SWC 2017: Sarah Sjostrom with two victories in Berlin on Day 1

Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom, the Hungarian “Iron Lady” Katinka Hosszu and the Russians Vladimir Morosov and Kirill Prigoda have been the outstanding competitors at the second leg of the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup on August 6-7 at the “Schwimm- und Sporthalle am Europapark” (SSE) in Berlin. Sjostrom won the 200m freestyle (1:51.56) and the 50m butterfly (24.57). Hosszu beat her own world cup record in the 400m individual medley (4:19.82).

Also Morozov missed in the 100m freestyle (45.23) the current world record only for 29/100. Prigoda set a time of 56.35 in the 100m breaststroke.

In the overall ranking Sjostrom is leading, followed by the five-time World Cup winner Hosszu. In the men’s competitio, Prigoda and Chad Le Clos from South Africa are in the leading position.

Men's Races

In the men’s opening event, in the final session of the first day Kirill Prigoda (RUS) was the fastest in 56.35, touching out Cameron Van Der Burgh (RSA) who was close behind him (56.38). The third place went to Ilya Shymanovich (56.57).

In the fastest race of the day Vladimir Morozov (RUS) repeated his victory from last year's edition in Berlin in 45.23 in the 100m freestyle. Chad Le Clos (RSA) finished second in 45.78 in front of Kacper Majchrzak (POL), third in 46.19.

The 200m backstroke saw Radoslaw Kawecki (POL) in 1:48.20 as the clear winner. The second place was for Masaki Kaneko (JPN) in 1:49.11. As third finished the local hero Christian Diener (GER) in 1:49.30.

With 22.32 Chad Le Clos made his second podium of the evening. Le Clos was In front of Yauhen Tsurkin (BLR) in 22.49 and Adam Barrett (AUS) in 22.53.

In the 1500m freestyle Gabriele Detti (ITA) finished with a clear victory in 14:18.33. He was followed by Henrik Christiansen (NOR) in 14:21.53 with a difference of 500m from Wojciech Wojdak (POL) in 14:30.57 in a clear distance.

The last men’s event of the day saw the first victory for the host federation. Philipp Heintz (GER) won in 1:52.64. Kirill Prigoda finished second in 1:54.05, third was the former Australian Kenneth to (HKG).

Women's Races

In the opening race for the women’s event Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) missed in the 50m butterfly her goal to beat the world record of her former teammate Therese Alshammar (24.38) in 24.57. She finished in front of two Dutch girls: Ranomi Kromowidjojo in 24.95 and Maaike de Waard in 24.24.

With a time of 4:19.82 the World Champion Katinka Hosszu (HUN) missed her own world record in the 400m individual medley only for 36/100 as she was 350m long under world record split. Mireia Belmonte (ESP) touched the wall second in 4:22.55 and with a great gap to the third, Blair Evans (AUS) in 4:29.56.

“Yes, it was my goal try to break my own world record and I was a long time on the pace as I noticed by the cheering crowd in the stands”, Katinka Hosszu stated.

The 50m backstroke went to Emily Seebohm (AUS) in 26.15. She was followed by two Dutch: Kira Toussaint (26.24) and Maaike de Waard with her second podium in the evening (26.55).

In the 200m freestyle Femke Heemskerk (NED) was leading, but Sarah Sjostrom as the current world record holder was stronger, finishing in first place (1:51.56). One day after her 29th birthday, Federica Pellegrini (ITA) was second in 1:52.05, followed by the Dutch (1:52.23).

The 200m breaststroke saw three swimmers fighting for the first place. At the end Alia Atkinson (JAM) placed first in 2:18.96. Followed by Rikke Pedersen (DEN) in 2:19.52 and Fanny Lecluyse (BEL) in 2:19.96.

Relays

The first day of the Berlin leg concluded with a win of the Dutch squad in the 4x50m mixed medley relay in 1:38.41. Finland finished second in 1:38.71 in front of Polan,  third in 1:39.70.

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