Women’s 400 IM
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu won her second straight 400 IM world short course title on Tuesday night at the 2018 FINA World Short Course Championships in Hangzhou, China. Hosszu successfully defended her 2016 title with a 4:21.40 in the 400 IM as she has medaled in this event at four straight World Short Course Championships. She won the bronze in 2012, silver in 2014, gold in 2016, and now gold again in 2016.
Hosszu was never touched in the 400 IM final as she was flirting with Mireia Belmonte’s world record for 300 meters before falling off it in the freestyle leg. Belmonte was not competing at the World Short Course Championships this week. USA’s Melanie Margalis won the silver medal with a 4:25.84 as she used her impressive back half to win her second medal at the World Short Course Championships. Margalis won bronze in the 200 IM in 2014. Margalis is now the third fastest American all-time and the eleventh fastest all-time in the 400 IM.
Margalis (on winning silver on the opening night of competition): “It’s pretty exciting on the first night just to see Mal (Comerford) get second place and kind of get fired up for my swim.”
Margalis distanced herself from bronze medal winner Fantine Lesaffre of France (4:27.31). Lesaffre won the bronze medal ahead of Italy’s Ilaria Cusinato (4:27.88).
France also had another swimmer in the final with veteran Lara Grangeon finishing in fifth place at 4:29.56.
Japan’s Sakiko Shimizu (4:31.07), Spain’s Catalina Corro (4:31.63) and Japan’s Miho Takahashi (4:35.62) also competed in the final.
Dóra Pásztory not bad ?
Rox Roman she is back!? ?
Dóra Pásztory yeah baby ????
Awesome! Congratulations Katinka
Wow congratulations ❤️❤️
Katinka is back big time!