Japan’s Rikako Ikee won her first gold medal at the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships on Saturday night in Tokyo. Ikee also won the first gold medal for Japan on the women’s side and almost became the third woman to break 56 seconds in the 100 fly. Ikee lowered her meet and Japanese record with a 56.08, just missing that 56 second barrier.
Ikee now sits on top of the world rankings after she was tied with Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom. She is now fourth all-time in the 100 fly.
Ikee had a good push from the two around her in American Kelsi Dahlia (56.44) and Australian Emma McKeon (56.54). Both Dahlia and McKeon lowered their 2018 bests, but both have been faster in their careers.
Those three were the only swimmers to break 58 seconds in the final as they were head and shoulders ahead of everyone else.
Canada’s Rebecca Smith was fourth at 58.19 and Mallory Comerford of the United States was fifth at 58.25. This means that Dahlia and Katie McLaughlin will swim this event at the World Championships next year thanks to McLaughlin’s 57.51 from Nationals. McLaughlin won the B-Final with a 57.80.
Australia’s Brianna Throssell (58.80), Japan’s Ai Soma (58.87) and Canada’s Danielle Hanus (59.19) also swam in the championship final.
2018 World Rankings:
- Rikako Ikee, JPN, 56.08
- Sarah Sjostrom, SWE, 56.23
- Kelsi Dahlia, USA, 56.44
- Emma McKeon, AUS, 56.54
- Maddie Groves, AUS, 57.19
- Svetlana Chimrova, RUS, 57.23
- Brianna Throssell, AUS, 57.30
- Elena Di Liddo, ITA, 57.38
All-Time Rankings:
- Sarah Sjostrom, SWE, 55.48 (2016)
- Dana Vollmer, USA, 55.98 (2012)
- Liu Zige, CHN, 56.07 (2009)
- Rikako Ikee, JPN, 56.08 (2018)
- Emma McKeon, AUS, 56.18 (2017)
- Jessicah Schipper, AUS, 56.23 (2009)
- Kelsi Dahlia, USA, 56.37 (2017)
- Penny Oleksiak, CAN, 56.46 (2016)
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