In the women’s 200m butterfly, the duel between Katinka Hosszu (HUN) and Mireia Belmonte (ESP) was a thrilling race, with the Magyar swimmer, the Best Female Swimmer of the Year in 2014, starting really fast, always under the WR pace until the 150m-mark. Belmonte was closely following her and in the last two laps of the race (more specifically in the last turn), the Iberian applied her turbo and clocked first in an amazing time of 1:59.61, the first World Record of the Championships. By becoming the first female swimmer ever under the two-minute mark in this event, Belmonte largely improves the previous best world mark, established in November 2009 by China’s Zige Liu (2:00.78). The Spaniard had been already the star at the 2010 edition of these Championships, in Dubai (UAE), after getting the gold in the 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley.

For Hosszu (silver in 2:01.12), who has entered in 10 events in Doha, it was for sure a huge disappointment, after leading the race so comfortably for more than three quarters of it. The bronze medal went to Franziska Hentke (GER), in 2:03.89, her first podium presence at this level. Last detail: the previous WR holder, Liu, could not qualify for the final, being 10th of the preliminaries in a poor time of 2:06.07.


Mireia Belmonte (ESP): two races, two gold medals, two WR!
Photo credit: Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia

In the 400m IM, Belmonte and Hosszu repeated the fight and everyone was waiting a sweet revenge from the Magyar swimmer, owner of the WR (4:20.83) since August this year and largely first in the preliminaries (4:21.05, to Belmonte’s 4:26.16). But once more, Hosszu was not as inspired (and fast) as Belmonte, fading in the last 100m, during the freestyle leg. The Iberian star, looking stronger than ever, touched home in 4:19.86, leaving her Hungarian opponent with the silver in 4:22.94. Hannah Miley (GBR), the winner in 2012, was bronze medallist in 4:24.74.

In the first final of the championships, the men’s 200m free, Velimir Stjepanovic (SRB) started really fast, cruising at the 50m (-0.41) and 100m (-0.28) under the World Record pace, established by Paul Biedermann (GER, 1:39.37), in 2009. But the Serbian’s effort proved to be premature, with Chad Le Clos (RSA, in lane 7) and Ryan Lochte (USA, in lane 8) rapidly coming to the front of the race. In the end, the South African, Best Male Swimmer of the Year 2014, touched first in 1:41.45, and swimming from almost nowhere Danila Izotov (RUS) was silver medallist in 1:41.67. Lochte finished third, in 1:42.09.

The North American star had considered he was lucky in the morning heats, when he qualified eighth for the final, and his bronze medal looks in fact modest for the 2010 and 2012 champion in this event (moreover, he is by far, the best athlete in the history of this competition, arriving in Doha with 30 medals). For Le Clos, this is his third title in the history of the championships, after getting the gold in 2012 in the 100m and 200m butterfly, while Izotov was also second in 2010. The two disappointments of the preliminaries were Filippo Magnini (ITA, silver in 2006) and Oussama Mellouli (TUN, bronze in 2010), respectively ninth and 21st of the morning session. 

 


Chad Le Clos (RSA) - Photo credit: Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia

In the relay finals of the night, France “recovered” the title lost to the USA in 2012. Winners in 2010, the French quartet was this time formed by Clement Mignon, Fabien Gilot, Florent Manaudo and Mehdy Metella, and got the gold in a new Championships Record of 3:03.78. The United States (Feigen, Grevers, Lochte and Shields, bronze in 3:05.58) were also unable to secure the silver, which went to Russia, in 3:04.18, after an inspiring first leg of Vladimir Morozov, in a new Championships record of 45.51 in the 100m free.

In the women’s 4x200m free, the Netherlands (Inge Dekker, Femke Heemskerk, Ranomi Kromowidjojo and Sharon Van Rouwendaal) totally controlled the race, establishing the third WR of the evening session, in 7:32.85. It was a huge improvement from the 2010 world best mark (7:35.94) from China, whose team got the silver here in Dubai in a distant 7:37.02. The bronze medal went to Australia in 7:38.59. The USA, winners in 2012, had to content with the fifth place (7:39.48).

Outside the finals, Championships Records were improved in the semis of the women’s 50m breaststroke, with Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) stopping the clock at 28.81; and in the second semi-final of the men’s 100m breaststroke (Adam Peaty, GBR, 56.43). In the preliminaries, Katinka Hosszu was the fastest in the 100m backstroke and in the 400m IM, in 55.70 and 4:21.05 respectively.

QUOTES OF THE DAY

Chad Le Clos (RSA), gold medallist in the men's 200m freestyle: "It couldn't start any better, I was really happy to get the win tonight. To get the first medal on the board, the 200m free is not my strongest event so I can only get better from here, touch wood!"

Mireia Belmonte (ESP), gold medallist and new WR holder in the women's 200m fly and 400m IM: "I knew that Katinka [Hosszu] is faster than me at the first 100m but I was stronger in the later part of the race. I only had to wait close to her before my final attack. The only secret is to be good at the right moment.”

Katinka Hosszu (HUN), silver medallist in the women's 200m fly and 400m IM: "It's good to have Mireia Belmonte here. Losing to her gives me extra motivation."

Mehdy Metella (FRA), gold medallist in the men's 4x100m relay:"I was not in top shape coming to this meet, especially my legs because I gave my all at the national short-course championships 10 days ago. But now that I'm racing again, I see the energy is coming back."

Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED), gold medallist and new WR holder in the women's 4x200m: "It was a crazy race. Before the final we thought we could maybe break the world record so I'm really proud of the team tonight."

 

Opening Ceremony

Before this memorable first evening, the Opening Ceremony of the Championships took place in the Hamad Aquatic Centre, and the moment was naturally highlighted by the flag parade of the 176 delegations participating in Doha.


The flags parade at the Opening Ceremony - Photo credit: Giorgio Scala/Deepbluemedia

The welcome speeches to the spectators in the venue and to the TV viewers following the event worldwide were addressed by the FINA President Dr. Julio C. Maglione and the President of the Qatar Swimming Association, Kaleel Al-Jabir. Both leaders welcomed the athletes in Doha, and expressed their sincere conviction that the Championships will be successful.

“FINA athletes, coaches, National Federations and the Aquatics Family are very happy to be here today in Doha, Qatar, with the occasion of the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m)”, considered the FINA President. “The Qatar Swimming Association, the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Qatar authorities have done a fantastic job. The venue is outstanding and we are expecting great events and results”, Dr. Maglione concluded.

He then invited His Highness Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani to officially open the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m).