Siobhan Haughey, the silver medalist from the Olympics, advanced without issue to the women’s 100-meter freestyle semifinal in Doha on Thursday, just a day after her victory in the 200-meter event made Hong Kong the first swimming world champion.
Haughey qualified third behind Australian Shayna Jack (53.50 seconds) and Fukuoka bronze medallist Marrit Steenbergen. Haughey finished second in the 100m behind Mollie O’Callaghan at the event last year in Fukuoka.
World record holder Sarah Sjostrom did not swim, however she did enter the 100-meter race. The Swedish veteran informed domestic media earlier this month that she will not be participating in the event at the Olympics in Paris.
American Kate Douglass is poised to win a second championship at the meet after topping qualifying for the 200-meter breaststroke semi-finals, while world champion Tatjana Schoenmaker is not competing in Doha.
Douglass, who won the 200m individual medley this week, was runner-up to South African Schoenmaker in the 200m breaststroke last year.
Greece’s Apostolos Siskos is top seed (1:56.64) for the men’s 200m backstroke semi-finals in a modest field lacking holder Hubert Kos and former Olympic champion Ryan Murphy.
Finland’s Olympic bronze medallist Matti Mattsson topped qualifying for the men’s 200m breaststroke semi-finals with a time of 2:09.15.
Doha will be on world record alert in the evening session later on Thursday when China’s Pan Zhanle swims in the 100m freestyle final.
The teenager set the world record of 46.80 seconds on Sunday with his lead-off swim in the relay and will be strong favourite to win his first individual world title in the event.
American Carson Foster will also bid for his first individual title as top seed for the men’s 200 medley final.
