Susie O’Neill Breaks Mary T’s World Record

Malmo, Sweden – Australia’s Susie O’Neill shattered the great Mary T. Meagher’s short-course world record in the 200m butterfly, clocking 2:05.37 at the World Cup meet in Malmo, Sweden. Meagher’s record, set Jan. 2, 1981, stood at 2:05.65.

Last December, American Jenny Thompson had lowered the world short course record for the 100m fly to 56.90 at the World Cup meet in College Station, Texas.

Meagher still holds the long course world marks for the 100m (57.93) and 200m (2:05.96) butterfly, both set in 1981.

O’Neill’s world mark came as a surprise, as she could only manage a 1:00.02 in the 100m fly, finishing in a tie for second with Denmark’s Sophia Skou. The winner was Sweden’s Johanna Sjoberg at 58.15. Unbeaten since 1995 in the 200m fly and facing a strong challenge from the Dane, O’Neill took the first 100m of the 200 out faster than her 100 time, splitting 59.85, then kept on going.

O’Neill’s splits: 28.34, 59.85, 1:32.22, 2:05.37. By contrast, here are Meagher’s splits from 1981: 29.40, 1:01.40, 1:33.90, 2:05.65

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