Fastest 200 Fly Of ‘08 Swum In Water Cube
From 32 in the world to number 1. A huge jump for one young swimmer, and a fitting opening for one of Beijing’s signature Olympic venues: China’s Water Cube.
With only one session of the China Games swum so far, the highlight has got to be Japan’s Natsumi Hoshi’s 200 fly. Going out in 1:01.55, 17 year old Hoshi finished the race in 2:07.35, the fastest time swum so far this young new year. It’s a time that would have placed her 7th in the world for 2007. According to the SwimNews world rankings, Hoshi was 32nd in the world in 2007 with a 2:10.15 back in August. She will have stiff competition in finals from the likes of Poland’s Otylia Jedrzejczak, the second fastest ever performer in the event. She finished prelims fifth with a 2:12.15.
Other top times include China’s Lin Zhang’s 1:48.55 200 free. Zhang swum a wonderfully even race, going out in 54.08 and coming home in 54.47. Meanwhile Germany’s Daniela Gotz leads the way in the women’s 100 free with 55.83, while China’s Feng Shi is first into finals in the men’s 100 fly after going 53.38.
To check out the results yourself just click here.
A note from the author: This story underwent editorial revisions after a comment posted by aqua. Originally I’d reported that Hoshi was ranked 142 in the world last year with a time of 2:14.78. This was what was reflected on FINA’s website. I felt it appropriate to list rankings based off what FINA reports and had not checked the rankings on SwimNews. However, spurred on by aqua’s comment, I checked with some folks at USA Swimming who assured me that the best place from which to pull rankings is SwimNews.
Still it’s not bad going from 32 to 1 in the world, even if that top time is swum before the first month of the year has elapsed (and who knows what she does in finals). THANKS AQUA!
Comment by aqua
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 09:52
Her best time was 2″10″15 from some meet, in august, last year.
She was ranked 32nd in the world with this time. You just have to look for the 2007 world rankings in order to see that. In all honesty, it was not that difficult to find.
Comment by Josh
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 13:58
Japan and France are the two countries I’d be looking towards headed into Beijing. They’re both making huge strides on the international stage. I expect the depth you will see in some events at Japan and France’s Olympic Trials will rival that of Australia or the US.
Comment by maly
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 17:19
at the french trials , the men 100 free is going to be the race to watch ,6 to 8 swimmers for two places to beijing in individual and the other swimmers will fight for their place in the relay. the french guys want the gold medal in the 4 x 100 free relay.
Comment by Jim
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 18:33
The French guys can want whatever they like, but the US is not going to lose the 4×100.
Comment by Jill
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 20:03
Japan frequently looks like they’re just about to have a monster meet at Olympics or Worlds based on times swum earlier in the year. Then they turn around and underperform on the big stage. They’re kind of like the Germans of Asia in that regard.
Comment by Gomez
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 21:26
yeah dude, them frenchies may want the 4×100, but the americans own that event, except for 2000, but we don’t talk about that race anymore.
Comment by Runda
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 21:57
no talk of 2004 either it seems.
Comment by Josh
Posted on January 31st, 2008 at 22:41
Jill, Japan has been on a hot streak ever since the 2004 Athens Olympics and has been getting faster and faster since. I do agree that in past years they have underperformed on the world stage but they have gained a great deal of confidence in their performances and have only continued to get faster. In Athens, they were the number three country in the swimming medal count behind the USA and Australia. They actually beat Australia for second place in the standings at the 2006 Pan Pacs by seven medals. Japan is on the rise, and if you think they only perform up to par in Asia, well, this year’s Olympics will be right in their backyard.
Comment by Patrick
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 10:22
How freaking pathetic that we cannot rely on FINA’s own website for accurate rankings!!
Comment by maly
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 14:58
gomez, the usa wil have to be at their best to win the the 4x 100 because the rest of the world won ‘t give it to the usa,
Comment by Coach79
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 17:02
There are so many men in the world that are in that same 47 high to 48 mid area, the men’s 4×100 free relay is a complete crap-shoot.
France, Germany, USA, Australia, China, South Africa, Great Britain, Italy… they all have 4-6 guys with good enough times, it will all come down to who SHOWS UP at the Olympics… meaning- they have to swim really, really well, with great exchanges to compete…
Personally, I’m really excited to watch this race. It might be the best field of 8 ever…
Comment by Coach79
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 17:04
Oh, and Canada too!!!
Comment by o
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 17:28
In my eyes, the French women 800 relay is also quite interesting. Potentially almost at par with Germany, USA, Australia and China.
Agreed with Canada, should be in front of Germany, GB and China in the 400.
Comment by Joe
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 18:02
I’m not so sure the U.S has a stronghold in the 4×100 anymore. Walker’s not getting faster and Jones has to prove himself in the 100 beyond one great split at Pan Pacs. Lezak probably won’t split 47.3 like he did at worlds either.
Granted, you have a lot other guys that could go low 48 at Trials that could have a serious shot at the relay.
Comment by JC
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 19:49
The US may not have a stranglehold anymore, but it still has the largest number of guys with the potential to be 48-low sprinters. Yes, Jones has yet to prove himself in the event, but both he and Wildman-Tobriner have tremendous potential. Hall, Lezak, and Walker are all getting a little long in the tooth, but all still have 48-mid potential (maybe Lezak a little faster). Grevers is having a career year and could certainly go 48-low. Nobody mentions Crocker in this context anymore because he had a lousy relay leg in the 400FR in Athens, but the fact is he is also having a career year and has as much potential in the 100 free as anyone. This is not to mention Garret Weber Gale, Doug Walters, or Nick Brunelli. And Phelps seems to have 47.7 potential. I don’t see anyone but France really being a factor; South Africa has the potential, but all four of their guys seem a little less sharp than they were three or four years ago, and the only country (besides the US) with more than two people in the top 25 for 2007 was Russia, which had two guys at the bottom of that list (just checked).
Comment by Coach79
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 21:20
David Walters, not Doug…
Don’t forget Lochte. I would guess he’s going to throw his hat in the ring for that relay… and Nathan Adrian went 42 in the 100y free at some PNS meet. That’s about where all those other guys like Phelps were at the Grand Prix…
That’s the thing about the US- it could be any 6 of 16 guys, whereas the other countries have the 4 or 5 guys who must be ready…
Comment by o
Posted on February 1st, 2008 at 22:10
For the stats, the top 50 in 2007
1 NYSTRAND Stefan SWE 1981 47.91
2 BERNARD Alain FRA 1983 48.12
3 PHELPS Michael USA 1985 48.42
4 HAYDEN Brent CAN 1983 48.43
4 MAGNINI Filippo ITA 1982 48.43
6 SULLIVAN Eamon AUS 1985 48.47
7 GILOT Fabien FRA 1984 48.49
8 LEZAK Jason USA 1975 48.51
8 CIELO FILHO Cesar BRA 1987 48.51
10 VAN DEN HOOGENBAND Pieter NED 1978 48.63
11 SCHOEMAN Roland RSA 1980 48.72
12 LAGUNOV Evgeni RUS 1985 48.78
13 NEETHLING Ryk RSA 1977 48.81
14 DI CARLI Marco GER 1985 48.88
15 SATO Hisayoshi JPN 1987 48.91
16 WALTERS David USA 1987 48.96
17 WEBER GALE Garrett USA 1986 49.04
17 BRUNELLI Nicholas USA 1981 49.04
19 LAUTERSTEIN Andrew AUS 1987 49.06
19 ANDKJAER Jakob DEN 1985 49.06
21 BURNETT Simon GBR 1983 49.10
21 WALKER Neil USA 1976 49.10
21 GRECHIN Andrey RUS 1987 49.10
24 DEIBLER Steffen GER 1987 49.13
25 KAPRALOV Andrei RUS 1980 49.14
26 SUBIRATS Albert VEN 1986 49.17
27 VANDERKAAY Peter USA 1984 49.20
28 MEICHTRY Dominik SUI 1984 49.27
28 TARGETT Matthew AUS 1985 49.27
30 CRAMER Jayme USA 1983 49.30
31 GALENDA Christian ITA 1982 49.31
32 MONK Kenrick AUS 1988 49.34
33 ROSOLINO Massimiliano ITA 1978 49.35
34 STYMNE Petter SWE 1983 49.37
35 WILDMAN TOBRINER Ben USA 1984 49.38
35 ILES Salim ALG 1975 49.38
37 ZASTROW Mitja NED 1977 49.41
38 SILVA Fernando BRA 1986 49.42
38 MEOLANS Jose Martin ARG 1978 49.42
40 CALLUS Ashley AUS 1979 49.43
41 RITTER Adam USA 1985 49.44
42 YEGOSHIN Yuriy UKR 1985 49.47
43 WOODWARD Gabriel USA 1979 49.48
44 BOVELL George TRI 1983 49.51
45 BOUSQUET Frederick FRA 1981 49.52
46 CHEN Zuo CHN 1982 49.54
47 GALAVTINE Antoine FRA 1985 49.55
48 DRAGANJA Duje CRO 1983 49.57
48 DEBONI Eduardo BRA 1981 49.57
50 SAY Richard CAN 1979 49.59
50 JONES Cullen USA 1984 49.59
and the 2008 listing for the 200 free
1 MANAUDOU Laure FRA 1986 01:58.26
2 MCCLATCHEY Caitlin GBR 1985 01:58.57
3 POPCHANKA Alena FRA 1979 01:58.82
4 LILLHAGE Josefin SWE 1980 01:59.72
5 BALMY Coralie FRA 1987 01:59.82
6 EVANS Ashley K USA 1988 02:00.00
7 BAINBRIDGE Angie AUS 1989 02:00.04
8 ISAKOVIC Sara SLO 1988 02:00.28
9 GALVEZ Felicity AUS 1985 02:00.38
10 HALSALL Francesca GBR 1990 02:00.44
11 ZIEGLER Kate USA 1988 02:00.50
12 MUFFAT Camille FRA 1989 02:00.54
13 JACKSON Joanne GBR 1986 02:00.60
14 SONG Wenyan CHN 1994 02:00.88
15 REESE Shayne AUS 1982 02:01.11
16 MONGEL Aurore FRA 1982 02:01.51
17 KNUTSON Dagny USA 1991 02:01.63
18 POTEC Camelia ROU 1982 02:01.64
18 BECKETT Julia GBR 1986 02:01.64
18 LAZARE Mylene FRA 1987 02:01.64
Comment by JC
Posted on February 2nd, 2008 at 05:35
Coach — You’re absolutely right, I forgot about Lochte and Adrian. Lochte’s 19.3 from Atlanta certainly shows he’s got the speed, and he’s got to be better at the 100 than he is at the 50. And Adrian looks as if he’s 6′6″ or so, he’s certainly got the ability and he’s taking the year off from school (I think) to train with Mike Bottom in Florida this year, which can’t hurt. And there’s also Vanderkaay (49.2), Cramer (49.3), and Ritter (49.4) from the list above, while we’re at it. Alex Righi (42.5 at NCAAs last spring) could have a breakthrough year, and David Cromwell (43.6 early season this year) could also have a breakthrough. It may take a 48+ just to make finals at Trials this year….Apologies to Mr. Walters.
Comment by jim
Posted on February 2nd, 2008 at 12:46
JC has the strong point. South Africa has 4 strong guys from Athens still together. France has 6 guys who could go under 49 and two who can go low 48s from a flat start. And there are other countries like Italy, Australia and Canada to name only three who could produce 4 guys in the 48s.
Ok, fine. But the US has upwards of a dozen guys who could get into the 48s at Trials and just to make the top 8 final in Omaha will no doubt require a sub-49 prelim swim. The number of candidates to produce some upside surprise is long.
The problem for South Africa, France, et al is they are leveraged heavily into the top 4 guys from the past being spot on and doing new lifetime bests together this August. Olympic year or no that is very hard to do. One guy having a bad taper or an off evening and slipping into the 49s is enough to not only cost the gold but to also potentially cost a medal of any kind.
The US has literally more than 10 guys who could go under 49 this summer and most certainly will take a team of 6 guys to Beijing who are going to be something like 48.5 or better from a flat start. That’s a pretty huge margin for someone being off a lifetime best on a given day and it is why this relay team is going to be so brutal to make for the US hopefuls.
It’s a matter of depth. Phelps leads off with a 48.0 or better, and then you have three guys after that splitting in the low to mid 47s with relay starts. Just don’t see any other team which is likely to do that.
Comment by joey
Posted on February 4th, 2008 at 20:29
kathleen hersey is an american to watch out for in the 200fly this year.