2019 FINA World Championships Predictions: Adam Peaty Against the Clock in the Men’s 100 Breast

Photo Courtesy: SIPA USA

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Adam Peaty has been unstoppable in the men’s 100 breast since claiming the 2014 Commonwealth and European titles in a breakthrough summer on his way to the World title in 2015. He has since lowered the world record down to a 57.10 and no-one in the history of the sport has been within a second of him. Peaty is the only man to ever break 58 seconds in the event (doing so 10 times) and is knocking on the door of being the first to break 57.

Currently, Ilya Shymanovich is second all-time with a 58.29 as he did that at a quiet meet in March. Second all-time means 15th all-time performance in a world with Peaty. Sitting fourth all-time is Great Britain’s James Wilby, who has been on fire since winning the Commonwealth Games last year in the 200 breast. Shymanovich, Wilby and China’s Yan Zibei have all been under 59 this season in this event. Barring a severe disaster, it won’t be enough to catch Peaty, who is in a league of his own.

Wilby was a 58.66 at the British Trials in April and British Swimming would love nothing more than a 1-2 finish in this event at Worlds. The British are so strong in this event that their third man Ross Murdoch, currently sits in a tie for eighth place in the world rankings. Wilby was second to Peaty at the European Championships last year and had the second fastest time out of the four major international meets in 2018.

China’s Yan scored a new best time at the Mission Viejo Swim Meet of Champions in June to sit fourth in the world. He was the silver medalist at the Asian Games last summer behind Japan’s Yasuhiro Koseki.

There are many swimmers that will factor into the medals this year as the race is extra tight since the gold is pretty much Peaty’s to lose. The Americans will have Michael Andrew and Andrew Wilson representing them. Neither man has put up a time in the top eight in the world but each has the potential to make the final and earn a medal.

Russia’s Anton Chupkov, who will be a gold medal favorite in the 200 later in the meet, could also factor for a medal if he can figure out his 100 speed. He currently sits eighth in the world rankings. The Italians could also have a medalist with the likes of Fabio Scozzoli and 2017 World Junior Champion Nicolo Martinenghi, once considered a future star in the event.

Current Records:

World Record: 57.10, Adam Peaty, GBR – 2018
Championships Record: 57.47, Adam Peaty, GBR – 2017
American Record: 58.64, Kevin Cordes, USA – 2017

2017 World Champion: Adam Peaty, GBR, 57.47
2018 Virtual World Champion: Adam Peaty, GBR, 57.10
2019 Fastest Times:

57.87, Adam Peaty, GBR
58.29, Ilya Shymanovich, BLR
58.66, James Wilby, GBR
58.74, Yan Zibei, CHN
59.05, Fabio Scozzoli, ITA
59.12, Yasuhiro Koseki, JPN
59.17, Tobias Bjerg, DEN
59.21, Anton Chupkov, RUS

Swimming World’s team of Andy Ross, Dan D’Addona, David Rieder, Diana Pimer and Taylor Covington will be selecting their medalists for the World Championships in each event. Read below who everybody picked.

Andy’s Picks:

Adam Peaty
James Wilby
Yan Zibei

Dan’s Picks:

Adam Peaty
James Wilby
Ilya Shymanovich

David’s Picks:

Adam Peaty
Ilya Shymanovich
James Wilby

Diana’s Picks:

Adam Peaty
Ilya Shymanovich
James Wilby

Taylor’s Picks:

Adam Peaty
Ilya Shymanovich
Yan Zibei

Read Up on Previous Picks:

Day 1:

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