Siobhan Haughey Fires Off 1:54.57 200 Free In Mare Nostrum Record; Anastasia Gorbenko Continues Record-Breaking Run

Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong celebrates after winning the gold medal in the 200m Freestyle Women Final during the FINA Swimming Short Course World Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Melbourne, Australia, December 18th, 2022. Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Siobhan Haughey: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Siobhan Haughey Fires Off 1:54.57 200 Free In Mare Nostrum Record; Anastasia Gorbenko Continues Record-Breaking Run

Siobhan Haughey set a Mare Nostrum record of 1:54.57 in the 200 free to clinch the freestyle double on day two in Barcelona.

Haughey returned to the pool for the penultimate race of the evening after being edged out by Michelle Coleman in the 50 free by 24.61 to 24.64.

The Hong Kong swimmer, who became world champion in February as she claimed her first global long-course title, was out in 26.99 and dominated thereafter, going through in 55.77 (28.78)/1:24.85 (29.08) before coming home in 29.72.

With that, the Olympic silver medallist lowered the record of 1:54.66 set by Camille Muffat in June 2012.

It was Haughey’s second-fastest of the 2024, 0.05 off the 1:54.52 at the TYR Swim Series in San Antonio last month, and swifter than the 1:54.89 that secured world gold.

Valentine Dumont (1:57.92) and Ainhoa Campabadal Amezcua (1:59.34) joined Haughey on the podium.

Barcelona Meet Mark For Kim; Popovici At The Double

David Popovici: Photo Courtesy: Simone Castrovillari

Kim Woomin set a Barcelona meet record in the men’s 400 free with the world champion clocking 3:44.81 to eclipse Nikita Lobintsev’s 3:44.97 set back in June 2009.

It was Kim’s third fastest of the season following his 3:42.71 en-route to gold in Doha and the 3:44.75 he posted at the Australian national championships in April.

Marco De Tullio went 3:47.73 for silver with Carlos Garach Benito third in 3:50.38.

David Popovici came from fourth at halfway to add the 100 free to the 200 title he won on the opening day where he set a Mare Nostrum record of 1:44.74 to go third in the rankings.

Hwang Sunwoo, who won silver behind the Romanian over 200, led at the 50m mark ahead of Alessandro Miressi, Katsuhiro Matsumoto and Popovici.

However, the European champion and former world record-holder moved away with a 24.88 second 50 – the only sub-25 of the field – to touch in 48.49, 0.02 ahead of Hwang (48.51) with Matsumoto third in 48.79.

Thomas Ceccon and Andrej Barna shared fourth in 48.84.

Kim Holds Off Milak; Gorbenko Continues Record-Breaking Form

Kim Minseop held off Olympic champion Kristof Milak down the final 50 to win the 200 fly.

Wang Kuan-Hung led at halfway followed by Kim and Genki Terakado with Milak back in fifth.

Kim went ahead with a third 50 of 29.69 and came home in 1:55.47 with world record-holder Milak storming through the field with a 29.70 final length to touch within 0.20 of gold in 1:55.67.

Terakado took bronze in 1:56.03.

Anastasia Gorbenko: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia

Anastasia Gorbenko continued her record-breaking run with a time of 4:36.57 in the 400IM to slice 0.38 from her previous Israeli standard of 4:36.95 set on Sunday at the Canet leg.

The 20-year-old, who won silver at the World Championships in February, led for all but the first 50m to claim her third win and national record in as many races following her 2:08.54 in the 200 back and 2:08.55 in the 200IM on Wednesday.

Mio Narita added long medley silver to 200IM bronze in 4:37.54 with Japan teammate Waka Kobori third home in 4:39.39.

Schouten Dominant; Pilato Victorious After Prelims Meet Mark

Tes Schouten dominated the women’s 200m breaststroke as she continues the fine form of 2024 that secured her gold at the Doha worlds in February.

The Netherlands swimmer led from start to finish to stop the clock at 2:22.67, her fourth-fastest of 2024 topped by the 2:19.81 en-route to the world title.

Jessica Vall Montero (2:24.60) and Martina Carraro (2:25.34) also reached the podium.

Benedetta Pilato set a Barcelona meet record of 29.89 in the 50m breaststroke prelims, 0.07 inside Ruta Meilutyte’s long-standing mark, before returning in the afternoon to take the win in 30.06.

It was the Italian’s second win in as many races following her 100 victory and there was clear water between her and Skyler Smith (30.69) and Reona Aoki (30.89) who followed her home.

Yu Hanaguruma came from fifth at the 50 to upgrade his 200m breaststroke silver to gold in the 100m as the first three men home were separated by 0.06.

Choi Dongyeol led at halfway in 28.05 followed by Olympic bronze medallist Nicolo Martinenghi (28.17) and Netherlands teammates Caspar Corbeau (28.30) and Arno Kamminga (28.32) with Hanaguruma next through in 28.63.

The Japanese though turned on the turbo with a 31.26 second 50 to move through the field for gold in 59.89 with Kamminga (59.92) and Martinenghi (59.95) – the Olympic silver and bronze medallists respectively – next home in a tight tussle.

Lee Upgrades To Gold

Kira Toussaint of The Netherlands competes in the 100m Backstroke Women Semifinal during the FINA Swimming Short Course World Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Melbourne, Australia, December 13th, 2022. Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Kira Toussaint: Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Lee Juho added 200 back gold to his silver over 100, where he was edged out by 0..01 by Michele Lamberti.

The Asian Games silver medallist was out in 26.83 and kept Hidekazu Takehara of Japan at arm’s length throughout to win in 1:56.73, 0.68 outside his Korean record of 1:56.05.

Takehara took silver in 1:57.28 with David Gerchik of Israel third on the podium in 1:59.36.

Tomoyuki Matsushita repeated the medley double he clinched in Canet with a clear victory in the 200IM.

The Japanese was the only man inside 2mins in 1:58.60 followed by Gabor Zombori (2:00.99) and Lorenzo Glessi (2:02.73).

Kira Toussaint was a clear winner in the 100 back, touching in 1:00.00, 0.76 ahead of Rio Shirai of Japan in second (1:00.76) with the Netherlands Maaike de Waard next home in 1:00.84.

Nyls Korstanje added 50 fly gold to his 100 silver in 23.29 ahead of Dylan Carter (23.36) and Szebasztian Szabo (23.38) as 0.09 separated the first three men home.

Ulises Saravia Pelaez upgraded 100 back bronze to 50 gold in 25.09 ahead of Michele Lamberti, winner over two lengths on Wednesday who clocked 25.25, and Kai van Westering (25.50).

Francisca Soares Martins of Portugal led throughout to head the 800 free in 8:40.71 despite the attention down the final 50 of Emma Vittoria Giannelli who clocked 8:41.80 with Dune Coetzee third home in 8:43.38.

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