SWC 2016: Morozov bettered again 100m IM World Record in Berlin on Day 1

Vladimir Morozov from Russia and the Hungarian “Iron Lady” Katinka Hosszu have been again the outstanding competitors at the second leg of the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup on August 30-31 in the “Schwimm- und Sporthalle am Europapark” (SSE) in Berlin. Morozov bettered his own World record in 50.30 in the 100m IM- a record established last week-end in the Paris-Chartres leg. He grabbed another victory in the German capital in the 100m free.

Katinka Hosszu claimed three golds (200m free, 200m back, 200m IM). She also took a silver (50m back) and a bronze medal (100m fly).

Both athletes are leading the overall ranking of the Swimming World Cup so far.

Men's races

In the fastest men's race of the day and the take-off of the final session Vladimir Morozov (RUS) came in 45.79 to a clear win in the 100m free, for the second time of this year's Series. Adam Barrett (GBR) and Shinri Shioura (JPN) came second in 47.07 (tie).

“It was a good race for me, I'm happy with the time. But on the first 50m I was a little bit too fast”, said Vladimir Morozov after a 50m split time only 2/100 slower as at the world record.

The 50m breast's podium remained equivalent to what happened in the fisrt leg -  Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) clinched gold in 25.75, Kirill Prigoda (RUSA) silver in 26.04 and Felipe Lima (BRA) bronze in 26.21.

“I'm very satisfied with my performance, which has increased in comparison to the first leg. The pool is very fast and I'm looking forward to the 100m breaststroke tomorrow”, enjoyed Cameron van der Burgh following his race first final in Berlin.

In the 100m back, Stanislav Donetc (RUS) surprised everyone by clocking a time of  50.06, while the Australians Bobby Hurley (50.34) and last year Kazan World Champion Mitchell Larkin (50.50) followed.

Speedy Chad Le Clos (RSA) made a very clear victory in the 200m fly touching the wall in an amazing 1:49.33, in front of the local hero Philip Heintz (GER) (1:52.56) and Yun Hao (CHN) (1:53.51), in this order.

No doubt in the 400m free as James Guy (GBR) led the field from the beginning and finished first in 3:39.20, in front of Bobby Hurley (3:43.02) and the German Poul Zellmann (3:44.04).

Marco Koch, World Champion in Kazan who missed Paris-Chartres due to illness, made a strong come back in the 200m breast. He touched home in 2:01.92, beating Kirill Prigoda (2:03.97) and Cameron van der Burgh (2:06.26).

After breaking the world record on the fist leg in 50.60 Vladimir Morozov bettered his own mark aver the 100m IM with a 50.30 again. There was no change for Hiromasa Fujimori (JPN) in 51.33 and Philip Heintz (51.81) to follow him.

“It was already in Paris-Chartres my goal to swim world record and now I tried it again and was successful and I didn't expect it. But the last 25m have been very hard. I'd like to swim at all nine legs of the this year's Swimming World Cup” the Russian said.

After the 200m, Chad Le Clos was also the winner in the 50m fly (22.15). Place two and three went to Andrii Govorov (UKR) in 22.45 and Adam Barrett (22.64).

Philip Heintz made a second victory for the German DSV in the 400m IM event in a clear 4:02.84. Marco Koch was second in 4:09,18 and Russian Danill Pasynkov (4:11.50) third.

Women's races

In the opening race of the day, Katinka Hosszu repeated gold in the 200m free with an improving time of 1:52.02. As second finished in 1:52.52 Madeline Groves (AUS) and in front of Zsuzsanna Jakabos (1:55.40) as a second Hungarian in this event.

In an exciting 100m breast Katie Meili (USA) touched the wall first in 1:02.92, only 18/100 in front of Alia Atkinson (JAM), who started in Paris-Chartres with a World Record tie (1:02.36). Rio Olympic silver medallist Yuliya Efimova (RUS) in 1:03.17 finished third in this event.

The 100m fly went in 55,86 to Jeanette Ottesen (DEN). A few minutes after the 200m free, Madeline Groves finished again second (55.97) in front of Katinka Hosszu (56.75).

In her third event of the day Katinka Hosszu sprinted in the 50m back in 26.45 to reach silver, behind Paris-Chartes winner Emily Seebohm (AUS) in 26.38 and in front of Daria K. Ustinova (RUS) in 26.81.

Next event, next podium for Katinka Hosszu. Again with a victory in the 200m IM in 2.05.57, in front of her teammate Zsuzsanna Jakabos (2:06.29) and breaststroker Yuliya Efimova (2:06.93).

In the fastest race of the women's competition, Jeanette Ottesen was the clear winner in 23.58. Madeline Groves got a third second place in the session in 24.32 and third place went to Katie Meili (24.35).

The 200m back saw again Katinka Hosszu winning in 2:00.52 in front of Daryna Zevina (UKR) who was close behind her in 2:00.75. The third place went to Emily Seebohm (2:01.58).

Butterflyer Franziska Hentke made the second victory for the host federation DSV. In a final sprint of the last 50m she touched home in 8:22.83 in the 800m free. Zsuzsanna Jakabos, in 8:22.91, repeated her success from Paris-Chartres. Australian Leah Neale (8:27.39) was third.

Relays

The first day of the Berlin leg concluded with a win of the Russian squad in the 4x50m mixed medley relay in 1:39.77. Australia finished second in 1:41.41 in front of the US, third in 1:42.25.

This competition is sponsored by airweave, a FINA partner since 2014

All results are provided by OMEGA and available here