World Cup Athens, Day 2 Finals: Kaylee McKeown Tickles 100 Back WR As Four Meet Marks Fall

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

Kaylee McKeown: Photo Courtesy: Andrea Masini / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

World Cup Athens, Day 2 Finals: Kaylee McKeown Tickles 100 Back WR As Four Meet Marks Fall

Kaylee McKeown came within 0.18 of her 100m backstroke world record as she set one of four meet marks on the second day of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup stop in Athens.

McKeown was in a race of her own on the second 50 as she went 57.63 to cut a huge 0.32secs from her own World Cup standard of 57.95 set last week in Berlin.

It was the sixth-fastest time in history and ranks fifth in the Australian’s career, matching the time she did at the 2021 Sydney Open.

Sarah Sjostrom, Siobhan Haughey and Henrik Christiansen also set World Cup records in the 50 fly, 200 free and 800 free respectively.

Christiansen got the ball rolling with a new meet mark in the fastest heat of the 800 free, his time of 7:51.92 cutting more than five seconds from the previous record of 7:56.96 that had stood to Gregorio Paltrinieri since August 2015.

Haughey lowered her own World Cup record when she went 1:55.03, to take 0.07secs from the mark she set last week in Berlin.

Sjostrom raced to 24.97 in the 50 fly, her 18th voyage inside 25, a day after it was confirmed she’d defend the title she’s won for five straight World Championships in Doha in February.

Matt Sates won the 200IM before coming back to take the gruelling 200 fly.

Here’s how day two finals unfolded:

Women’s 400m Individual Medley

Katie Grimes held off the fast-finishing Waka Kobori to repeat her Berlin victory in 4:38.74 although the American shook her head following victory.

The pair made up a gulf on the breaststroke leg only for Grimes to take the win by 0.61 over Kobori (4:39.35) and Ageha Tanigawa (4:40.23).

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Men’s 800m Freestyle

Christiansen dominated throughout to win and take down Paltrinieri’s mark before saying on poolside:

“I think the 800 is my baby, I live and breathe for the 800.

“To come out here and do this was amazing.”

Behind the Norwegian was a two-man tussle for silver with the home crowd roaring on Dimitrios Markos to second with a 28.57 final 50 for 7:58.16 with Japan’s Kaito Tabuchi third in 7:58.70.

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Men’s 50m Backstroke

Michael Andrew claimed his second World Cup title in as many days following his 50 free win on Friday.

The American appeared to be well on top going into the final metres only for Pieter Coetze – winner of the 200 – and Isaac Cooper to come back.

Andrew took the touch though in 24.79 ahead of Coetze (24.89) and Cooper (24.90).

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Women’s 200m Freestyle

Torri Huske went out fast from lane one but it was Olympic silver medallist Haughey who turned slightly ahead at 50 and dominated from that point.

Splits: 27.05/56.14 (29.09)/1:25.86 (29.72)/1:55.03 (29.17).

The previous World Cup standard of 1:55.10 set by the Hong Kong swimmer had lasted exactly one week.

She said: “Hopefully I can keep getting better as we race and this is what I am doing now.”

Erika Fairweather added 200 silver to 400 gold in 1:56.71 with European junior champion Nikolett Padar getting bronze in 1:57.32.

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Men’s 200m Individual Medley

Matt Sates came from fourth at halfway to turn the race on its head and take the title in 1:58.86.

Kieran Smith (1:59.56) and Danys Rapsys (2:00.15) completed the podium.

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Women’s 100m Backstroke

McKeown was just 0.04 outside the 50 world record on Friday with the second-fastest swim all-time of 27.02.

The Australian returned to the water on Saturday and split 28.32/29.31 to finish 0.18 outside her world record of 57.45 set in 2021.

She said:

“(The) 100s never get any easier – especially in the last 25 – so it was good race practice and good to be among these girls as well.”

Kylie Masse headed a Canadian two-three in 1:00.10 ahead of Ingrid Wilm (1:00.57).

Men’s 50m Breaststroke

Qin Haiyang really has the golden touch in 2023 and his roll call this year is worth repeating once more.

An unprecedented clean sweep of the breaststroke events at the World Championships in Fukuoka, which was repeated at the World University Games and Asian Games.

The Chinese swimmer swept up at the World Cup in Berlin last week and on Friday won the 100m.

He returned on Saturday to take the 50m title in 26.52 with Adam Peaty finishing strongly to take second in 26.89, an important step on his journey back into competition.

Nic Fink took third in 26.98.

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Women’s 50m Butterfly

Sarah Sjostrom set a World Cup record of 25.06 en-route to victory ahead of Zhang Yufei in Berlin last week, the joint 22nd fastest time of her career.

The Swede – who claimed a fifth straight world title in the event at the Fukuoka worlds – reduced it once more for the 16th-swiftest time of her career headed by her 24.43 world record.

She said:

“That’s amazing. Every time I go under 25 seconds it feels like a personal best for me.

“I am super happy with that.”

Behind her came Zhang (25.31) and Torri Huske (25.73).

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Men’s 100m Freestyle

Thomas Ceccon got the touch in 48.36 ahead of Dylan Carter (48.62) and Zac Incerti (48.88).

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Women’s 100m Breaststroke

Ruta Meilutyte took the win in 1:06.70 ahead of Tes Schouten (1:06.94) and Sophie Hansson (1:07.26).

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Men’s 200m Butterfly

Sates returned to take his second win of the evening, coming from third at halfway before a final 50 of 29.46 anchored him to 1:55.44.

Richard Marton (1:56.60) and Takumi Terada (1:57.23) came home behind the South African.

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