Book of Budapest; California Chronicle
Craig Lord & Nick Thierry
Aug 23, 2010

2011 Best Performers (Long Course - Male)

800 METRES FREESTYLE

#CountryTimeNameIPSMeet
1CHN7:38.57Sun, Yang1002WORLDJUL
2CAN7:41.86Cochrane, Ryan992WORLDJUL
3HUN7:44.94Kis, Gergo982WORLDJUL
4FAR7:45.55Joensen, Pal980WORLDJUL
5TUN7:45.99Mellouli, Oussama979WORLDJUL

Two of the biggest events of the year are behind us, the new order of world swimming in place and subject to the likely changes promised by two of the biggest events still ahead of us, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games (China has yet to show its true team form since the return to textile suits). At the foot of this file are the links to all reviews of finals in Budapest at the European Championships and Irvine at the Pan Pacific Championships, with updated statistics on historic counts in the Hungarian articles.

A summary of the aquatic world order so far in 2010: 

Among men, Americans lead the world in 9 of the 16 Olympic events and have two among the best three in the world in 6 of the 13 solo events. A dominant role, relative weakness to be found on breaststroke (no top 5 place) and the 400m freestle, one man in top 10, at 10. No other nation comes remotely close, not even France, which boasts 6 places among the top 3 across all Olympic events, including three No1s (and see the virtual medals table below). In the 4x100m free in which paper exercises have of late suggested French dominance, Gaul is third best, with Alain Bernard the best of his team in fifth this year over 100m, while the US boasts Michael Phelps and Nathan Adrian, on 48.13 and 48.14 at the helm, with Jason Lezak in 7th. 

Worth noting too in all that has unfolded this long-course season: Australian men did not win a single medal in any freestyle events 50m to 1,500m at Pan Pacs. When last did that happen? Answers on a postcard to ...  

Among women, Americans are struggling by historic standards but still enjoy a healthy place in the world order. Rebecca Soni is the only world leader, in both breaststroke events, while the US enjoys top 3 rankings in 13 of the 16 Olympic events, with two among the top 3 in 3 events.

Australian women have slipped back a touch from the heights of 2004-2008, Emily Seebohm leading the way in two events, while Australians have no top 3 place in 6 of the 13 Olympic solo events, the same count as Britain.

While no world and just one European record have succumbed this year, several nations have set national marks, including three for Canada at Pan Pacs: Stefan Hirniak in 200 fly 1:57.31 (inside 1:57.43 from 2009); Julia Wilkinson in the 50 back, 28.47 (inside  28.53 from 2008) and the 200 IM, on 2:11.32 (inside 2:12.03 from 2008).

The continental count - 4:

Asia:  Men 

  • 50m breaststroke - 27.30,  Kosuke Kitajima (JPN) - prelims, Japan nationals, April (27.40, Vladislav Polyakov, KAZ, 2009)
  • 400IM -  4:12.02, Yuya Horihata (JPN), Japan nationals, April (4:12.41, Jiro Miki, JPN, 2009)

The performances were not repeated in the summer, though Kitajima bypassed the 50m in major competition

Europe: Men

  • 100 back: 52.11, Camille Lacourt (FRA) Euro titles, August (52.27, Helge Meeuw, GER, 2009)

Helge Meeuw did not compete this summer

Oceania: Women

  • 1,500m free: 16:01.53, Melissa Gorman (AUS) Pan Pacs, August (16:04.84, Hayley Lewis, AUS, August 1993)

Hayley Lewis is retired.

That's just 4 new marks across all continents, compared to the 255 world marks, long and short, in 23 months up to the end of 2009, a handful of those never ratified because of thew to-ing and fro-ing on suit rules and approvals dictated by shiny suts banned since January 1.

There was a view last year that what shiny suits brought was tighter racing. The statistics do not back that up. In Budapest, for example, nine finals produced the tightest podiums in the history of the European Championships.

And so to a final glimpse at Pan Pacs, where the medals table did not include non-Olympic events, which made the following difference: 

With all events:

  • USA    27       15      10      52
  • AUS     5        16      10      31
  • JPN       3         5        5      13
  • CAN     2         2        6      10
  • BRA     2         2        4        8

NB: there was a tie for 2nd in the women's 100m free

Olympic events only

  • USA   25      15     7     47
  • AUS     4      12     9     25
  • JPN       2       4     5     11
  • CAN     2       2     5       9
  • KOR     1       1     0      2

NB: there was a tie for 2nd in the women's 100m free

Impossible to join the Transatlantic meets together in the real world, the race conditions (7 days, 4 days, semis, no semis, straight distance finals, distance heats and finals, different way in which races unfold, etc etc), but always fun to have a look where nations appear to fare against each other. The virtual medals table - one drawn up by Georges Kiehl, a former French international and leading light in oiling the wheels of the World Cup and Mare Nostrum Tour for many years, as he rightfully celebrates the impressive gains of Gaul - indicates that Australia has work to do if it wants to hang on to world No2 spot. Of course, when the world races the race will shift (and the Olympics is another thing altogether) - the question is, which way? 

  • USA      16     13     4     33
  • FRA         5      1     6     12
  • GBR        4       2     0      6
  • SWE        3       0     0      3       
  • AUS         2       7    4     13 

While Camille Lacourt's backstroke blasts in Budapest won the performance titles on SwimNews points, the stars of the Irvine show were Ryan Lochte and Rebecca Soni. SwimNews points, more regularly adjusted to events than FINA points, had Soni's best effort as that sub-1:05 effort in the 100m breaststroke, the best effort ever seen in textile, rather than the 200m victory that marked the second-best effort seen in a textile suit:

Top 10 swims, Men

  • 1015 Lochte   200IM 1:54.43
  • 1001 Lochte   400IM 4:07.56
  • 998 Lochte     200 Back 1:54.12
  • 995 Kitajima  100 breaststroke 59.04
  • 995 Lochte     400IM heats 4:08.77
  • 993 Kitajima  200 breaststroke 2:08.36
  • 992 Clary       400IM 4:09.20
  • 990 Clary       400IM 4:09.55
  • 989 Phelps     100m 'fly 50.86
  • 989 Phelps     200m 'fly 1:54.11

Camille Lacourt (FRA) was the only swimmer who breached 1,000 points in Budapest (see top 3 overall below)

Top 10 swims, Women

  • 1006 Soni      100 breaststroke 1:04.93
  • 1004 Soni      200 breaststroke 2:20.69
  • 1002 Hardy   50  breaststroke 30.03
  • 992 Ziegler    800 freestyle 8:21.59
  • 990 Jones      100 breaststroke 1:05.66
  • 986 Schmitt    200 freestyle 1:56.10
  • 986 Seebohm 100 backstroke 59.34
  • 985 Gorman    1500m freestyle 16:01.53
  • 985 Soni         100 breaststroke heats 1:05.89
  • 985 Hardy       50 breaststroke heats 30.39

No woman breached 1,000 points at European championships in Budapest

The top three performances of the year, men and women:

Men 

  • 1015 Lochte    200IM 1:54.43
  • 1012 Lacourt   50 backstroke 24.07
  • 1006 Lacourt   100 backstroke 52.11

Women: 

  • 1006 Soni        100 breaststroke 1:04.93
  • 1004 Soni        200 breaststroke 2:20.69
  • 1002 Hardy     50  breaststroke 30.03

The top two European swims, on 994 points, are the 200m free of Federica Pellegrini (1:55.45) and the 50m 'fly by Therese Alshammar (24.49), while Rebecca Adlington (8:21.25, 800m free) and Elizabeth Simmonds (2:06.79, 200m backstroke) scored 993. Points relate to the level of the world record in any particular event and the spread behind that world record.

A footnote on future events: 

Budapest and Irvine were run on budgets much, much smaller than what it now takes to stage a world championships. The ability to find hosts for hugely costly events is not going to get easier for a while, particularly if swimming would like to stage its events in nations that lead the way in the sport. Budapest was unable to hand the LEN flag over to the next host - because there is no next host, as yet. Potential hosts for the European showcases in 2012 and 2014 will doubtless wish to know "what’s in it for us".

Budapest's fine event provided the answer to some extent, the bottom line as stark as the black line that swimmer’s follow year in and year out in pursuit of excellence. A colleague reminded me recently of a FINA official, in pursuit of a better lot for aquatic sports, who said “we’re fed up with eating nuts and sipping cheap wine ... we want caviar and champagne” . His heart, many may say, was in the right place but the wallets of potential bidders for events may not stretch to all of that for a while. What Budapest 2010 proved is what aquatic sports have known since Budapest 1926: you don’t need the trappings of wealth to put on a spectacle that will have them on their feet and cheering for more. The athletes will do that for you.

THE BOOK OF BUDAPEST

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(all reviews have had historical stats updated since files were launched on day of competition)

CALIFORNIA CHRONICLE

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