POLL: Which Super-Suit Men’s World Record Will Last the Longest? (VOTE HERE!)
With Cameron McEvoy setting a world record of 20.88 in the 50-meter freestyle earlier this year at the China Open, only three men’s world records remain from the super-suit era (2008-09). Each of the still-standing marks was set at the 2009 World Championships in Rome, when more than 40 world records were established during the competition. Which of the 16-year-old records will last the longest? Let’s look at the options.
Paul Biedermann (200 Freestyle) – 1:42.00
The record by Germany’s Paul Biedermann is almost a second faster than anyone in history, with Michael Phelps checking in as the No. 2 performer at 1:42.96. In a textile suit, Romania’s David Popovici is the all-time leader, behind a 1:42.97 effort at the 2022 European Championships.
Zhang Lin (800 Freestyle) – 7:32.12
China’s Zhang Lin enjoys a comfortable advantage over the second-fastest performer of all-time, Tunisian Ous Mellouli (7:35.27). Another athlete from Tunisia is the fastest in a textile suit, as Ahmed Jaouadi won the gold medal in the 800 freestyle at last year’s World Championships in 7:36.88.
Aaron Peirsol (200 Backstroke) 1:51.92
Hall of Famer Aaron Peirsol sits .59 clear of Japan’s Ryosuke Irie (1:52.51), who is the second-fastest man in history. In textile, Ryan Lochte is the only athlete to go under 1:53, thanks to a 1:52.96 performance at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai. The top active athlete in the event is Hungarian Hubert Kos (1:53.19), the reigning Olympic titlist.
Which record will last the longest? Vote below!