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. Carson Foster booked lane four for the men’s 200 fly semi as he swam a PB 1:53.85 at the World Championships in Fukuoka. There was a Canadian record of 1:54.28 for Ilya Kharun who was third through to Wednesday’s final in which a new champion will be crowned for the first time since 2017 in the absence of Kristof Milak who won in 2019 and 2022. Foster – who won silver in the 400IM behind Leon Marchand – was the only man inside 1:54 with 0.76 separating the remaining seven qualifiers. The American went in the first semi where Noe Ponti went out fast, tracked by Foster who went ahead on the third 50 and was in control thereafter. Richard Marton of Hungary was second in 1:54.54 with Thomas Heilman, the teenager who lowered Michael Phelps’ age-group record at the US trials, coming through on the final 50 for 1:54.57. Tomoru Honda was given a rousing reception from the crowd at the Marine Messe for the second semi but it was Italian Alberto Razzetti who went through 50 and 100 ahead. But it was Marchand – propelled ahead by his underwaters – who came home in 1:54.21, the 2022 world silver medallist booking lane five alongside Foster. Kharun – who lowered his national record of 1:54.49 from March this year – was third through ahead of Krzysztof Chmielewski (1:54.36), Honda (1:54.43) and Heilman (1:54.57) with Wang Kuan-Hung taking the final spot in 1:54.97. Razzetti – the 2022 European bronze medallist – was locked out by 0.03 in ninth in 1:55.00.
World Championships, Day 3 Semifinals: Carson Foster Heads 200 Fly In 1:53; Canadian Record For Ilya Kharun
