Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. World Championships, Day 1 prelims: Zhang Yufei Sets 100 Fly Pace with 56.89 Zhang Yufei was the fastest swimmer of the women’s 100 butterfly prelims Sunday at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, but she’ll have plenty of company behind her in semifinals. Zhang was quickest in the morning at 56.89 seconds. That edged out Emma McKeon’s composed 57.05. Angelina Kohler of Germany was the third-place finisher in 57.23. Both the reigning World Champion (American Torri Huske, sixth in 57.66) and Olympic champ (Canada’s Maggie MacNeil, fifth in 57.56) made their way to finals comfortably. Gretchen Walsh was eighth to easily make semifinals. The Chinese swimmers dominated the first circle-seeded heat of three. Zhang, in her distinctive purple suit, set the pace in 57.24. Her countrywoman Wang Yichun was a half-second behind, with Walsh just .02 back but still within the leading group. Wang would land seventh in 57.72. Ai Soma rose to the occasion of the clapping from the home-nation fans to finish fourth in the heat in 58.17 and 13th overall. (One down note for the home support is Rikako Ikee missing the finals. She finished 17th in 58.61.) McKeon led the fourth heat of five, with fellow Aussie Brianna Throssell next to the wall in 57.94. That was good for ninth. One-hundredth back was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Lana Pudar in 10th. Kohler was the surprise winner of the final heat, the only one of the top swimmers close to her seed time, just .01 off. Sweden’s Louise Hansson followed in 57.49, good for fourth overall. But there were no worries for MacNeil and Huske in that heat. Marie Wattel was among the veterans to make semis, the Frenchwoman in 11th place. Katerine Savard of Canada was 16th, denying Ikee by .05.
