World Championships, Day 4 Finals: Tomoru Honda Pulls Away To Win 200 Fly For First Global Gold
Tomoru Honda fought a stroke-for-stroke battle with Alberto Razzetti before pulling away in the final metres to claim his first global title in the 200 fly in Doha.
The pair couldn’t be separated at the 150 with both men turning in 1:23.50 and it wasn’t until the last 15m that the Japanese pulled away to touch in 1:53.88 as the Italian tied up.
Splits: 25.44 (53.90 (28.46)/1:23.50 (29.60)/1:53.88 (30.38)
Razzetti took silver in 1:54.65 and Martin Espernberger of Austria claimed third in 1:55.16.
From left: Alberto Razzetti, Tomoru Honda & Martin Espernberger: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto
Honda adds world gold to his Asian Games title and becomes the first Japanese man to top the podium over four lengths, Daiya Seto having previously come closest with silver at Gwangju 2019 where a certain Kristof Milak broke Michael Phelps‘ long-standing world record in 1:50.73.
Honda won silver behind the Hungarian at Tokyo 2020 and bronze behind Milak at Budapest 2022 and Leon Marchand in Fukuoka last year.
Neither Milak nor Marchand were competing at Doha 2024 and with the semifinal DQ of 2023 silver medallist Krzysztof Chmielewski, there was no clear-cut favourite going into the race at the Aspire Dome.
Razzetti led Honda by 0.23 at 50 with a big turn propelling the Japanese into the lead and first at the halfway point with Lewis Clareburt joining the duo.
The Italian cut into the deficit on the third 50 as they touched together at the final turn with the pair stroke for stroke before Honda moved ahead, taking the win following a 30.38 final 50.
Espernberger came from fourth to take third as Clareburt faded to seventh.
Micha Chmielewski (1:55.16), Kregor Zirk (1:55.48), Richard Marton (1:55.76), Lewis Clareburt (1:55.86) & Matthew Sates (1:57.23).
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