Olympic bronze medallist Noé Ponti and Chad Le Clos produced their second tight tussle in as many days in the 100 fly in the race of day two at the Mare Nostrum in Monaco.
Sarah Sjostrom went top of the 50 free rankings in 24.08 with Bruno Fratus going third in the men’s equivalent in 21.49, outstripped only by Caeleb Dressel (21.29) and Michael Andrew.
Ponti reached halfway in 24.01 – 0.04 ahead of the two-time Olympic silver medallist – and came home in 27.75 to Le Clos’ 27.74 with the Swiss touching in 51.76 to claim his second title of the meet.
Le Clos clocked 51.79 with Szebastian Szabo third in 52.33.
Sarah Sjostrom: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala, Deepbluemedia
Olympic silver medallist Arno Kamminga added the 100br to the 200 he won on Saturday in 59.10 with Michael Andrew the only other swimmer inside a minute in 59.97.
Lydia Jacoby traded the lead with Lisa Mamie before a 37.11 final 50 propelled her into the wall first in 2:25.98.
Sophie Hansson also overhauled the Swiss to take second in 2:26.47 with Mamie rounding out the podium in 2:27.31.
Matt Sates enjoyed a golden double to finish with four golds from as many races.
The South African – who won the 400 free and 200IM on Saturday – took the 400IM in the opening final of the evening.
Sates had a handsome lead after the fly although Max Litchfield and Hubert Kos both made inroads on the backstroke.
The teenager pulled away again on the breaststroke and further extended his lead on the free to stop the clock at 4:12.74.
Litchfield was second in 4:17.43, one place ahead of Kos (4:18.43).
Sates then returned to take the 200 free, overhauling Fernando Scheffer with a last 50 of 26.81 to touch in 1:46.69 and claim his fourth gold.
The Brazilian was second in 1:47.48 and Kregor Zirk third in 1:48.24.
Pieter Coetze went past Yohann Ndoye Brouard on the final 50 to take the 200 back in 1:58.71 with the Frenchman clocking 1:58.91 in second.
Matt Sates: Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Zsuzsanna Jakabos overhauled fellow Hungarian Dalma Sebestyen with a final 50 of 33.31 to claim the 200 fly in 2:08.88 to 2:08.97.
Marrit Steenbergen moved from second to first with a 30.84 final 50 to win the 200IM in 2:12.22 with Maria Ugolkova second in 2:12.55.
Tessa Giele won the 100 free in 54.57, Ajna Kesely took the 400 free in 4:11.79 with Ingrid Wilm first in the 100 back in 59.73, the only woman inside a minute.
Skins Races
Skins events are a series of knockout races which conclude with two swimmers going head to head.
Men’s 50 fly: Nicholas Santos won with a time of 22.83 to Michael Andrew’s 23.14.
Women’s 50 fly: Sarah Sjostrom won in 25.26 – a time only she has bettered this year – to Farida Osman’s 25.87
Men’s 50 back: Pieter Coetze and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard produced a repeat of the 200 back result with the South African winning in 24.81 to the Frenchman 24.96.
Women’s 50 back: Ingrid Wilm won out in 27.63 to Mimosa Jallow’s 27.88
Men’s 50 breaststroke: Joao Gomes Junior came out on top in 27.10 with Arno Kamminga clocking 27.19
Women’s 50 breaststroke: Lara van Niekerk set a meet record of 29.90 with Sophie Hansson some way distant in 30.93
Men’s 50 free: Bruno Fratus went third in the 2022 rankings in 21.49 with Thom de Boer going 21.70.
Women’s 50 free: Sjostrom returned to take her second skins win in 24.08 to go top of the rankings with the Swede owning the three swiftest efforts this year. Geertruida Van Roon clocked 24.90.
Well done Lara, Matt, Pieter, Chad & the entire SA swimming team. Your terrific achievements, have humbled me as a South African today. Where’s Tatjana?