FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)

FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)

For the fourth consecutive edition of the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), Ryan Lochte (USA) is the winner of the FINA Trophy for best male swimmer, earning an unprecedented eight medals in Istanbul! The swimming superstar already made history two years ago in Dubai (UAE) with seven podium appearances, but this time in the Turkish metropolis, he did even better with an even more impressive roll of honour: 1st 200m Free, 1st 4x100m free, 3rd 100m fly, 1st 4x200m free, 1st 200m IM, 2nd 200m back, 1st 100m IM, and 1st 4x100m medley.

Lochte has now an accumulated total of 30 medals at these championships since his first appearance in Indianapolis in 2004. Moreover, the 11-time medallist at the Olympics was the only swimmer to establish new World Records in Istanbul: firstly in the final of the 200m IM (1:49.63) and then in the semi-finals of the 100m IM (50.71). Lochte's performances decisively helped USA clinch the title for Best scoring team in Istanbul.

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FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)

One day after setting a new World Record in the final of the men’s 200m IM, Ryan Lochte (USA) was again in excellent shape on day 4 of the 11th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in Istanbul, setting a new world best mark in the semis of the 100m IM. Qualifying first for the final, the U.S. superstar touched home in 50.71, improving the previous WR (50.76) of Peter Mankoc (SLO) from December 2009. In the decisive race of this event, to be held this Sunday, the last day of the Championships, Lochte is the top favourite for the gold.

In the finals of this Saturday, Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), Nicholas Santos (BRA) and Shiwen Ye (CHN) all won with new Championships Records, respectively in the women’s 100m breaststroke (1:03.52), the men’s 50m butterfly (22.22), and the women’s 200m IM (2:04.64). The fourth meet’s record (26.11) of the day was established by Jing Zhao (CHN) in the semis of the women’s 50m backstroke. Before the last day in Istanbul, two World and 15 Championships Records have been set at the Sinan Erdem Arena.

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FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)

On day 3 at the 11th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), the first World Record was established by Ryan Lochte (USA) in the men’s 200m individual medley tonight. The swimming star touched first in 1:49.63, becoming the first to complete the distance in less than 1:50 minutes. The day was also highlighted by four Championships Records: two set by Nicholas Santos (BRA) in the heats (22.40, equalled) and the semis (22.23) of the men’s 50m butterfly: one from Daniel Gyurta (HUN), who brilliantly won the men’s 200m breaststroke in 2:01.35, and a fourth set by teammate Katinka Hosszu in the women’s 100m IM (58.49).

With so many successes, Hungary is presently second in the championships’ medal table, totalling seven medals (three gold, one silver and three bronze). Team USA dominates the chart with a total 17 awards (7, 4, 6) – besides Lochte’s gold, USA earned three silver and two bronze medals throughout the evening’s session.

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FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)

Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) and Chad Le Clos (RSA) were the “most valuable swimmers” of the second day of the 11th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), taking place in Istanbul. In the women’s 50m breaststroke, the Lithuanian revelation of 2012 (she won the Olympic title in the 100m breaststroke) got the gold in a new Championships Record of 29.44, after having improved the mark in the heats (29.56) and semis (29.51). In the men’s 100m butterfly, Le Clos (winner of the Olympic 200m butterfly) also swam fast, clocking a new event’s best mark in 48.82.

The rest of the session was marked by three more gold medals for the U.S. team – thanks to the men's quartet in the 4x200m free relay, Olivia Smoliga (a surprising winner in the 100m back) and Matt Grevers (who narrowly defeated Russian Stanislav Donets in the men’s 100m back). Japan's Daiya Seto confirmed an excellent 2012 season with a sub-4 minute triumph in the men’s 400m IM while Fabio Scozzoli (ITA) also confirmed his credentials in the 100m breaststroke. In the longest duel of the day, Lauren Boyle (NZL) beat Lotte Friis (DEN) for the title in the women’s 800m free.

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