’s 50 Breaststroke
A shootout is on tap in the men’s 50 breaststroke after a tightly bunched semifinal left Kirill Prigoda as the top seed for the championship heat on Sunday. Prigoda, who is competing as a neutral athlete from Russia, sped through the second semifinal in 25.48, which was fast enough to distance him from China’s Qin Haiyang, who was timed in 25.60. Earlier in the week, Qin edged Prigoda for gold in the 100 breaststroke.
South African Chris Smith earned the third seed for the final, off a time of 25.66, which was .01 clear of Ilya Shymanovich and Turkey’s Emre Sakci. Shymanovich is racing as a neutral athlete from Belarus.
