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, Night 5: Zac Stubblety-Cook, Qin Haiyang Throw Down 2:07s A showdown between the world record holder and the best breaststroker of this World Championships is set. Zac Stubblety-Cook set the pace in semifinals of the men’s 200 breast at Worlds in Fukuoka at 2:07.07. But hot on his heels is 50/100 champ Qin Haiyang in 2:07.70. Not far behind is Matt Fallon, the American also breaking 2:08 in 2:07.90. Stubblety-Cook led the way in prelims, going 2:08.98. He was followed by Caspar Corbeau in 2:09.29. Six swimmers broke 2:10 in the morning, including both Americans, Fallon and Josh Matheny –and Qin. Corbeau bossed the first semifinal heat in 2:08.49. Matheny followed him in 2:09.04, good for sixth overall. With a pair of Olympic medalists lurking after tough prelims swims, they had to be vigilant. “I knew Caspar likes to take it out, even after watching him this morning,” Matheny said. “That’s how I like to swim the race, too. I like to be in the front and se if you can catch me. It’s a dangerous game because some of these guys have excellent back-halves. But every once in a while, if you can hang on, it works really good.” The second heat was far faster, though, producing the four fastest finishers. Behind Stubblety-Cook and Qin was Fallon, pushing on Josh Prenot’s American record of 2:07.17. Dong Zhihao lowered his world junior record by three tenths to 2:08.49. Anton McKee went 2:09.19, with Ippei Watanabe getting the eighth and final finals spot in 2:09.50. That locks out both Olympic medalists, with Matti Mattson 10th and Arno Kamminga 12th.
