FLASH! World Championships, Day Seven Semifinals: Ruta Meilutyte Equals World Record in 50 Breaststroke

Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania reacts after winning the gold medal in the 100m Breaststroke Women Final during the 20th World Aquatics Championships at the Marine Messe Hall A in Fukuoka (Japan), July 25th, 2023.

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FLASH! World Championships, Day Seven Semifinals: Ruta Meilutyte Equals World Record in 50 Breaststroke

To say the first 35 minutes of Day Seven of the World Championships was dazzling would be a major understatement. Just minutes after Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom lowered her own world record in the 50-meter freestyle, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte key the speed going by equaling the world record in the 50 breaststroke.

After casually moving through the prelims, Meilutyte bolted off the blocks and commanded her semifinal, touching the wall in 29.30. That effort tied the time that Italian Benedetta Pilato registered in 2021. Meilutyte is no stranger to this world record, as she held it for nearly four years from August 2013 to July 2017. Back then, the standard sat at 29.48. It then went to American Lilly King at 29.40 and to Pilatto a tenth faster.

The world record from Meilutyte wasn’t overly shocking, given the form she showed earlier in the week in the 100 breaststroke. In the longer event, Meilutyte won the gold medal, replicating a feat she managed 10 years ago. The Lithuanian, who was the Olympic champion in the 100 breast at the 2012 Games in London, is enjoying a career resurgence. In the final of the 50 breast, it will be interesting to see if she can take sole possession of the world record.

Qualifying for the final in second place was King, who checked in at 29.72. She was joined in sub-30 by South Africa’s Lara van Niekerk, who touched the wall in 29.91. During the prelims, it initially appeared as if van Niekerk would miss the semifinals following a 17th-place finish. But countrywoman Tatjana Schoenmaker opted to scratch from the event, which opened the door to van Niekerk.

King was fourth this week in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke, but has a chance to leave Fukuoka with a medal.

“Especially this week has secured the thought in my head that I don’t really know what distance I’m best at,” King said. “It’s looking like I’m a 50 breaststroker this week. But I like to operate with the mindset that the meet’s not over until it’s over. I wanted to give the 50 a fair shot this morning, had a good swim and felt pretty confident going into tonight.”

Pilatto still figures to be a factor in the final. Although she qualified in fourth at 30.09, the Italian went 29.60 in prelims.

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