{"id":135529,"date":"2015-06-05T00:15:53","date_gmt":"2015-06-05T07:15:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=135529"},"modified":"2015-07-28T18:10:59","modified_gmt":"2015-07-29T01:10:59","slug":"backstroke-races-will-be-tight-at-world-championships-medal-predictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/backstroke-races-will-be-tight-at-world-championships-medal-predictions\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Will Win The Backstroke Races At World Championships?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Each week leading up to the start of the swimming competition at the FINA world championships, Swimming World will offer medal predictions for the 42 events set to be contested in Kazan, Russia.\u00a0<\/i>
\nCoverage of the World Championships is sponsored by Wylas Timing<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

By Jeff Commings, Swimming World senior writer<\/i><\/p>\n

On paper, it looks like none of the reigning world champions in the six backstroke events to be swum in Kazan will hold on to their titles. But races aren\u2019t swum on paper, and things could change drastically once the competition begins.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s backstroke at world championships<\/h3>\n

Missy Franklin is the only serious women\u2019s medal contender to not have raced long course so far this year. We know Franklin will be fast in the 100 and 200 backstrokes, but will she have enough to overcome the massive improvements by Australia\u2019s Emily Seebohm?<\/p>\n

Franklin and Seebohm have been battling in the pool since the 2012 Olympics, where Franklin denied Seebohm gold in the 100 backstroke. Seebohm has returned to the 200 back, and could give Franklin all she can handle in that event as well. While Franklin hasn\u2019t raced much backstroke since relocating to Berkeley, she should not be counted out when the heat is on. If Seebohm heals well after dislocating her kneecap<\/a>, she will have a very successful meet.<\/p>\n

Another serious contender in the 200 backstroke is Katinka Hosszu, who took down Franklin\u2019s short course world record last fall with a 1:59.23. Hosszu and Seebohm are the only swimmers to go under 2:07 so far this year, and they will be battling for silver behind Franklin, who I predict will break 2:05 for the third time in her career. Hosszu will have the issue of competing much more than Seebohm by the time the 200 back final rolls around, but the Iron Lady might find the energy to push past the pain for silver.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s 200 backstroke medal prediction<\/h2>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Missy Franklin
\nSilver:<\/strong> Katinka Hosszu
\nBronze:<\/strong> Emily Seebohm<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr<\/p><\/div>\n\"Wylas<\/a>\n

The 100 back tips in Seebohm\u2019s favor. She\u2019s always preferred the 100 back, and will be hungry to overtake Franklin. Seebohm finally beat Franklin in the 100 back last year at the Pan Pacific championships, but Franklin was severely hampered by back pain throughout the meet. When Franklin is on her game, no one can match her final 50 meters. If Franklin is within five tenths of a second of Seebohm at the turn, the race belongs to Franklin. Battling for bronze will be a wealth of heavy hitters, but the medal should go to Denmark\u2019s Mie Neilsen, who has been ready for a breakthrough for about three years. Now 18 years old, she will need to break 59 seconds to snag the bronze medal, and she is right on the cusp of doing that.<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s 100 backstroke medal prediction<\/h2>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Emily Seebohm
\nSilver:<\/strong> Missy Franklin
\nBronze:<\/strong> Mie Nielsen<\/p>\n

\"Emily<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr<\/p><\/div>\n

The 50 backstroke is not an Olympic event, but with a gold medal on the line for their countries, many swimmers will be putting a high premium on not only getting into the final but getting on the medal podium. Brazil best chance for a medal in the women\u2019s meet comes in the 50 backstroke, where reigning short course champion and world record holder Etiene Medeiros will be the one to beat. Though the long course 50 backstroke only gives her one opportunity to showcase her underwater kicking skills, she is likely to emerge victorious. Fu Yuanhui, who was second in the 2013 world championships, will have to contend with Seebohm, Neilsen and teammate Xiang Liu. Rachel Bootsma will be the lone American in the event, and could be in the medal hunt if she makes the final.<\/p>\n

\"wylastimingskyscraper2015\"<\/a><\/h2>\n

Women\u2019s 50 backstroke medal prediction<\/h2>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Etiene Medeiros
\nSilver:<\/strong>Emily Seebohm
\nBronze:<\/strong> Fu Yuanhui<\/p>\n

\"Etiene<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: FINA Doha 2014<\/p><\/div>\n

Men\u2019s backstroke at world championships<\/h3>\n

With reigning 200 backstroke world champion Ryan Lochte not swimming the event in Kazan, the door is open for Japan\u2019s Ryosuke Irie to break an impressive eight-meet streak by the United States. Though he\u2019s been on the international scene since 2009, Irie has not won gold at the Olympics or world championships. The issue is his consistency, as he posts fast times early in the season but cannot replicate those swims or go faster in the championship meet.<\/p>\n

Irie is remedying that problem, and could be the one to beat in the 200 back. But American Ryan Murphy has been having a stellar year, winning both backstroke titles at the NCAA championships. The 200 back is Murphy\u2019s only event in Russia, and he will be much fresher than his competitors. That could be a big factor when the race comes down to the final 25 meters. Irie is a great finisher, but Murphy knows how to finish a race as well.<\/p>\n

Radoslaw Kawecki won silver behind Lochte in 2013, and has already shown some promise for fast swimming with a 1:56.38 last week that was likely not at peak form. He and Tyler Clary will be fighting for the bronze medal.<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s 200 backstroke medal prediction<\/h2>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Ryosuke Irie
\nSilver:<\/strong> Ryan Murphy
\nBronze:<\/strong> Radoslaw Kawecki<\/p>\n

\"Ryosuke<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch<\/p><\/div>\n

Irie managed to beat Matt Grevers in the 100 back last year at the Pan Pacific championships, but I don\u2019t see that happening in Kazan. Irie is sure to get on the medal stand, but might not have the speed to stay within striking distance of gold. With that in mind, Grevers is not a sure thing. Along with Irie, several athletes have the ability to break 53 seconds and contend for gold.<\/p>\n

Chris Walker-Hebborn continues to improve almost a year after winning gold in the 100 back at the Commonwealth Games last year. He broke 53 seconds for the first time in his career last April, and will need to be faster than his 52.88 if he wants Great Britain to return to the medal podium in the 100 backstroke. Irie is likely to be under 53 seconds, and Mitch Larkin of Australia could have a breakthrough swim as well. David Plummer captured silver in the event in 2013 to give the Americans a 1-2 finish in Barcelona, but Plummer will have to surpass his lifetime best of 52.98 if he wants to return to the podium. France\u2019s Jeremy Stravius might be an underdog.<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s 100 backstroke medal prediction<\/h2>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Matt Grevers
\nSilver:<\/strong> Chris Walker-Hebborn
\nBronze:<\/strong> Ryosuke Irie<\/p>\n

\"matt-grevers-mesa-2015-2\"<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Kara Sekenski<\/p><\/div>\n

While the French duo of Stravius and Camille Lacourt don\u2019t appear to have the ability to win medals in the 100 back or repeat their tie for gold in 2011, they could go 1-2 in the 50 backstroke. They are ranked first and second in the world now, but the race is so unpredictable that nothing matters until the race begins. Grevers and Plummer will factor in the race, and Plummer has more motivation after slipping on the start in the semifinals in 2013 and missing out on a likely spot in the final.<\/p>\n

Men\u2019s 50 backstroke medal prediction<\/h2>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Jeremy Stravius
\nSilver:<\/strong> David Plummer
\nBronze:<\/strong> Camille Lacourt<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Pamela Roberts<\/p><\/div>\n

Agree or disagree with our medal predictions?\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Each week leading up to the start of the swimming competition at the FINA world championships, Swimming World will offer medal predictions for the 42 events set to be contested<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":131807,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,17,10],"tags":[51878,25030,25314,31273,13727,27550,42939,27558,25129,26558,25002,12011,38839,25136,26643,19138,25269,35608,142,25035,51697],"class_list":["post-135529","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-commentary","category-world","tag-2015-fina-world-championships","tag-arkady-vyatchanin","tag-camille-lacourt","tag-chris-walker-hebborn","tag-david-plummer","tag-emily-seebohm","tag-fu-yuanhui","tag-jeremy-stravius","tag-katinka-hosszu","tag-kazan","tag-kosuke-hagino","tag-matt-grevers","tag-mie-neilsen","tag-missy-franklin","tag-rachel-bootsma","tag-ryan-lochte","tag-ryan-murphy","tag-ryosuke-irie","tag-swimming","tag-tyler-clary","tag-xiang-liu"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nWho 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