Parting Moment from Friday Night in Melbourne

AM, CR, WR - USA Crushes Them All In Men's 4x200m Free Relay

Kieran Smith, Carson Foster, Trenton Julian and Drew Kibler go 6:44.12 to eclipse the old World Record of 6:46.81 that Brazil set at the world short course championship in Hangzhou 2018. Australia also dipped under the old all-time best mark with their silver medal-winning 6:46.54. 

With Thomas Ceccon on anchor, Italy out-touched Korea for the bronze, 6:49.63 to 6:49.67. Though, as a consolation, the Koreans set a new Asian Record.

What the Victorios USA Foursome Had to Say: 

Kieran Smith - lead off:  Amazing two nights of racing for myself. I had a really good lead off and it was a fun race and I am excited for the individual now. 

Carson Foster - second leg: Breaking the world record was the goal. We knew that from the minute this team was announced over the summer that the world record would be our goal and we knew we could do it. These are the four guys that won this summer and we are on kind of a roll right now.

Trenton Julian - third leg: It's amazing. After the Games, we all saw that it was kind of a letdown but we all saw that we needed to take it back.

Drew Kibler - anchor: The rivalry is everything. When you start building momentum, the really important thing to just build and grow and grow. It's a long meet with lots of emotional ups and downs but we have the support of our teammates and that is just amazing

No Doubt About It: Lani's the Distance Queen of Melbourne 

Japan's Miyu Namba takes silver in 15:46.76, setting a new Asian record. Ke ZHANG helps add to China's medal day with a bronze medal-winning time of 15:51.61. 

Bronze No More For Marrit

Following three previous bronze medal performances at the short course worlds, Marrit Steenbergen takes gold in the Women's 100m IM. 

More Murphy Magic in Melbourne

Four-time Olympic champion Ryan Murphy keeps his triumph return to short-course action alive with another win - this one with his golden 22.64 in the Men's 50m Backstroke. Aussie Isaac Alan Cooper just out-touched Kacper Stokowski of Poland, 22.73-22.74 as 1/10th of a second was the difference in this one. 

Murphy makes his international return to the 25m pool following a 6-medal haul in Hangzhou. He adds another one to his tally tonight. 

Murphy Says: 

Bellissimo!

More Than A Backstroker, Italy's Ceccon Wins 100m IM

Thomas Ceccon keeps showing his versatility as the young Italian wins his first individual world title, and not in the event where he holds the long course World Record and World Champs title (100m backstroke), but tonight in the 100m IM. 

Watch it. We know Ceccon will a few times...

 

World Aquatics Statement on the Men’s 50m Backstroke Final at the 16^th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) 2022

A technical error by an official occurred at the start of the Men’s 50m Backstroke Final. After speaking with all the competing athletes and team officials from the competing countries, it was unanimously agreed that the competition would be re-swum at 21:10 (AEDT) tonight, 16 December 2022. World Aquatics apologises for the error.

World Record Alert! Canada's Mac Neil Betters Her Own All-Time Top Mark

Canada's Margaret Mac Neil updated her own World Record in the Women's 50m Backstroke, taking down the WR she set last year in Abu Dhabi (25.27) with today's 25.25. She did is going 12.32 for the first 25m, before coming back in 12.93. 

USA's Claire Curzan went 25.54 for silver and Mollie O'Callaghan's 25.61 bronze medal swim set a new Oceania Record.  

Seto Delivers Big in the Men's 200m Breaststroke

Daiya Seto's sensational 2:00.35 not only was good enough to withstand a fully in-form Nic Fink from defending his title in this event from Abu Dhabi, he set a new Asian Record - and scared the World Record of Russia's Kirill Prigoda (2:00.16, from Hangzhou 2018). 

For USA's Nic Fink, it's close but no cigar for claiming back-to-back 200m golds. The last man to do this still stands with Hungarian great Daniel Gyurta winning worlds in 2012 and 2014. But it was a valiant effort from the Georgia Bulldog alum who went better than ever before, setting a new American Record with his silver-medal swim. 

Qin Haiyang picked up China's first medal from these world championships, with his 2:02.22 good enough for bronze. 

 

Another Gold-Silver for the Stars & Stripes

USA's Kate Douglass and Lilly King go 1-2 in 2:15.77-2:17.13. Situated in second place midway through, Douglass powered away in the second half en route to setting a Championship Record. Tes Schouten of the Netherlands added to her Melbourne medal collection with her bronze tonight, stopping the clock in 2:18.19.

Encore!

 

Oh, Mon! The World Record Relay Barrage Continues: France takes Mixed 4x50m Freestyle

The French quartet take down the World Record that Team USA set at the short course worlds from Hangzhou 2018 (1:27.89) with their sterling 1:27.33. Here's who - and how - they did it: 

• Maxime Grousset - 20.92
• Florent Manaudou - 20.26 (!)
• Beryl Gastaldello - 23.00
• Melanie Henique - 23.15

 

Halfway Through the World Champs, Here's How the Medals Table Stand: 

We'll Have Bobby Hurley and Mike McCann Providing the Play-by-Play Again Tonight

With Bobby Hurley a former World Record holder in the 50m Backstroke, we're pretty sure the fast-talking Aussie will be bringing some sweet colour insights all night - but especially when it comes to the 50m backstroke finals tonight. 

In Addition to Following Our Live Site, Here's Where You Can Watch the World Championships: 

Another 9 (!) Finals Night in Melbourne