World Cup Budapest, Day 2 Prelims: Benedetta Pilato Sets New Record and Makes Italian History
In a stunning display of skill and determination, Benedetta Pilato set a new 100m breaststroke meet record at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Budapest. Pilato’s time of 1:05.75 was not only the second best of her career but also the third fastest ever recorded by an Italian swimmer. The Italian record of 1:05.67, held by Arianna Castiglioni, and Pilato’s own national championship time of 1:05.70 are the only two times faster than her incredible performance in Budapest.
This remarkable achievement also saw Pilato surpass the previous World Cup record of 1:05.93, which had stood since 2015. What makes this even more impressive is that Pilato’s time in Budapest was faster than the time she won the world title with earlier this year, as well as being quicker than the time that secured her gold at the European Championships. In fact, her time would have even earned her a silver medal at the World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. It is clear that Benedetta Pilato is a force to be reckoned with in the world of breaststroke swimming.
The second day of prelims at the World Cup in Budapest showcased a wealth of talent and impressive performances across various events. In the women’s 400m Individual Medley, Timea Noemi Urogi stood out as the only swimmer to finish in under 5 minutes, coming in at a time of 4:56.98. Meanwhile, in the men’s 50m Backstroke, Michael Andrew made a successful return to the pool after claiming silver in the 50m free. Andrew secured lane four with an impressive time of 24.89, with Miroslav Knedla, the world junior champion, alongside him after clocking 25.01.
In the women’s 200m Freestyle, the Hungarian home crowd had much to cheer for with Nikolett Padar booking lane four in a time of 1:58.04. Padar, the European junior champion, was joined by Erika Fairweather, the winner of the 400m free triple crown, who finished in 1:58.20. Marrit Steenbergen, the 2022 European champion, was just behind in 1:58.21, setting the stage for an exciting final. Siobhan Haughey, fresh from her silver medal in the 50m free, is aiming for the triple crown and progressed to the next round in fifth place with a time of 1:59.27.
The men’s 200m Individual Medley saw Matt Sates secure lane four with a time of 1:59.78, as he aims for the triple crown. He will be joined by Danas Rapsys, who finished in 2:00.05. Noe Ponti, who won the 100m fly on Friday, also made it through to the next round with a time of 2:00.33. In the women’s 100m Backstroke, Kylie Masse led the field with a time of 59.37, followed by Kaylee McKeown in 59.91. Ingrid Wilm finished third with 1:00.15, while Anastasiya Shkurdai, swimming as a neutral athlete, clocked 1:00.35 to secure the fourth spot.
The men’s 50m Breaststroke showcased the exceptional talent of Qin Haiyang, the winner of the 100m breaststroke triple crown. Qin booked lane four with a time of 26.57, as he aims to repeat the treble in the one-length event. Arno Kamminga, who finished second in the 100m breaststroke, will be alongside Qin in lane five after clocking 27.00. Ilya Shymanovich, swimming as a neutral athlete, finished with a time of 27.01, followed closely by Adam Peaty and Nic Fink, both with times of 27.05.
The women’s 50m Butterfly saw Sarah Sjostrom, the winner of the 50m fly triple crown on Friday, continue her dominance with a time of 25.42. Sjostrom will face stiff competition from Zhang Yufei, who won the 200m fly triple crown and finished with a time of 25.56 in the prelims. The men’s 100m Freestyle promises to be a thrilling final, with Thomas Ceccon leading the pack with a time of 48.73. Dylan Carter and Alessandro Miressi finished closely behind with times of 48.92 and 48.94, respectively.
In the women’s 100m Breaststroke, Benedetta Pilato once again showcased her incredible talent, securing lane four with a time of 1:06.69. She was followed by Tes Schouten, who set a Dutch record and World Cup mark of 2:21.52 in the 200m breaststroke. Mona McSharry of Ireland finished in third place with a time of 1:06.78. The men’s 200m Butterfly saw Richard Marton take the top spot with a time of 1:59.04, while Trenton Julian of the USA finished close behind with a time of 1:59.42.
In the slowest heat of the men’s 1500m Freestyle, young swimmers Mate Karpati and Balint Kreisz claimed the top two slots with times of 16:02.90 and 16:15.24, respectively. As the competition heats up in Budapest, it is clear that these athletes are leaving their mark on the swimming world. With impressive performances and record-breaking achievements, the World Cup continues to showcase the extraordinary talent and skill of these athletes.
