ZUMO Performance of the Week: Luca Urlando Moves To #3 In The World

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Luca Urlando had an outstanding 200 fly at the 2019 Mel Zajac Jr. International meet; Photo Courtesy: Melissa Wolf

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This week’s ZUMO Performance of the Week goes to Luca Urlando for his 200 fly from the 2019 Mel Zajac Jr. International that shot him up the world rankings.

Urlando had a stellar weekend in Vancouver at the Mel Zajac meet, posting personal best times in every event and completing a sweep of the butterfly events. But the 17-year-old saved the best for last, blasting the third-fastest time in the world this year in the 200 fly with a 1:54.35.

That time took nearly a second off his lifetime best, which had stood at a 1:55.21 from last summer’s U.S. Nationals, and crushed the meet record by nearly four seconds. He also moved up to #3 overall in the world rankings and lengthened his lead as the fastest American 200 flier so far this year. His 1:54.35 puts about two seconds ahead of the next fastest American, Caeleb Dressel, who had an unexpected 1:56.29 at last week’s Atlanta Classic.

Maybe more notably, Urlando’s time shows he will be a serious contender in this event at the 2020 Olympic Trials. The teenager’s time would have won the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials, besting the top two times put up by the now-retired GOAT Michael Phelps (1:54.84) and the still-active Tom Shields (1:55.81). He also just tenths off of Phelps’ legendary 17-18 NAG record of 1:53.93, which was set at the 2003 World Championships and was the first 200 fly in history under 1:54.

Congratulations to Luca Urlando on earning ZUMO’s Performance of the Week!

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Thomas A. Small
4 years ago

Congratulations

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