Caribbean Represents

Not only does Jordan Crooks of the Cayman Islands take the 50m freestyle world title, but he's also joined by Trinidad & Tobago's Dylan Carter. Huge props to Team GB's Benjamin Proud for his silver medal performance as well. 

"It means a lot to see this come to light. This is awesome." - Jordan Crooks 

Jordan was racing his idols:

"I looked up to a lot of these guys. It was awesome to be able to race them and to have this experience. They are extremely talented and I have much respect for everyone of them."
By Jordan Crooks

Dylan knows what this performance means for the Caribbean: 

"Proud of Jordan, you know, to have two Caribbean athletes in the men's 50 final. That's brand new. So both of us on the podium. That's massive for the region."
By Dylan Carter

Just 3/100ths from defending his world title, Ben says Jordan's win is "brilliant" for the sport: 

"Seeing Jordan swim so quick yesterday morning completely changed the dynamic of the race as suddenly we were all chasing someone. It brought a brilliant atmosphere to the call room, everyone was excited, and to have a new name on the scene and see a twenty-year-old swim so quick is brilliant for the sport."
By Benjamin Proud

Melbourne Agrees

Australia is entering unprecedented championship territory with McKeon winning the 50m and 100m crowns, and Lani Pallister completing the 400-800-1500m treble. If Australia can take tomorrow night's 200m, it'll be a clean sweep of the freestyle events - something that's never been done before. 

Ruta! World Record Alert

Ruta Meilutyte didn't wait until the finals to write her name in the record books 

Image Source: World Aquatics/Morgan Hancock

Swimming out of Semifinal 2, Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte went 28.37 to clutch the 50m breaststroke world record away from Jamaica's recently-retired Alia Atkinson. 

King - a multi-time world and Olympic champion - posted a strong 28.86 in the same semifinals, ensuring that tomorrow night's final is hardly a walk in the park for Meilutyte, the London 2012 Olympic champion and two-time world champion in breaststroke. 

Here's what Ruta had to say: 

History Making | Seto Wins Sixth Straight 400m IM

"I never lose in short course."

Image Source: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Daiya Seto came to Melbourne with a clear focus. Win the Men's 400m IM and he'd become the first swimmer ever to claim six straight world short course titles in the same event.

After slightly trailing USA's Carson Foster through the opening butterfly and backstroke legs, Seto came to the fore for a convincing win in 3:55.75. Foster gamely hung in there to take the silver in 3:57.63. Teenager Matthew Sates adds another individual medal, this time bronze to the gold he won in the 200m IM earlier this week. 

Sato Says: 

 

"I was focused on this event. I swam the 200 IM and the 200 butterfly and the 200 breast, but the 400 IM is my favourite event. I never lose in short course. Next year, I want to be the champion in long course."

USA's Flickinger Adds Gold to Her Silver & Bronze From Melbourne

Image Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Following her silver in the 200m butterfly and bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay earlier this week, Hali Flickinger completes the trifecta of medals with gold in the Women's 400m IM. The American shot off to a sizable lead in butterfly and never looked back, winning wire-to-wire in 4:26.51. Italy's Sara Franceschi takes silver in 4:28.58 while Japan's Waka Kobori earns bronze with her 4:29.03. 

Paltrinieri's Distance Double Complete

Image Source: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The Italian distance ace continues his winning ways, taking the Men's 800m Freestyle final in 7:29.99. Norway's Henrik Christiansen earns silver in 7:31.48 with France's Logan Fontaine pocketing bronze in 7:33.12. Japan's Shogo Takeda might have finished just off the podium in fourth, but his 7:33.78 earns him Asia's continental record.  

Here's how the race played out: 

Paltrinieri on the difficulty of the 800m here in Melbourne: 

"It was a difficult race; I think it was more difficult than the 1500m free."

'King Greg' says that there's always something new to learn in racing: 

"It's important every time you learn something when you race. Even at 28, I am still learning. I am taking something from every race."

Christiansen says he's "putting on a show" and that silver "feels amazing."

"It feels amazing. It’s really good to be back and being able to fight the other guys again. I feel like I’m putting on a show out there, and Gregorio (Paltrinieri) is not winning so easily and that’s a good feeling. The 800m Freestyle is a new event on the short course circuit after it became an Olympic event, and it’s slowly starting to get added onto the short course programs. I feel like the 800m Freestyle is my strongest event, and I’m just happy to be able to swim an 800m here."

No One's Arguing With That

It's Like Deja Vu

All over again.

Italy sets the second World Record in the second race of the night with their 1;29.72 in the 4x50m Medley Relay. The USA finished 1:30.37 for silver and Australia grabbed the bronze in 1:30.81. 

Here's How the Italians Split It: 

  • Lorenzo Mora - 22.65
  • Nicolo Martineghi - 24.95
  • Matteo Rivolta - 21.60
  • Leonardo Deplano - 20.52

Here's What The Italians Had to Say About It:

LORENZO MORA: During the relay, you really feel how teammates work, how friendship works. It’s really different and really enjoyable with these guys.

NICOLO MARTINENGHI: It's incredible to set a new world record. Last year, we were third. To do this with my teammates is special. We have a good team and a big team. We said that we have to do it, for our nation and for our team.

LEONARDO DEPLANO: We are very happy. It’s my third medal, with two world records. We are a very close team and we are happy to race together. We are on the top of the world after a bronze medal last year.

Another Night in Melbourne, Another WR to start the Finals Session

Image Source: World Aquatics/Morgan Hancock

Australia takes the Women's 4x50m Medley Relay in a stunner, with the Aussies, Americans and Sweden all within 8/100ths of a second. In the end, Madi Wilson got there first, though USA's Kate Douglass was on a mission with her 22.72 anchor. The Aussies dipped just under the WR of 1:42.38 with their 1:42.35, while the USA clocked 1:42.41 for silver and- Sweden posted a 1:43.43 for the bronze. 

  • Mollie O'Callaghan - 25.49
  • Chelsea Hodges - 29.11
  • Emma McKeon - 24.43
  • Madison Wilson - 23.32

They Said | Team Australia

MOLLIE O'CALLAGHAN: It's so exciting, so fun and so fresh. It’s something we rarely get to do. Being part of a team in front of a crowd like this is special. It has been great to be a part of this team alongside some amazing athletes.

CHELSEA HODGES: I didn't realize it was that quick. At the beginning of the week, it was rough but I wanted to do something special tonight.

EMMA MCKEON: It was good. I saw my splits and I was happy with them. I swam fly instead of freestyle and I knew I had to step up for this. I have another race in two hours so there is plenty of time. My mindset is go as fast as I can.

MADISON WILSON: I was nervous. The medley spot is usually saved for the #1 freestyle, but Emma swam fly. I definitely felt the pressure, but I could not be happier with how it turned out.

They Said | USA's Kate Douglass

 

"That race felt good, it was definitely a fun one to swim. We were all excited to do it beforehand and it was a close race so I really just wanted to get in and give it my all in the last fifty. I’m definitely really happy with that. That was my second sub-23 split of the meet, so I’m super happy with that."

When The Colour of the Medals Matches Your Team Kit:

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