Great Britain’s Duncan Scott barely snuck into the 200 free final, but the home favorite unleashed a massive swim out of lane eight to take the title. After a slow start, Scott moved up to flip dead-even with Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys at the 150 before blasting a 26.87 closing split to hit the wall in 1:45.34. Scott’s time made him the second-fastest swimmer in the world this year.
The bigger shocker, perhaps, was Rapsys fading to second after setting the world’s fastest time earlier this year at 1:45.12 and then swimming a 1:45.33 in the semi-finals, both faster than Scott’s swim in the final. Rapsys ended up barely hanging on for a silver medal, swimming a time of 1:46.07.
Just behind Rapsys was Russia’s Mikhail Dovgalyuk, who claimed bronze in 1:46.15. 2015 World Champion James Guy of Great Britain just missed the medals, finishing fourth in 1:46.20.
Italy’s Felippo Megli took fifth in 1:46.60, and the rest of the final will include Russia’s Mikhal Vekovishchev (1:46.79), Serbia’s Velimir Stjepanovic (1:47.00) and Germany’s Jacob Heidtmann (1:47.26).
