The 2024 World Aquatics Championship had four semifinal events on Day 4 from Doha.
Swimmers punched their tickets into the finals in the men’s 100 freestyle, women’s 50 backstroke, women’s 200 butterfly and men’s 200 IM.
World Championships: Men’s 100 Freestyle Semis
Fresh off his world record in the 100 free leading off the 400 free relay on Monday, China’s Pan Zhanle competed in the semifinals of the individual race.
Not surprisingly, he took the top seed. Pan finished in 47.73, not too far off his world record time of 46.80, which could be in danger in tomorrow’s final.
Three other swimmers broke 48 seconds in the semifinal.
Italy’s Alessandro Miressi took the second spot in 47.88. He was right on Pan’s heels in the relay and could make some noise in the final.
Korea’s Hwang Sun-Woo, fresh off of his world title in the 200 free, took the third spot in 47.93, just ahead of Hungary’s Nandor Nemeth (47.96).
Rounding out the finalists were Serbia’s Andrej Barna (28.05), China’s Wang Haoyu (48.11), USA’s Matt King (28.17) and Great Britain’s Matthew Richards (48.22).
World Championships: Women’s 50 Backstroke Semis
Continuing her stunning performance this week, Australia’s Iona Anderson claimed the top seed in the women’s 50 backstroke from the semifinals.
Anderson took the top seed in 27.51 in a close field.
Great Britain’s Lauren Cox claimed the second seed in 27.55, while USA’s Claire Curzan was at 27.65 and Canada’s Ingrid Wilm was fourth at 27.68.
Greece’s Theadora Drakou took the fifth seed (28.00), followed by Poland’s Adela Piskorska (28.06).
Sweden’s Louise Hansson and Kira Toussaint of the Netherlands tied for the seventh seed at 28.13 to sneak into the finals.
World Championships: Women’s 200 Butterfly Semis
Three swimmers broke 2:08 in the semifinals of the women’s 200 butterfly and lead the field into the finals.
Denmark’s Helena Bach took the top seed in 2:07.45 just ahead of USA’s Rachel Klinker (2:0.70) and Great Britain’s Laura Stephens (2:07.97).
Hungary’s Boglarka Kapas, who has been at the top of the stage in this event, took the fourth seed in 2:08.48.
China’s Ma Yonghui took the fifth seed in 2:07.73, followed by Hungary’s Dalma Sebestyen (2:09.14), South Korea’s Sujin Park (2:09.22) and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Lana Pudar (2:09.42).
World Championships: Men’s 200 IM Semis
The U.S. was ahead of the pack in the men’s 200 IM, taking the top two seeds in what will be a packed final.
Carson Foster claimed the top seed in 1:57.13, while Shaine Casas was second in 1:57.62.
They finished ahead of Great Britain’s Duncan Scott, who took the third seed in 1:57.83 and Japan’s
Daiya Seto, who was fourth in 1:57.85.
Italy’s Alberto Razzetti took the fifth seed (1:58.21), followed by Canada’s Finlay Knox (1:58.50), New Zealand’s Lewis Clareburt (1:58.59) and China’s Zhang Zhanshuo (1:58.98).
Just FYI, that picture is not Pan Zhanle.