Chase Kalisz posted the fastest time in the men’s 200-meter individual medley and Javier Acevedo and Chantal Van Landeghem earned bronze medals to highlight Georgia’s showing on Wednesday during the 17th FINA World Championships at Danube Arena.
Kalisz posted a career-best 1:55.88 in the semifinals to advance as the top seed for Thursday’s final. During the prelims earlier on Wednesday, the American established what turned out to be a short-lived career best as he reached the wall in 1:56.48.
Kalisz, who ended his stint as a Bulldog in March, was followed by Japan’s Kosuke Hagino at 1:56.04 and Great Britain’s Max Litchfield at 1:56.70 in the semis.
Acevedo and Van Landeghem helped Canada win a bronze medal in the mixed 4×100-meter medley relay. Swimming in prelims, Acevedo went 54.44 on the leadoff backstroke leg and Van Landeghem swam the anchor freestyle leg in 53.41 to qualify Canada for the finals, where it tied for third with a time of 3:41.25. Acevedo is a rising sophomore and Van Landeghem capped her Georgia career in March.
In the women’s 200-meter butterfly on Tuesday, former Lady Bulldog Hali Flickinger came in ninth in 2:07.89. The American will be the first alternate for Thursday’s finals should anyone from the top eight scratch.
The swimming portion of the 17th FINA World Championships will continue on Thursday and will conclude on Sunday.