2009 ROMA 2009 :13th FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

VIDEO: 50m butterfly men's THE men's 50 fly national record books took a beating during prelims at the FINA World Championships. World-record holder Rafael Munoz and South Africa's Roland Schoeman tied for the lead heading into semis with 22.90s. Munoz owns the global mark with a 22.43, while Schoeman broke his African record of 22.96. Schoeman's previous continental mark also served as the meet record. Serbia's Milorad Cavic qualified third in 22.93 to lower his national mark of 23.11 and become the first Serbian under 23 seconds. Denmark's Jakob Andkjaer finished fourth with a 23.04 to beat his national record of 23.36 set in April.

I thought France was a shoo-in in the 400 free relay? Is it just my nationalism showing or does the US always rise up for relays?

And Fred Bosquet choked again. He was one of the best NCAA big meet swimmers ever, but seems to consistently fail to live up to potential at LC Worlds and Olympics. Kukors and USA swimming need to chip in and buy Elizabeth Pelton a crate of turtle wax or something. If she hadn't picked the backstroke over the 200 IM, Kukors wouldn't have even swam the event she got a WR in.

I am glad that the 400 free WR is broken. What happened to Vanderkay? I was waiting for him to step it up and he just never did. Then again, I guess that he is not a 100% after his flu he got befroe WCT. Geesh, a woman under 4:00 in the 400 free.:bow:. That was an amazing swim by Pellegrini. What happened to Vanderkay.....look at the last 100 split the German pulled off. NO ONE was catching him, holy crap!!! The women are ALMOST at my best ever time from 1992 (3:58.8)! :bolt:

What happened to Vanderkay.....look at the last 100 split the German pulled off. NO ONE was catching him, holy crap!!! The women are ALMOST at my best ever time from 1992 (3:58.8)! :bolt: Geesh, The German's last 100 was faster than his first one. :bow: Those English girls and Pellegrini are on fire.

"They've got the relay in their blood," French coach Lionel Horter said. Yep!

day 1 prelims are done article RESULTS

What was the deal with Gaines and his comment about Shanteau's first international 100 ***. Who the heck cares if he was his first international 100 ***? The guy swam at Beijing. Yes, it wasn't in the 100 *** but he has international experience to handle other events besides the 200 ***. Geesh, Louise!!! Shanteau was on fire in that semifinal. I think that we could be saying, "kitijama who?". Of course, I can dream, can't I. Shanteau is just mowing down top breaststrokers in his path to potential greatness. Today, it was Gangloff's turn. Heck, he even mowed down the great Tyler Clary to get a spot on the 200 IM at Worlds. :applaud:.

what a trooper Berens is.:) i read one of the italian swimmers -female- ripped a jaked and withdrew from her heat.

After Kukors destroying the WR with in that swim I'm now wondering if Pelton was "encouraged" to drop the 200 IM from her program. And how about this Swedish girl Sjostrom in the 100 fly? She's still a couple weeks shy of her sixteenth birthday!