Danas Rapsys Moves Up to Third All-Time in 400 Free at World Short Course Champs

Photo Courtesy: Foto Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia /Insidefoto

Men’s 400 Free

Lithuanian Danas Rapsys led from start to finish in the 400 free final on the first night of the 2018 FINA World Short Course Championships with a 3:34.01 on Tuesday night in Hangzhou. The time is a new championship record for the Lithuanian, breaking Peter Bernek’s 3:34.32 from the 2014 Worlds.

Rapsys took control early and did not let up as he got his meet started off in a big way. Rapsys moved up to third all-time with his swim in the 400 free as he sits only behind world record holder Yannick Agnel and former record holder Paul Biedermann. Rapsys lowered his best time from the 3:36.65 he swam in the heats.

Norway’s Henrik Christiansen won the silver medal with a 3:36.64 as he moved up to 13th all-time in that event as Gabriele Dettti won the bronze medal at 3:37.54. Detti is swimming in his first major meet after injuring his shoulder this summer and sitting out European Championships.

American Zane Grothe finished off the pace in sixth place with a 3:38.99. There was not another second American entered in the race.

Russia’s Martin Malyutin (3:37.75) and Aleksandr Krasnykh (3:37.97) finished fourth and fifth place, just off the podium.

Poland’s Wojciech Wojdak and Brazil’s Fernando Scheffer (3:39.40) also swam in the final.

All-Time List:

Yannick Agnel, FRA, 3:32.25 (2012)
Paul Biedermann, GER, 3:32.77 (2009)
Danas Rapsys, LTU, 3:34.01 (2018)
Peter Bernek, HUN, 3:34.32 (2014)
Grant Hackett, AUS, 3:34.58 (2002)
Park Tae Hwan, KOR, 3:34.59 (2016)
Ian Thorpe, AUS, 3:34.63 (2002)
Zhang Lin, CHN, 3:34.66 (2009)

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