World Championships, Day One Prelims (Men): Adam Peaty Makes Solid Return; Ahmed Hafnaoui Ousted
Six months shy of the start of the Olympic Games in Paris, an edition of the World Championships is being held in Doha. The scheduling of the event is a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced a multi-year adjustment in the global competition calendar. While a number of the world’s elite swimmers have opted to bypass the meet, there remains plenty of firepower in Doha.
On Sunday morning, action got underway with Day One prelims, including races in the men’s 400 freestyle, 50 butterfly, 100 breaststroke and 400 freestyle relay. Here is a look at what transpired during the men’s prelims.
400 Freestyle
It didn’t take long for the first surprise of the meet, as reigning Olympic titlist and World Champs silver medalist Ahmed Hafnaoui of Tunisia failed to qualify for the final of the 400 freestyle. Hafnaoui finished 17th during prelims, going 3:48.05 to sit almost eight seconds off his best and the time that won him the silver medal behind Sam Short at last summer’s World Champs in Fukuoka.
The top seed for the final was earned by Australian Elijah Winnington, who went 3:44.37 and was followed by Germany’s Lukas Martens in 3:44.77. Korea’s Kim Woomin (3:45.14) and Ireland’s Dan Wiffen (3:45.52) advanced to the final as the respective third and fourth seeds.
50 Butterfly
The Netherlands’ Nyls Korstanje and American Michael Andrew were separated by the slimmest of margins during prelims of the 50 butterfly, where the Dutchman led qualifying in 23.02. Andrew was next at 23.03 and the pair certainly look strong in their pursuit of the podium.
The tightly packed field, which is expected in the one-lap dash events, featured Aussie Isaac Cooper in the No. 3 slot for the semifinals, off a morning performance of 23.15. Dylan Carter of Trinidad & Tobago was next at 23.16, followed by joint 23.18 swims from Portugal’s Diogo Ribeiro and Norway’s Nicholas Lia. Ribeiro was the silver medalist at last year’s World Champs.
100 Breaststroke
While reigning world champ Qin Haiyang is not in Doha, the three men who shared silver at last summer’s World Champs all moved on in the 100 breaststroke. The United States’ Nic Fink led the way in 59.19, followed by Italian Nicolo Martinenghi in 59.27. Meanwhile, Dutchman Arno Kamminga advanced easily behind a 59.61 clocking, although countryman Caspar Corbeau was fourth overall in 59.38.
Sitting in the third slot entering the semifinals is world-record holder Adam Peaty of Great Britain, who covered his two laps in 59.34. Peaty is back at the World Champs and seeking to reassert his dominance in the event, which was once untouched. While Peaty’s opening salvo was a solid start, a clearer picture of his status will come in the semifinals, when the pace should pick up.
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400 Freestyle Relay
The United States registered the top seed for the final of the 400 freestyle relay, as the foursome of Hunter Armstrong, Jack Aikins, Luke Hobson and Carson Foster turned in a time of 3:12.32. Hobson (47.70) and Foster (47.83) each went under the 48-second barrier to give the U.S. an edge over Italy, which stopped the clock in 3:12.96.
Great Britain will be a force in the final as its seeks to atone for its disqualification at last summer’s World Champs and qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris. Great Britain qualified third in 3:13.96, with Matt Richards anchoring in 47.86.
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