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Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook posted an eye-watering 2:06.72 to lead the field into the men’s 200 breaststroke final.
While the Australian was making his intentions clear, Olympic silver medallist Arno Kamminga – another member of the 2:06 club – was absent having pulled out earlier on Wednesday feeling unwell.
Erik Persson was 0.01 under world-record pace at the halfway point of the first semi to set the pace before being overhauled by Yu Hanaguruma with the Japanese winning in 2:08.75 to the Swede’s 2:08.84.
Olympic bronze medallist Matti Mattsson was on similar pace after 100 of the second prelim before Stubblety-Cook went ahead on the third 50 and pulled away on the last lap to post an eye-watering 2:06.72.
Stubblety-Cook posted a world record of 2:05.95 in May and was almost two seconds quicker than his nearest challenger on Wednesday.
Qualifiers
- Zac Stubblety-Cook (AUS); 2:06.79
- Anton McKee (ISL); 2:08.74
- Ya Hanaguruma (JPN); 2:08.75
- Erik Persson (SWE); 2:08.84
- Matti Mattsson (FIN); 2:09.04
- Caspar Corbeau NED); 2:09.17
- Nic Fink (USA); 2:09.23
- Ryuya Mura (JPN); 2:09.69
