{"id":266109,"date":"2017-07-17T15:00:11","date_gmt":"2017-07-17T22:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=266109"},"modified":"2017-07-17T15:10:35","modified_gmt":"2017-07-17T22:10:35","slug":"fina-world-championships-predictions-womens-200-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/fina-world-championships-predictions-womens-200-back\/","title":{"rendered":"FINA World Championships Predictions: Women’s 200 Back"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the 2015 FINA World Championships,\u00a0Emily Seebohm<\/strong> ran down and passed both\u00a0Katinka Hosszu<\/strong> and\u00a0Missy Franklin<\/strong>\u00a0to win her first World title in the 200 back. A year later, she didn’t even make the Olympic final in the event.<\/p>\n

As for Hosszu, she was heavily favored to win gold in the 200 back in Rio, having already won three other golds at that point in the meet. In the final, Hosszu\u00a0led for the entire race\u00a0before\u00a0Maya\u00a0<\/strong>DiRado<\/strong>\u00a0ran her down and caught her on the last stroke.<\/p>\n

DiRado is now retired and Franklin absent, so the top American coming into the meet\u2014and actually the top swimmer in the world right now\u2014is\u00a0Kathleen Baker<\/strong>, the Olympic silver medalist in the 100 back.<\/p>\n

Canada’s two swimmers could make a big push here as well, with Olympic bronze medalist\u00a0Hilary Caldwell<\/strong> and 100 back World No. 1\u00a0Kylie Masse\u00a0<\/strong>both in the field.<\/p>\n

“I think we have the potential for two women on the podium in the 200 backstroke,” Caldwell said. “That\u2019s a pretty incredible statistic, and I couldn\u2019t tell you the last time Canada has had two people on the podium in one event.”<\/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 200 Back<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Current Records:<\/h3>\n

World Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Missy Franklin, USA (2012) — 2:04.06
\nChampionship Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Missy Franklin, USA (2013) — 2:04.76
\nAmerican Record:<\/strong>\u00a0Missy Franklin (2012) — 2:04.06<\/p>\n

2015 World Champion:<\/strong>\u00a0Emily Seebohm, AUS — 2:05.81
\n2016 Olympic Gold Medalist:<\/strong>\u00a0Maya DiRado, USA — 2:05.99
\n2017 World No. 1:<\/strong>\u00a0Kathleen Baker, USA — 2:06.38<\/p>\n

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

David Rieder’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong>\u00a0Katinka Hosszu, HUN
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong> Kathleen Baker, USA
\nBronze:<\/strong> Emily Seebohm, AUS<\/p>\n

John Lohn’s Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Emily Seebohm, AUS
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong> Kathleen Baker, USA
\nBronze:<\/strong> Katinka Hosszu, HUN<\/p>\n

Andy Ross’ Picks:<\/h3>\n

Gold:<\/strong> Kathleen Baker, USA
\nSilver<\/strong>:<\/strong> Emily Seebohm, AUS
\nBronze:<\/strong> Katinka Hosszu, HUN<\/p>\n

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

Day One:<\/h3>\n