KAZAN, Russia – Australia’s Kyle Chalmers set a short-course world record in the men’s 100m freestyle as he clinched gold at the FINA World Cup in Kazan, Russia.
Fresh from victory in the 50m freestyle, the 23-year-old came home in 44.84 seconds, bettering the mark of 44.94 seconds set by France’s Amaury Leveaux in 2008.
Russian Valdimir Morozov finished almost a 1-1/2 seconds back in second place ahead of compatriot Kliment Kolesnikov in third.
Chalmers won gold in the 100m freestyle at the Rio Olympics in 2016 but only managed silver at the Tokyo Games this year, finishing behind American Caeleb Dressel.
Daiya Seto came within two tenths of his second Asian record in as many days at the FINA World Cup stop in Kazan, Russia.
The Japanese star clocked in at 1:50.66 in the men’s 200 individual medley, taking down his time from 2018 (1:51.09) to set the World Cup record.
Seto’s time brushes within .19 seconds of the Asian record held by countryman Kosuke Hagino since 2014. Seto clipped .01 seconds off the Japanese and Asian records in the 100m. He owns the 400 IM record, which is also the world standard (3:54.81).
Matt Sates of South Africa was second in 1:52.32, nine-tenths slower than the world junior record he set this month in Berlin. Daniil Pasynkov was third.
Earlier, Kliment Kolesnikov lost out in a duel in the men’s 50 backstroke to countryman Pavel Samusenko, who won in 22.90 to Kolesnikov’s 23.12.
A battle in the men’s 50 breaststroke went the way of Fabian Schwingenschlogl, the German finishing coming within .01 of his national record to win in 25.88. He outdueled Arno Kamminga, who finished second in 25.95.
Aleksei Rtishchev won the men’s 1,500 in 14:47.27, and Tom Shields claimed a wire-to-wire win in the men’s 200 butterfly in 1:52.32.
On the women’s side, Holly Barratt prevailed in an all-Aussie battle in the 50 butterfly. She clocked in at 24.75 seconds to best countrywoman Emma McKeon (24.94). Arina Surkova of Russia was third in 25.36.
Barratt’s time buzzes within .06 seconds of the national record of 24.69 set in 2009 by Marieke Guehrer.
Madison Wilson added another Australian win in the 200 free with a time of 1:53.53, using a 28.40 final 50 to rally past Ekaterina Nikonova. Leah Neale was third.
Yulia Efimova won the all-Russian battle in the women’s 100 breast in 1:04.56, holding off by .01 seconds the charge of Vitalina Simonova.
Kira Toussaint left no doubt in the 100 backstroke, winning by more than 2.5 seconds in a time of 55.42.
Daria Vaskina came in the best of the rest. Zsuzsanna Jakabos won the 400 IM in 4:30.38, pulling away early to beat Anastasia Sorokina and Viktoria Gunes.
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