Ruta Meilutyte Defends 50 Breast World Title In Battle With Atkinson – Video

DOHA – Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte defended her 50 breaststroke title at the FINA World Short Course Championships. Watch Race Video

Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte couldn’t replicate her meet record speed from semis, but still managed to win the sprint breaststroke tonight at the FINA World Short Course Championships.

Meilutyte dropped a 28.84 in finals for the win, just off her meet record of 28.81 from semis and Jessica Hardy’s world record of 28.80.

Meilutyte is the first swimmer to win this event more than once since it first began being part of the meet program in 1999. Meilutyte previously won in 2012 with a 29.44 at the time.

This is Meilutyte’s third gold medal in a breaststroke event here at short course worlds, tying Rebecca Soni, Masami Tanaka and Brooke Hanson for the most in the stroke.

Jamaica’s Alia Atkinson raced to a 28.91 for silver, bettering her semi time of 28.99. It wasn’t enough to catch Meilutyte, however, as Atkinson earns her second silver behind Meilutyte in as many tries.

The Netherlands’ Moniek Nijhuis captured bronze in 29.64 as the battle for gold truly was a two-woman race.

Australia’s Leiston Pickett (29.83), Sweden’s Jennie Johansson (29.99), USA’s Emma Reaney (30.05), Australia’s Sally Hunter (30.22) and Russia’s Valentina Artemyeva (30.37) closed out the rest of the finale.

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Scheduled Events

Men’s 200 medley relay finals
Women’s 100 free semis
Men’s 400 IM finals
Women’s 50 breast finals
Men’s 100 back finals
Women’s 50 fly semis
Men’s 50 free semis
Women’s 100 back finals
Men’s 100 breast finals
Women’s 100 IM semis
Men’s 100 fly finals
Women’s 800 free finals
Men’s 800 free relay finals
Mixed 200 medley relay finals

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