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Schmitt Stamps Her Authority On 200m

Dec 16, 2012  - Craig Lord

Istanbul, World Short-Course Championships, Day 5 finals:

Women's 200m freestyle

Showing the toughness she put on show at London 2012 for the Olympic crown and 400m silver, Allison Schmitt (USA) made her golden ambition clear 150m out from a 1:53.59 victory over Katinka Hosszu (HUN), 1:54.31 and Melanie Costa (ESP), on 1:54.45. 

At the 50m mark, Schmitt turned in 26.72 to a 26.64 for Angie Bainbridge (AUS), then piled on the pressure with a 28.06 split to a 54.78 lead at the half-way mark. Her third 50m was till the swiftest of all, Bainbridge still second, Hosszu and Costa (ESP) moving through the ranks. 

Early speed dictated a tailing off in Schmitt and Bainbridge on the last 50m but while the American had done enough to hold off the challenge from Hosszu and Costa, Bainbridge was pipped in the closing couple of metres and found herself locked out in 1:54.66 after a cracking race, Veronika pop ova (RUS) just 0.02sec away and Haruka Ueda (JPN) a stroke further adrift, 0.08sec ahead of Zsuzsanna Jakabos (HUN).

Check out this fabulous video of Schmitt pushing Anthony Ervin along with her head pinned to the soles of his feet in the warm-up pool, posted by coach Jack Roach.

The result:

  • Schmitt  26.72; 54.78; 1:23.97; 1:53.59
  • Hosszu: 26.92; 55.89; 1:25.22; 1:54.31
  • Costa:    27.02; 55.86; 1:25.27; 1:54.45

Dubai 2010 compared:

  • Muffat     26.51; 55.28; 1:23.95; 1:52.29 CR
  • Hoff        26.58; 54.95; 1:23.94; 1:52.91
  • Palmer    26.67; 55.26; 1:24.15; 1:52.96

History in the making:

World s/c Podiums

  • 2012: 1:53.59; 1:54.31; 1:54.45
  • 2010: 1:52.29; 1:52.91; 1:52.96
  • 2008: 1:54.41; 1:54.65; 1:55.15
  • 2006: 1:54.94; 1:55.15; 1:55.56

Most world titles in this event:  never retained

World Records

  • WR: 1:51.85 Federica Pellegrini (ITA) 14.12.08
  • TB:   1:52.29 Camille Muffat (FRA) 19.12.10

All-time textile rankings top 5:

  • 1:52.29 Muffat Dubai 2010
  • 1:52.42 Heemskerk 2010
  • 1:52.91 Hoff Dubai 2010
  • 1:52.96 Palmer Dubai 2010
  • 1:53.08 Tang Dubai 2010