Fu Yuanhui Scares World Record in Women’s 50 Back Prelims at Worlds

Photo Courtesy: R-Sport / MIA Rossiya Segodnya

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Women’s 50 Back

China’s Fu Yuanhui did not make the final of the women’s 100 back, but she still looks like a big favorite in the 50-meter distance. She pulled well ahead of her heat to touch in 27.21, just 0.15 off the world record of 27.06, set by countrywoman Zhao Jing nine years ago in Rome. Fu also eclipsed her own world-leading time of 27.36.

Fu was four tenths faster than anyone else in prelims, as Belarus’ Aliaksandra Herasimenia and Brazil’s Etiene Medeiros tied for second in 27.65. Fourth went to Great Britain’s Georgia Davies (27.73), and she was followed by Great Britain’s Holly Barratt (27.75), China’s Xueer Wang (27.85) and the USA’s Hannah Stevens (27.89).

Australia’s Emily Seebohm, the bronze medalist in the 100 back Tuesday night, qualified eighth in 27.91, while 100 back silver medalist and American Kathleen Baker was one spot behind in 27.94. Canada’s Kylie Masse, who set a world record on her way to gold in the 100 back, placed 13th in 28.10 to earn her semi-final spot.

Other qualifiers for the semis included Russia’s Anastasiia Fesikova (27.96), Argentina’s Andrea Berrino (27.96), Finland’s Mimosa Jallow (28.05), Poland’s Alicia Tchorz (28.13), the Czech Republic’s Simona Baumrtova (28.15) and Greece’s Theodora Drakou (28.22).

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