The FINA Swimming World Cup returned to North America this weekend in Toronto, Canada, after a nearly 16-year absence. The competitors from Canada and the United States took advantage of the short travel time to get up and compete in short course meters.
Summer McIntosh, a rising superstar who may soon be able to drop the “rising” from her title, wasn’t even born the last time the World Cup was in North America, but on Friday, she may have had the best swim of the day in the 400m freestyle with the second-best time in history of 3:52.80.
The second-best time of the week was swum by McIntosh, who aggressively attacked the race with American Katie Ledecky, who many consider to be the finest to have ever done it. Yesterday, Li Bingjie of China broke the world record with a time of 3:51. On the last 25, McIntosh outtouched Ledecky, who had lowered her personal best time to 3:52.88.
McIntosh said of her swim, “I’m kind of in shock right now. “I wasn’t certain of my performance for tonight. I felt great about my morning swim. That makes me incredibly pleased, and I never would have thought I’d have that time.
For McIntosh, the time is a new world cup and junior record
The Canadian responded, “That’s obviously not what I would have thought if you had asked me. I didn’t really have any time in mind that I thought I could go.
Ledecky, who doesn’t compete in short course meter races frequently, climbed to third place all-time since all three of those swims took place over the span of 48 hours on two different countries.
Ledecky admitted, “I didn’t know what to expect from this meet. “At the moment, I’m not really sure what excellent short course timings are for me. Therefore, I’m merely attempting to push myself beyond my perceived boundaries.
“I just wanted to race a little. I feel like I’m just trying to find my training rhythm, so it’s wonderful to take a break from that now and participate in a few races.
In Toronto, not far from where she was raised, McIntosh made a contribution that the Canadian audience could applaud on Friday night.
In my hometown, I’ve never experienced a meet like this. All of my friends and family are in the stands, and I just live about 30 minutes away.
Maggie Mac Neil, the only gold medalist from Canada’s 2021 Olympic swimming squad, won the 50-meter backstroke for the nation’s second victory of the evening with a time of 25.96. She was followed by teammates Kylie Masse (26.02) and Ingrid Wilm in a 1-2-3 finish (26.18). Mac Neil and Masse emphasized their confidence in swimming such a top-notch competition at home because they used to train together in this very pool in Toronto.
The Veterans Participated
Many swimmers arrived from Berlin last week for the second stop of the Swimming World Cup, and many more will travel on to Indianapolis the following week. The Swimming World Cup will benefit from athletes who can transition between each city, each race, and each heat with the least amount of energy loss, and on Friday, we witnessed these athletes triumph.
Kasia Wasick of Poland replicated her Berlin victory in the 50m freestyle with a new national record of 23.27 in Toronto. She is now tied for fifth all-time in the event and is inching closer to Ranomi Kromowidjojo’s 22.93 world record. Wasick will attempt to win the 50m freestyle next week in Indianapolis and in December at the World Short Course Championships in Melbourne, as she is swimming faster than ever at the age of 30.
Wasick stated, “I am quite enthusiastic for the World Championships (in December)”. “I did not anticipate starting the season so well, so I am pleased. I simply wish to continue working diligently since this is not the end. Therefore, I will put my head down and train.”
South African Matthew Sates, who presently has 92 points, won the 400-meter freestyle to repeat his victory from Berlin. American Shaine Casas, who won two events in Toronto on Friday to cut the gap, is second with 87 points.
Casas’ victories in the 200-meter backstroke (1:48.99) and 100-meter individual medley (51.03) put him back in contention for the overall championship, while his 100-meter IM placed him eighth all-time. For Casas, the 200 back, the time was quicker than in Berlin.
In reference to his season high, Casas commented, “Yeah of course, that was the intention.” “Every meet, you want to get faster, so I’m happy to be headed in the right path. In all honesty, I was perplexed during the morning swim since I felt awful and it ached a lot. But my time is the only thing that counts.
Flickinger presently leads Louise Hansson (76.3) and Beata Nelson by 78.2 points (74.5).
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