FINA WC Budapest 2017 Friday 7/28 – Sarah second in 100 free while Emily equals record form in the 200 backstroke

Sarah Sjostrom was second in the 100m freestyle and Emily Seebohm equalled her own Oceania and Commonwealth record in the 200m backstroke on day six of the World Championships in Budapest.

Sarah had broken the world record on the opening night of the competition when she led off the Sweden 4x100m freestyle squad in a truly pioneering time of 51.71secs.

After qualifying fastest for the final there was a lot of expectation and pressure on Sarah and, although she was ahead at the halfway mark, she could not maintain her form to the very end to touch second in 52.31.

She said: “I am sorry about missing out on victory. I expected that Simone Manuel (the winner) would do a very fast spring at the end but her performance was superhuman really.

“On the other hand I didn’t expect my final sprint would be so weak. I am angry with myself, I did it wrong, I am rather disappointed.”

Ranomi Kromowidjojo was fifth in 52.78 while defending champion Bronte Campbell was seventh in 53.18 after suffering from extensive shoulder problems.

Sarah returned to clock the fastest time in qualifying for the 50m butterfly final in 25.30 with Ranomi fifth in 25.67.

Emily took bronze in the 100m backstroke before producing a sizzling performance in the 200m semi-finals, the event in which she is defending champion.

The Australian was third coming into the final metres but timed her charge to perfection to touch and book a centre lane in 2:05.81.

It is the same time that saw her win the world title in Kazan, Russia, two years ago but Emily is not putting any pressure on herself after a difficult time at last year’s Olympics where she finished outside the medals in the individual events.

“I’m just going to go out and enjoy it, I got a world title in 2015, so it’s not like there’s pressure of getting a second, so I’m just going out to enjoy it and if I can do a bit faster than I have tonight I’ll be happy because that’s a PB and that’s all I can do.,” said Emily.

“I don’t need the pressure of getting a medal, for me it would be awesome to get a medal, but for me it’s way more important to me to get the best out of myself than to win a medal especially after the last 12 months.”

Katinka Hosszu of Hungary went through in seventh place.

Laszlo Cseh booked his place in the final of the 100m butterfly as he looks to add to his silver medal in the 200m.

The home crowd again threatened to raise the roof of the Duna Arena before, during and after Laszlo’s time in the water and they appeared to spur him on as he finished second in his heat and sixth overall in 51.16.

He was glad to have made it through to the final but sad that his national record of 50.86 had been broken, a time he set at last year’s European Championships in London.

“I need to improve my start and then my performance will be faster for sure. Now it is not youngsters trying to catch up with us but the other way round.

“My coach and I agreed that I wouldn’t put all my power in the first 50m but save energy for the second length, this is my weapon.

“Now unfortunately I feel that the first 50m is not 100% worked out, there is room for improvement.

“I am not sad, on the contrary I am glad my record has been broken. I will aim at reclaiming it and we will see if I can do so.

“It is a long time since the butterfly final saw two such brilliant Hungarian swimmers as today.”