SWC 2017,Berlin, Day 2: Another two World Records

Katinka Hosszu from Hungary and the Dutch Ranomi Kromowidjo set the highlights on the second day of the FINA/airweave Swimming World Cup 2017 on August 6-7 in the “Schwimm- und Sporthalle am Europapark” (SSE) in Berlin.

Both set new world records.

First the “Iron Lady” from Budapest broke her own best time in the 100m IM. Then Kromowidjojocame back as the former world record holder with a 22.93 in the 50m freestyle.  

In the overall ranking Sjostrom is leading. The five-time World Cup winner Hosszu is second for the moment.

In men’s competition Chad Le Clos from South Africa is in the leading position.  

The World Cup will next stop in Eindhoven (NED) on August 10-11.    

Men's Races  

For half of the 200m butterfly Chad Le Clos (RSA) was on world record pace, but he lost the power in the last 50m. With a time of 1:49.08 he missed his best time about 52/100. In the finish Tom Shields (USA) came up and was the runner-up in 1:49.26. Masayuki Umemoto was third on the podium in 1:52.80.  

World record holder Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) took gold in the 50m breaststroke as his special event in 25.49. Fabio Scozzoli (ITA) touched home second in 25.77, while the Russian Kirill Prigoda placed third in 25.86.  

In a tight race of the 200m freestyle Dominik Koza (HUN) touched home in 1:41.03. Kacper Majchrzak (POL) and Le Clos followed in this order in respectively 1:41.62 1:41.67.  

After his victory in the 200m backstroke on the first day in Berlin, Radoslaw Kawecki was also the winner in the 100m backstroke event. In 49,97 he was in front of Masaki Kaneko (JPN), who placed second in 50.29 and Pavel Sankovich (BLR) third in 50.70.   Philipp Heintz (GER) also managed to win a second event in Berlin. After the 200m IM on the first day, he kept his opponents away in the 400m IM and finished first in 4:05.16. Federico Turrini (ITA) was behind in 4:05.73 and Ayrton Sweeney (RSA) closed the podium in 4:06.72.    

Women's Races  

In the opening of the women events Katinka Hosszu (HUN) bettered her own world record in the 100m IM. In 56.51 she was 16/100 below the old mark and it was her 230th victory in a single World Cup event. Behind her was Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) who finished in 57.30, followed by Alia Atkinson (JAM) in 58.12.  

“I feel really good, it was a very good race and I will have another race tonight”, Hosszu said.  

Only ten minutes later the “Iron Lady” from Hungary was again on world record pace, but in the 200m backstroke. She took gold in 2:00.37. On the last lap Budapest World Champion Emily Seebohm (AUS) came up, but could not catch her. She finished second in 2:00.65, followed by the German Nadine Laemmler in 2:05.41.  

In the 50m freestyle, the former world record holder came back, as she lost her best time at the opening leg of the World Cup in Moscow with a 23.10 to Sjostrom (SWE). In Berlin Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) caught the world record in 22.93, followed by Sjostrom in 23.00, which was also under the old record. Cate Campbell (AUS) finished third in 23.62.  

“I’m very happy to be again the world record holder. At the moment, I’m in a good shape and the next leg of the World Cup will be in my home town Eindhoven where we have also a very fast pool”; Kromowidjojo said.  

The first place in the 100m butterfly went also to Hosszu. In a 55.86 she was in front of Ilaria Bianchi (ITA, 56.42) and Kimberly Buys (BEL, 56.44).  

“That was not the end. Now the next World Cup leg in Eindhoven is coming up. There is another chance”, Hosszu said.  

In the 400m freestyle there was no doubt about the winner - Mireia Belmonte (ESP) was the only one below 4min and in a 3:57.79 she won. The German Sarah Kohler finished second in 4:01.03 and before Mikkayla Sheridan (AUS) third in 4:03.90.  

The women final event saw a clear victory in the 100m breaststroke by Alia Atkinson (JAM) in 1:03.16. She was followed by Jenna Laukkanen (FIN) by a gap in 1:04.56. Fanny Lecluyse (BEL) closed the podium in 1:05.81.    

Relays  

The second day of the Berlin leg concluded with a win of the Dutch squad in the 4x50m freestyle relay in 1:28.70. Poland finished second in 1:30.78 in front of Australia, third in 1:30.83.    

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