Morozov (RUS) defeats Olympic champion in the 50m free

RENANG INDONESIA, Swimming next to the 2012 Olympic champion (Florent Manaudou, from France) in this event, Russia’s Vladimir Morozov (RUS) was not impressed with the credentials of his main opponent and clearly dominated the operations in the shortest event of the programme, earning gold in 20.55, a season’s new best. Manaudou, the fastest of the semis, touched home in 20.88 (silver), while the bronze went to US Anthony Ervin (31years old), in a time of 20.99. Morozov had shown his vocation for the freestyle sprint events, when he established a new Championships Record in the first leg of the 4x100m free relay. For all the medallists, these were their first podium presences in this competition – Ervin has a long career behind him, including a silver medal in this event at the… 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney!

World Record: Roland Schoeman (RSA), 20.30 – August 8, 2009 in Pietermaritzburg (RSA)
Championships Record: Cesar Cielo (BRA), 20.51 – December 17, 2010 in Dubai (UAE)
Best performance of the current season (since August 2012): Vladimir Morozov (RUS, 20.55 – December 14 in Istanbul, TUR) 
Last five (2002-2010) winners in this event: 2002 – Jose Meolans (ARG, 21.36); 2004 - Mark Foster (GBR, 21.58); 2006 - Duje Draganja (CRO, 21.38); 2008 - 1. Duje Draganja (CRO, 20.81); 2010 - Cesar Cielo (BRA, 20.51)
The best in this event (1. most victories or 2. fastest time): Mark Foster (GBR, 1993, 1999, 2000 & 2004)