World Cup Budapest, Day 1 Finals: Tes Schouten Sets Dutch 200 Breast Record & Zhang Yufei Eyes “Nice, New Bag”
Tes Schouten set a Dutch 200m breaststroke record and Zhang Yufei eyed “a nice, new bag” after claiming the 200 fly triple crown in a meet mark at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Budapest.
Kaylee McKeown had the Duna Arena on its feet when she set a world record of 26.86 in the 50 back as she claimed ownership of all the backstroke global standards.
It also meant she too claimed the 50 back triple crown.
Read about McKeown’s WR here.
Six swimmers claimed the triple crown in their events, meaning they won in Berlin, Athens and Budapest, and were rewarded with a prize of USD 10,000.
Erika Fairweather got the ball rolling in the 400 free and Zhang went 2:05.65 for a World Cup record before Schouten lowered her national standard to 2:21.52, also a meet mark.
Qin Haiyang made his fifth trip inside 58secs this year as he claimed the 100m breaststroke triple crown in 57.82 before Sarah Sjostrom broke 24secs for the 28th time as she won the 50 free in 23.97.
Here’s how day one finals unfolded:
Women’s 400m Freestyle
Erika Fairweather led from start to finish despite the best efforts of Lani Pallister to win in 4:02.35 and claim the triple crown after victories in Berlin and Athens.
The New Zealander led by just 0.05 from Pallister at the 200m mark when she started edging away and a final 100 of 59.79 saw her pull away from the Australian on the final 30m.
Seated on a throne on poolside, a crown was placed on her head by Ranomi Kromowidjojo, the three-time Olympic champion.
Fairweather told World Aquatics:
“I can’t even talk, I’m so stoked. I love the 400 free.”
Pallister picked up her third straight second place in 4:03.43 with Barbora Seemanova holding off the fast-finishing Ajna Kesely in 4:06.09.
Men’s 400m Freestyle
Sam Short was 0.58secs inside Paul Biedermann’s world record at the halfway stage before the red line gradually moved further away.
The world champion was never threatened by the field and stopped the clock at 3:44.51 – outside Danys Rapsys’ World Cup mark of 3:43.91 which has stood since 2019.
Kieran Smith was second in 3:46.80 with Rapsys falling short in his bid for the triple crown in 3:47.00.
Men’s 200m Backstroke
Roman Mityukov came from 0.62 down at the final turn to edge out Thomas Ceccon by the narrowest of margins in a thrilling finish.
The Italian led 1:27.24 to 1:27.86 at the 150 but a last 50 of 29.10 guided the Swiss swimmer into the wall in 1:56.96, 0.01 ahead of Ceccon (1:56/97).
Apostolos Christou and Adam Telegdy shared third in 1:58.62.
Women’s 200m Butterfly
Zhang set a World Cup record of 2:05.65 and claimed the triple crown in the process.
The Chinese swimmer was under world-record pace after 50m in 27.22 although she fell short of Liu Zige’s mark from October 2009.
Zhang came home inside Cammile Adams’ World Cup mark of 2:06.33 that had stood since the Moscow stop of the 2015 tour.
Splits: 27.22/59.34 (32.12)/1:32.39 (32.95)/2:05.65 (33.36)
Sat on the throne with a crown nestled on her head, Zhang said:
“It’s amazing.”
Of the USD 10,000 cheque she received for winning the triple crown, she added:
“A nice Friday night!
“I can buy myself a nice, new bag!”
World junior champion Lana Pudar was second in 2:08.19 with hometown favourite Boglarka Kapas next home in 2:10.27.
Men’s 100m Butterfly
A 26.84 second 50 propelled Olympic bronze medallist Noe Ponti to victory in 51.38 ahead of Matt Sates who came from sixth at the turn to finish 51.66.
Jesse Coleman was third in 51.88.
Women’s 200m Breaststroke
Schouten led from start to finish to cut 0.11 from her previous national record of 2:21.52 set en-route to bronze at the World Championships in Fukuoka.
It was also a World Cup standard, the Dutchwoman going well inside her own mark of 2:22.13 from the opening leg of the tour in Berlin.
Splits: 32.27/1:08.09 (35.82)/1:44.81 (36.72)/2:21.52 (36.71)
Jenna Strauch of Australia was second in 2:22.83 with Czechia’s Kristyna Horska’s 2:24.62 good enough for third.
Men’s 100m Breaststroke
Haiyang has been unstoppable in 2023, cleaning up at the World Championships, World University Games and Asian Games.
Out in 26.63, the Chinese swimmer came home in 30.94 to match the time he posted in the semis of the Fukuoka worlds, outstripped only by the 57.69 he posted in the worlds final and at the Berlin leg.
Olympic silver medallist Arno Kamminga was second in 58.68 with Nic Fink edging Adam Peaty by 59.21 to 59.25.
Women’s 50m Freestyle
Sjostrom was a clear winner although she was outside her 23.83 World Cup mark from 2018.
Siobhan Haughey set a Hong Kong record of 24.30 with sisters Bronte and Cate Campbell sharing third in 24.42.
Men’s 50m Freestyle
Ben Proud got the touch ahead of Michael Andrew in 21.77 to 21.85 with Isaac Cooper third home in 21.92.
Proud won the 50 fly at the 2017 worlds held at the Duna Arena and said: “I love racing here. That’s a swim I’m really happy with.”
