Swimming Day 3 previews
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Women’s 200m freestyle heats (20:02 UAE time)
Ones to watch: Katie Ledecky (USA), Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), Federica Pellegrini (ITA)
2012 Olympic champion: Allison Schmitt (USA) 1:53.31
2015 World champion: Katie Ledecky (USA) 1:55.16
World record: Federica Pellegrini (ITA) 1:52.98, July 28, 2009
The plot: Sjostrom has the fastest time in the event this year, having clocked 1.54.34 in July at the Swedish Nationals while Ledecky is second-fastest in 2016 with a personal-best 1.54.43 at the Austin Pro Swim Series meet in January. The 200 free is not the signature event of either swimmer though which perhaps opens a window for others in the field. Pellegrini set the world record for this event during the suit era and is No3 in the world this season with a 1.54.55 clocked in June. Factor in USA’s Missy Franklin (World champion in 2013, bronze in 2015) and Australia’s Emma McKeon (2014 Commonwealth champion) and we have a real competition on our hands.
Men’s 200m butterfly heats
Ones to watch: Michael Phelps (USA), Chad Le Clos (RSA), Laszlo Cseh (HUN)
2012 Olympic champion: Chad Le Clos (RSA) 1:52.96
2015 World champion: Laszlo Cseh (HUN) 1:53.48
World record: Michael Phelps (USA) 1:51.51, July 21, 2009
The plot: One of the most anticipated events in the pool at the Rio Olympics, an epic three-way battle awaits between Phelps, Cseh and Le Clos. They’re the only three to have gone under 1:54 since London 2012 and with Le Clos and Phelps having a war of words last year to add fire to what is already an exciting rivalry, we can expect fireworks in the Rio in this event. Cseh is the 2015 world-leader thanks to the 1.52.91 he swam at the European Championships in London in May.
Women’s 200m IM heats
Ones to watch: Katinka Hosszu (HUN)
2012 Olympic champion: Ye Shiwen (CHN) 2:07.57
2015 World champion: Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:06.12
World record: Katinka Hosszu (HUN) 2:06.12, August 3, 2015
The plot: Hungary’s Iron Lady, Katinka Hosszu, is the overwhelming favourite and the only questions in this event would be: By how much of a margin will she win gold? Who is taking silver and bronze? And will Hosszu lower her world record in the event? Great Britain’s Siobhan-Marie O’Connor is the second-fastest in the world this year while American Maya Dirado is in third. Ye Shiwen the defending champion flopped in the 400IM on Saturday and is not expected to do much better in the 200.