FINA World Championships, Swimming: Updated Medal Picks For Finals

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Column by John Lohn, Swimming World senior writer

SHANGHAI, China, July 26. BASED on the results of preliminaries and semifinals, here are the updated picks for the five finals that will be contested tonight at the Oriental Sports Center. Medals will be up for grabs in the men's 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke and women's 100 backstroke, 1500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.

Men's 200 Freestyle

Original Medal Picks
Gold: Michael Phelps
Silver: Tae Hwan Park
Bronze: Ryan Lochte

Updated Medal Picks
Gold: Tae Hwan Park
Silver: Ryan Lochte
Bronze: Michael Phelps
**It's hard to see Phelps winning this event right now and Park was superb in the final of the 400 free. Lochte eased off during the final strokes of his semifinal swim, so he has more in the tank. Expect Paul Biedermann to push for a medal, along with Yannick Agnel.

Women's 100 Backstroke

Original Medal Picks
Gold: Aya Terakawa
Silver: Natalie Coughlin
Bronze: Anastasia Zueva

Updated Medal Picks
Gold: Natalie Coughlin
Silver: Emily Seebohm
Bronze: Anastasia Zueva
**Picking against Coughlin was an admittedly dumb decision. China's Zhao Jing will be the favorite of the crowd, but I like how Seebohm has looked coming off her various illnesses. I'm staying with Zueva for the bronze medal and not pleased with the poor pick of Terakawa, who barely slipped into the final.

Women's 1500 Freestyle

Original Medal Picks
Gold: Chloe Sutton
Silver: Lotte Friis
Bronze: Kate Ziegler

Updated Medal Picks
Gold: Lotte Friis
Silver: Kate Ziegler
Bronze: Kristel Kobrich
**With Sutton not advancing to the final, I'm bumping Friis and Ziegler up a position and can see Ziegler winning the event. Kobrich seems to have room for improvement.

Men's 100 Backstroke

Original Medal Picks
Gold: Camille Lacourt
Silver: Ryosuke Irie
Bronze: Nick Thoman

Updated Medal Picks
Gold: Camille Lacourt
Silver: Jeremy Stravius
Bronze: Ryosuke Irie
**The Frenchmen look really good and I think Lacourt will unload in the final, which will be necessary to topple his countryman. Irie is better suited for the 200 back and a medal here will be a boost for that event.

Women's 100 Breaststroke

Original Medal Picks
Gold: Rebecca Soni
Silver: Leisel Jones
Bronze: Yuliya Efimova

Updated Medal Picks
Gold: Rebecca Soni
Silver: Leisel Jones
Bronze: Ji Liping
**The top-two finishers are locks, with Soni seemingly capable of pushing the world record of 1:04.45. The race for bronze is wide open.

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