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FINA World Swimming Championships

19th FINA World Swimming Championships

 

by Bruno Moreno


Facts about the 19th FINA World Swimming Championships: 

** Previous to the start of this year’s world swimming championships.

Dressel is the 3rd swimmer with the most medals at the FINA World Swimming Championships with a total of 15 medals (all events). 13 out of those 15 are gold. Dressel has 87% effectiveness in taking a gold medal, while Phelps had 79% in his entire World Championship career. 

The 3 countries with more medals are: United States (260), Australia (91) and Hungary (50) (Data from from 1973 to 2019). However, Great Britain (49) is just one medal away from Hungary (50). 

Adam Peaty has more medals than 23 nations that have participated at the FINA World Swimming Championships and their swimmers have won a medal (1973 – 2019)

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Some useful links: 

Swimming Live Results:

Open Water Live Results: 

Where and When? 

This year’s world championships will take place in Budapest, Hungary at the Duna Arena venue from June 18 until July 3.  

Schedule for Swimming: 

June 18

June 19

June 20

June 21

Women’s

400 Free

100 Fly 

200 IM

4×100 Free Relay

Women’s

1500 Free

100 Back

100 Breast

Women’s

200 Free

Women’s

50 Back 

200 Butterfly

Men’s

400 Free

100 Breast

50 Fly

400 IM

4×100 Free Relay

Men’s

200 Free

100 Back

Men’s

800 Free

50 Breast

200 Fly

Men’s

100 Free

200 IM

4×100 Mixed Medley Relay

June 22

June 23

June 24

June 25

Women’s 

100 Free

200 Breast

4×200 Free Relay

Women’s

800 Free

200 Back

50 Fly

Women’s

50 Free

50 Breast

Women’s 

400 IM 

4×100 Medley Relay

Men’s 

200 Back

200 Breast

Men’s

50 Free

100 Fly

Men’s

1500 Free

50 Back

4×100 Mixed Free Relay

Men’s 

4×100 Medley Relay

 

Last update: June, 2022






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Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







What you need to know: Budapest 2022

What you need to know about

19th FINA World Swimming Championships

by Bruno Moreno


Team GB: 

Duncan Scott is the biggest absence from the FINA World Swimming Championships due to COVID-19 reasons. Team GB did not expect this situation: to have both Adam Peaty Duncan Scott out of Worlds. Great Britain are the current World Champions in the men’s 4×100 medley relay (Luke Greenbank,, James Guy, Adam Peaty and Duncan Scott in 2019). 

This year the team will only count with backstroke specialist and Olympic Medalist, Greenbank and World Champion, Guy.

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Michael Andrew:

During the first day of the 19th FINA World Swimming Championships he qualified to the semifinal of both men’s 50 butterfly and 100 meter breaststroke. He is favorite to medal in both events. What are your predictions? 

Dylan Carter: 

In a time of 22.87 Dylan Carter broke his own national record and will be the number one seed heading into the semifinals. Dressel, Ceccon and Andrew were the only other 3 swimmers under 23 seconds. 

Team Mexico: 

Maria Matta Cocco finished in 17th place in the women’s 100 meter butterfly, only 1 spot away from making the semifinals cut. During the first day of prelims, she was the best Mexican in the pool. 

Men’s 400 IM: 

Marchand (FRA) and Foster (USA) qualified as the main favorites for tonight’s final. Chase Kalisz, 2020 Olympic Champion, will try to become World Champion again and defeat the young stars.

Check latest results here.

Last update: June, 2022






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Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







Mexico Is Ready For Budapest

The Mexican Open Water National Team has arrived!

June 26 – June 30 in Budapest

by Bruno Moreno


The leaders of the team:

The Mexican open water swimmers that will represent Mexico at the next 19th FINA World Championships are in Austria in preparation for the main competition. The team leaders, Arturo Pérez Vertti, Martha Sandoval and Daniel Delgadillo are ready to have their best international competition.

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Young Talent:

Apart from experienced swimmers, this team counts with young talented swimmers: Paulo Strehlke, Paulina Alanis and Montserrat Mora. It will be the first World Championships for all these teenagers. Even though Paulo Strehlke is one of the youngest in the team at only 16 years old, he enters the competition as the fastest Mexican this year in 10k (1:58). 

Joel Rodriguez, Strehlke and Paulina’s coach, is in Austria preparing his swimmers to have the best competition ever. Both open water swimmers will also participate at the FINA World Junior Open Water Championships later this year. 

According to internal sources, the team is projected to compete at the Italian Open Water Tour as preparation for Budapest. Maximiliano Strehlke, qualified for the FINA World Junior Open Water Championships, is also training with the senior team and will definitely gain some experience. He is a favorite to medal at World Juniors. 

Here is the Open Water Schedule for Budapest: 

June 26

June 27June 29June 30
Mixed 4×1500 Men 5k

Women 5k

Women 10k

Men 10k

Women 25k

Men 25k

Check latest results here.

Last update: June, 2022






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Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







Tokyo 2020 In Numbers

Tokyo 2020 In Numbers

Australia was dominant

Some Useful Statistics:


Comparing Results to Rio 2016 and London 2012

On the women’s side, MacNeil was 0.11 slower than Sjöström. Those 0.11 were the difference between breaking the WR and OR. 

The last 3 Olympic Champions have all swum under 56 seconds, Dana Vollmer being the first one of all time. 

On the men’s side, at the Tokyo Olympics Dressel broke both his own WR and Joseph Schooling’s OR from 2016. He is the first Olympic Champion that swam the 100 butterfly under 50 seconds. 

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Numbers that Matter:

More than 30 million people watched at a certain moment the Olympics. That is more than 60% of Spain’s population (Source: verTele)

Swimming was the 5th most watched sport with over 14 million spectators representing 31.7% of the Olympics’ audience.

US Men were dominant in swimming: the American men won gold in 47% of the men’s races, with Caeleb Dressel as the main star dominating the men’s: 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 100 butterfly (Source: FINA)

 

.The Australian’s were closer to the US: 89% of the gold medals from Australia in the pool came from the female side. 8 medals were won by the Australian women and just one by the men in the 200 breaststroke (Source: FINA)

Katie Ledecky was defeated for the first time at the Olympics (individual events only). Titmus won the battle in women’s 400 freestyle and in 2022 the Australian took Ledecky’s 400 freestyle WR.

Last update: June, 2022






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Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







2019 Vs 2017 FINA World Championships

2017 Vs 2019

FINA World Championships

Phelps Records were broken 


In Budapest 2017 Dressel became the 3rd swimmer in history ro break 50 seconds in the men’s 100 butterfly. The others: Phelps and Cavic.

With a time of 49.86 he became the fastest in the new swimsuit era and was just 0.04 off Phelps’ World Record set in 2009.

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100 Meter Butterfly Podium Comparison: 

2017 FINA World Swimming Championships

Medal Winners

Time
1) Caeleb Dressel 49.86      
2) Kristof Milak 50.62 
3) Joseph Schooling50.83
3) James Guy

50.83

Source: FINA

2019 FINA World Swimming Championships

Medal WinnersTime
1) Caeleb Dressel 49.66 
2) Minakov50.83
3) Chad le Clos51.16

Source: FINA

A very important fact to mention is that le Clos’ bronze medal winning time would have finished last place in the final of the 2017 FINA World Swimming Championships (Source: FINA). 

Caeleb Dressel broke the WR at the 2019 World Championships in a time of 49.50 in the semifinals. The time swam in the final was the second fastest ever. 

Milak won silver at the 2017 World Swimming Championships when he was just 17 years of age. That time is the current World Junior Record (WJR). In 2019 he broke Phelps’ 200 butterfly World Record and became World Champion. 

Dressel (USA) and Milak (HUN) broke World Records that belonged to Michael Phelps that were untouchable for more than 10 years. 

Last update: June, 2022






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Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







200 butterfly in 5 different Olympics

The Phelps Story

200 butterfly in 5 different Olympics:


As a high performance athlete, going to the Olympics is the highest achievement you can make. According to the World Economic Forum only 11,500 athletes competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, representing just 0.00014% of the world’s population. Certainly, just the ones who are willing to put in hard work and discipline are the ones who achieve it. 

However, there is a big difference between going to just one Olympics representing your country and doing that 5 consecutive times.

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According to BBC the probability of a person to win gold in 100 meter athletics is 1 in 9 million. Michael Phelps defeated all the odds and due his passion, technique, discipline, ability, willingness and many other factors, he became the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 Olympic Medals. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics Phelps won Gold in all his 8 events in which he participated: 100 and 200 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 200 IM and 400 IM, 4×100 and 4×200 free relays, and 4×100 medley relay. 

Sydney 2000: 

The men’s 200 butterfly was the first event that Michael raced at the Olympics when he was only 15 years of age. He finished in 5th place at the Sydney Games in a time of 1:56.50. 

Athens 2004:

In 2004 at the Athens Olympic Games, Michael improved more than two seconds and won the men’s 200 butterfly in an Olympic Record Time of 1:54.04. At this point in his career and at only 19 years old, he had already been in 2 consecutive finals in the same event and became Olympic Champion. 

Beijing 2008: 

4 years later, Michael entered the Beijing Olympics as the main favorite to win the 200 meter butterfly. He won the race in a WR time of 1:52.03. This Gold Medal was part of his 8 Gold medal collection that he achieved at these games. 

London 2012: 

Finally, 4 years later at the 2012 London Olympics Michael entered the 200 meter butterfly final with the mentality of being his last final and Olympic Games. The years before the games certainly weren’t the best for the American, however, he still was able to achieved the Olympic final. Every single person in the world thought that Michael was going to win for the 3rd consecutive time, nevertheless, nobody considered a motivated and talented kid from South Africa named Chad le Clos. In the last 5 meters of the race the swimmer from South Africa closed extremely fast and it was during the touch where everything was decided. 

Considering his experience, Phelps did not touch the wall as he was supposed to, giving le Clos the opportunity to win the gold medal in a time of 1:52.98

Rio 2016: 

Phelps seemed disappointed after the race and even though he already was the most decorated Olympian of all time, he knew he could have retired with a gold in his favorite event: the 200 meter butterfly.

He announced his retirement from swimming after the London Olympics, nevertheless, he knew he still had something left to give. Not only to people, but to himself. 

In 2014, he came back. He put in the hard work again and in Rio 2016 he qualified for his 5th Olympic team. At the games, he reclaimed his Olympic title in the men’s 200 meter butterfly.

Last update: June, 2022






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Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







Hungary: the Host of World Swimming

Hungary: the Host of World Swimming

Duna Arena


Since the 2015 World Swimming Championships that were organized in Kazan, Russia; almost every single major swimming competition has happened in Budapest, Hungary. 

 

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In 2017 the world saw for the first time Caeleb Dressel swimming multiple individual events at a major international competition. In Rio 2016, he only swam the 100 meter freestyle and the 4×100 meter freestyle and 4×100 meter medley relays. In the 100 freestyle final he finished in 6th place in a time of 48.02 (source: Olympics)

Budapest Hungary and the Duna Aréna, became the places where Dressel showed the entire world who he really was:

Here are the results of Dressel at that competition: 

50 freestyle – 21.15 – Gold Medal 

100 freestyle – 47.17 – Gold Medal 

50 butterfly – 4th place 

100 butterfly – 49.86 – Gold Medal

4×100 free relay – Gold

4×100 medley relay – Gold

Mixed freestyle relay – Gold

Mixed medley relay – Gold

Source: FINA 

In 2020, the Duna Arena was the place where the ISL decided to carry out the second season. I was there and I can tell you that the atmosphere was incredible. The pool is one of the fastest in the world and if you are a swimmer, you understand what I’m talking about. 

In 2020 the American sprinter made more than $300,000 during the entire season in Budapest (source: SwimSwam). Definitely Budapest is a lucky place for Dressel and many other swimmers. 

Katinka Hosszu, Olympic and World Champion, and World Record Holder, has also won World Championship titles in this pool. At the 2017 World Swimming Championships, she won both the 200 and 400 Individual Medley in times of 2:07.00 and 4:29.33, respectively (source: FINA)

 

Who will be the star at this year’s World Championships? 

My predictions: 

Michael Andrew (USA): in both the men’s 50 and 100 meter breaststroke. 

Hunter Armstrong (USA): 50 backstroke + 100 backstroke. 

Carson Foster (USA): 200 IM + 400 IM

 

Last update: June, 2022






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Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







2023 Vs 2019 Pan American Games

2023 Vs 2019 Pan American Games

Qualifying Times


The biggest competition in Latin America will take place in Santiago, Chile from October 20 to November 5 of 2023. 

The best swimmers in the world will be reunited here. Stars like Dylan Carter, Bruno Fratus, Nicholas Santos or Jorge Iga will be fighting for a medal.

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Qualification Standards: 

In order to qualify to swim at the Pan American games the committee has established top times that swimmers need to meet, if their desire is to represent their country in the pool. 

That being said, the qualifying times for the upcoming games (2023) are slower than the ones who were required to compete at the 2019 version of the games.

50 Meter Freestyle:

On the men’s side, the qualifying standard time increased by 0.14 seconds. From 22.68 in 2019 to 22.82 in 2023.

On the women’s side, in 2019, the top time was 25.89. This qualifying standard now stands in 26.05 to compete at the Santiago Pan American Games in 2023. 

Source (Latinoamérica Swim Channel)

See the following table with the time comparison:

                  Men’s                                                                           Women’s

Lima 2019

Santiago 2023

Event

Lima 2019

Santiago 2023

22.68

22.82

50 free

25.89

26.05

49.80

50.10

100 free

56.56

56.90

1:49.66

1:50.32

200 free

2:03.55 

2:04.29

2:02.89

2:03.63

200 back

2:18.45

2:19.28

1:02.63

1:02.26

100 breast

1:11.11

1:11.54

2:00.54

2:01.26

200 fly

2:14.13

2:14.93

Source (Latinoamérica Swim Channel)

For the younger generations this is huge, since it gives them more opportunity to represent their country. For example Mexican young star Andres Dupont, swam a time of 1:50.65 in the men’s 200 meter freestyle, just 0.33 of the qualifying time. 

 

Let us know in the comments what you think about the change in times. 

 

Last update: June, 2022






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Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







Analyzing 2008 – 2020 Olympics

2008 – 2020 Olympic Games

50 Meter Freestyle Analysis


The 50 meter freestyle is the race that has the most entries at the Olympic Games, with 73 male swimmers participating at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Source (FINA & Olympics, 2021)

It is the event that decides which swimmer will become the fastest on the planet. Certainly, it is a very exciting race to watch as a viewer, although it is even more incredible to take part in it as an athlete.

As a former high-performance swimmer, I can tell you that the margin of error is little to nothing. One most be physically and mentally prepared to have a good reaction time, be able to apply the strategy learned in all trainings and never take a breath.

 

If we analyze Florent Manaudou at the 2012 Olympics, he took 33 strokes without a single breath.

The Fastest Swimmers at the Olympics: 

Winning the 50 meter freestyle at the most prestigious sports event in the world is definitely not an easy task, therefore these men’s technique and strategy must be analyzed.

Olympics

Name

Breaths

Time 

Strokes 

2008 Beijing

Cesar Cielo

021.30 (OR)33

2012 London

Florent Manaudou

021.3433

2016 Rio

Anthony Ervin

021.4034

2020 Tokyo

Caeleb Dressel

021.07 (OR)36

Source: (International Olympic Committee & FINA)

Facts about the Champions: 

Ervin, the 2016 Olympic Champion, has been the “slowest” 50 meter freestyle Olympic winner in the past 2 decades. He is also the oldest male swimmer to win Olympic gold, at 35 years of age. 

Cielo won his Olympic title in Beijing in Olympic Record Time of 21.30. The following year, in Brazil, he broke his previous PB in a time of 20.91, which now stands as the current World Record.

In 2016, Florent Manaudou was 0.01 off from taking gold and becoming Double 50 Meter Freestyle Olympic Champion. He has been at the podium of this race in the past 3 Olympics (Silver Medal in Tokyo, Silver Medal in Rio and Gold Medal in London).

Caeleb Dressel is the fastest swimmer the Olympics has ever seen in the new swimsuit era (when Cielo broke the OR, he was wearing the full-body swimsuits). At the Tokyo Olympics, he won both the 50 and 100 meter freestyle.

Watch the Final of the 50 Freestyle, London 2012 

Watch the Final of the 50 Freestyle, Beijing 2008

Last update: June, 2022






Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist







The Benefits of Swimming

Benefits of Swimming  

by Bruno Moreno


As former professional and high-performance swimmer I can tell you that this sport is one of the hardest ones in the entire world. 

I have practiced other sports like football, soccer, tennis and basketball and any of them challenge me physically or mentally as swimming did. 

What is swimming? 

For me, it is a physical activity that requires a lot of skills, determination and willingness, because if none of these 3 qualities are present when you carry it out, you will never have success. 

I started swimming when I was 2 years old and since then I have realized how difficult it is to maintain a good aerobic base and anaerobic capacity that will allow you to distance yourself from your competitors. 

Another important aspect that a swimmer is always thinking about is the responsibility that it comes from being named a ‘swimmer.’ There are hundreds of hours dedicated to the sport in and outside the pool, and thousands of sacrifices; however, the reward that comes after winning a medal or representing your country is worth those sacrifices and even more.

 

Mental Benefits of Swimming: 

  1. Ability to become more determined than ever: swimming prepares you mentally for any activity or situation in life. All the pain after hours of training must have a purpose. 
  2. Focus: concentration is a skill that is developed and trained everyday at the pool. 
  3. Never giving up: swimming prepares you mentally for the most difficult moments in life. I’m sure any swimmer can overcome situations like any other person. 

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Physical Benefits of Swimming: 

  1. Strength and conditioning: the best athletes in the world, regardless if they are swimmers or not, have incorporated aquatic activities into their training schedule. It allows muscles to grow faster, better recovery and faster development of aerobic and anaerobic capacity. 
  2. Being in good and healthy shape: swimming is one of the sports that burns the most calories.When I was training two sessions a day, I was burning between 2,000 calories just in the water. 

 

Last update: May, 2022






Written by:

Bruno M

Professional Sports Analyst and Journalist