With the 2016 European Championships underway in London this week, there was a great opportunity for European stars to make some statement swims as we head into this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio. Hungarian star Laszlo Cseh did just that, taking the opportunity to post world leading times in the 100 and 200 butterfly, the first man to take both titles since 1995.
Touching in 1:52.91, Cseh justed missed his own European record of 1:52.70 from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and marks the first time he has been under 1:53 since that meet. That time moves Cseh to number one in the world for 2016 and gives him the seventh fastest performance ever. Notably, that is the fastest 200 butterfly since full body suits were banned. Cseh’s time is also faster than what won gold in London four years ago, when Chad le Clos won in 1:52.96, touching out legend Michael Phelps in the final few meters.
While we won’t see a rested 200 butterfly from Phelps for a few more week, the Olympic legend was 1:52.94 in the 200 fly last summer at U.S. Nationals. That swim came just days after Cseh claimed gold in the event at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan with a 1:53.48, at the time the fastest time in the world for that year. While we will have to wait who will win the ultimate showdown in Rio, with this swim Cseh has set himself up to be a major contender for gold this summer.
Congratulations Laszlo Cseh on earning Swimming World’s Performance of the Week!
Cian O’Keeffe
Well deserved
Grant Wertz