The duel between Katinka Hosszu (HUN) and Shiwen Ye (CHN) in the women’s 200m individual medley was one of the most expected finals of the session. Hosszu, best performer of the season (2:05.78), fastest of the semis (2:07.07) and already with three medals in Istanbul was opposed to the Olympic gold medallist in the 200m and 400m IM, the runner-up of the semis in 2:08.09. Hosszu seemed to be in the right way towards victory, but a very strong freestyle leg from Ye allowed her to win gold in a new Championships Record of 2:04.64 (bettering the previous best mark of the competition, set by Spain’s Mireia Belmonte in 2010, 2:05.73). Hosszu arrived shortly after, winning silver in 2:04.72, while the bronze went to Hannah Miley (GBR) in 2:07.12.

World Record: Julia Smit (USA), 2:04.60 – December 19, 2009 in Manchester (GBR)
Championships Record: Shiwen Ye (CHN), 2:04.64 – December 15, 2012 in Istanbul (TUR)
Best performance of the current season (since August 2012): Shiwen Ye (CHN, 2:04.64 – December 15 in Istanbul, TUR) 
Last five (2002-2010) winners in this event: 2002 - Yana Klochkova (UKR, 2:08.82); 2004 - Brooke Hanson (AUS, 2:09.81); 2006 - Hui Qi (CHN, 2:09.33); 2008 - Kirsty Coventry (ZIM, 2:06.13); 2010 - Mireia Belmonte Garcia (ESP, 2:05.73)
The best in this event (1. most victories or 2. fastest time): Yana Klochkova (UKR, 2000 & 2002)