Brazil flipped the script after a U.S. dominated women’s event, going 1-2 in the men’s 200 free with the help of Fernando Scheffer (1:46.68) and Breno Correia (1:47.47). After a disappointing showing in prelims, Scheffer hopped six spots in finals to cinch the victory, overcoming his seventh place seed to create the heat’s outside smoke.
The States’ Drew Kibler defended his honor as America’s fifth fastest 200 freestyler this year, barely eclipsing his season-best time of 1:47.16 with a notable 1:47.71 for third. Dylan Carter chased him, missing the podium by less than a tenth with a 1:47.78, boxing Mexico’s Jorge Iga out of the top four. Iga’s performance was the night’s first heartbreak, as the top seed slipped in the rankings to squelch Mexico’s hopes of bringing home their first gold medal since 1955.
Grant House of the United States crashed the pads with a 1:48.58 for sixth, managing to get his hand on the wall ahead of Aruba’s Mikkel Schreuders (1:49.92) and Venezuela’s Rafael Zambrano (1:50.12).
