{"id":265727,"date":"2017-07-13T15:00:56","date_gmt":"2017-07-13T22:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=265727"},"modified":"2017-07-14T09:58:15","modified_gmt":"2017-07-14T16:58:15","slug":"fina-world-championships-predictions-womens-50-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/fina-world-championships-predictions-womens-50-back\/","title":{"rendered":"FINA World Championships Predictions: Women’s 50 Back"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s not exactly bold to predict a Chinese woman to take gold in the 50 back at the FINA World Championships. After all,\u00a0Zhao Jing\u00a0<\/strong>won World titles in the event in 2009 and 2013 (and still holds the world record), and\u00a0Fu Yuanhui<\/strong> won the event in 2015 in Kazan.<\/p>\n

Heading into this year’s World Champs, Chinese swimmers actually own the top three times in the world in the race and four of the top five. At the helm of those rankings is Fu, who extended her range to the 100 back last year when she tied for Olympic bronze. Could she challenge the elusive 27-second mark in Budapest?<\/p>\n

Read below to see what\u00a0Swimming World’s\u00a0<\/em>trio of experts think will happen in\u00a0Budapest.\u00a0David Rieder<\/strong>,\u00a0John Lohn<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Andy Ross<\/strong>\u00a0will each offer their predictions for\u00a0who will finish on the podium.<\/p>\n

Women’s 50 Back<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Current Records:<\/h3>\n

World Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Zhao Jing, CHN (2009) — 27.06
\nChampionship Record:<\/strong> Zhao Jing, CHN (2009) — 27.06
\nAmerican Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Natalie Coughlin (2015) — 27.51<\/p>\n

2015 World Champion:<\/strong>\u00a0Fu Yuanhui, CHN — 27.11
\n2017 World No. 1:<\/strong>\u00a0Fu Yuanhui, CHN — 27.36<\/p>\n

Swimming World Predictions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

David Rieder’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong>\u00a0Fu Yuanhui, CHN
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Etiene Medeiros, BRA
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Aliaksandra Herasimenia, BLR<\/p>\n

John Lohn’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Fu Yuanhui, CHN
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong> Etiene Medeiros, BRA
\nBronze:<\/strong>\u00a0Kylie Masse, CAN<\/p>\n

Andy Ross’ Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Fu Yuanhui, CHN
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong>\u00a0Holly Barratt, AUS
\nBronze:<\/strong> Etiene Medeiros, BRA<\/p>\n

Previous\u00a0Events<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Day One:<\/h3>\n