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 One Prelims: Qin Haiyang and Arno Kamminga Pace Prelims of 100 Breaststroke Only three men in the history of the 100-meter breaststroke have cracked the 58-second barrier, and two of them grabbed the top seeds for the final of the event at the World Championships in Fukuoka. China’s Qin Haiyang and the Netherlands Arno Kamminga went one-two at the Marine Messe Hall, with Qin leading the way in an impressive 58.26. The Chinese star owns a best of 57.93 and figures to press that effort at some point during the World Champs. Meanwhile, Kamminga touched the wall in 58.71 while racing in the same heat as Qin. Kamminga posted his sub-58 outing at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Of course, the event was missing Great Britain’s Adam Peaty, the two-time Olympic champion and world-record holder at 56.88. A three-time world champion in the 100 breaststroke, Peaty opted out of British qualifying to tend to his mental health. He has indicated a plan to return to the pool to chase a 100 breaststroke three-peat at next year’s Olympic Games in Paris. Qin and Kamminga had company in the 58-second range during prelims as Germany’s Lucas Matzerath, who showed good form early in the summer, set a national record of 58.74. Following in fourth and fifth were Italian Nicolo Martinenghi (59.04), the defending world champion, and the United States’ Nic Fink (59.38). American Josh Matheny was sixth in 59.40. Kamminga was the silver medalist at last summer’s World Champs, where Fink secured the bronze medal. Photo Courtesy:
