Fukuoka 2023 – Sims Advances to 200m Free Final After Swimming Personal Best

Incoming freshman Bella Sims swims a 1:55.45

Credit: USA Swimming

Fukuoka 2023 – Sims Advances to 200m Free Final After Swimming Personal Best

Tuesday, July 25, 2023 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

Incoming freshman Bella Sims becomes the eighth American woman in history to go under 1:56 in 200m free

By: Abby Wisecup

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Incoming freshman, Bella Sims, clocked a 1:55.45 in the 200m Freestyle Semifinals Tuesday morning to set a new personal best and advance to the finals. The top-ranked Gator Signee becomes just the eighth American woman in history to go under 1:56.

Sims finished third in her Prelims heat with 1:57.36 Monday night to earn a spot in the Semifinals, where she finished fourth in her heat to earn a spot in the Finals. She is one of three female swimmers under the age of 20 set to compete in the Finals Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. ET.

On the men's side, Kieran Smith placed seventh in the 200m Free Finals with a 1:46.10. The 2022 graduate finished his World Championship's appearance with two top-ten finishes in the 200m Free (7^th) and 400m Free (9^th).

Men's 800-meter Free Prelims:
Bobby Finke, representing USA, made his World Championships debut Monday night, clocking a 7:43.87 to finish second in his heat and advance to the Finals. Alfonso Mestre, representing Venezuela, swam a 7:48.66 to finish third in his heat. Rising junior and representing India, Aryan Nehra, finished with an 8:00.76. Eric Brown, representing Canada, finished closed behind Nehra with an 8:01.41.

Joshua Liendo (Canada) and Alberto Mestre (Venezuela) are set to compete in the Men's 100-meter Freestyle Prelims tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET. Mestre is set to swim in Heat 9, and Liendo in Heat 11.

World Aquatics Championships 2023 continues through July 30^th. Live results and a television schedule can be found here.

Men's results can be found below.

July 25^th, 2023
Finals – Men's 200m Freestyle

Kieran Smith (USA): 1:46.10

July 24^th, 2023
Semifinals – Men's 200m Freestyle

Kieran Smith (USA): 1:45.96

Prelims – Men's 800m Freestyle

Eric Brown (Canada): 8:01.41
Bobby Finke (USA): 7:43.87
Aryan Nehra (India): 8:00.01
Alberto Mestre (Venezuela): 7:48.66

July 23^rd, 2023
Prelims – Men's 200m Freestyle

Kieran Smith (USA): 1:46.38
Alfonso Mestre (Venezuela): 1:47.36

Women's results can be found below.

July 25^th, 2023
Semifinals – Women's 200m Freestyle

Bella Sims (USA): 1:55.45

July 24^th, 2023
Prelims– Women's 200m Freestyle

Bella Sims (USA): 1:57.71

UPCOMING ACTION

July 25 – 9:30 p.m. ET
Prelims– Men's 100m Freestyle

Amro Al-Wir (Jordan)
Joshua Liendo (Canada)

July 26 – 7:00 a.m. ET
Finals– Men's 100m Freestyle
Finals– Men's 800m Freestyle
Finals– Women's 200m Freestyle

July 26 – 9:30 p.m. ET
Prelims– Men's 200m Breaststroke