Spring Grove Olympian set to swim at world championships
Spring Grove High School graduate and Olympian Hali Flickinger is scheduled to race in the FINA World Swimming Championships in Budapest, Hungary Wednesday.
A seventh-place finisher in the 200-meter butterfly at last summer's Olympics, Flickinger will once again take on the world's fastest swimmers.
It marks Flickinger's first appearance at the world championships.
The former York YMCA swimmer has recorded the 10th-fastest time in the world (2:07.60) in the event this year, but even that time is off her career-best (2:06.67).
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Spain's versatile Mireia Belmonte won the gold medal in this event at Rio last summer, and she is a favorite to win at the world championships. She has qualified to swim at six events at the world championships, with top-20 times in each event. Her winning time in the 200 fly at Rio (2:04.85) is well ahead of what any woman has done this year.
Germany's Franziska Hentke (2:06.18) posted the fastest time in the world this year and should be a favorite to reach the podium.
Flickinger is scheduled to swim in the second of four 200 fly heats Wednesday, with swimming scheduled to begin at 4:17 a.m. EST Wednesday.
The top 16 swimmers will qualify for semifinals, scheduled as part of the finals session that will kick off at 11:30 a.m. EST Wednesday.
The 200 fly final, featuring the top eight swimmers, is slotted for the finals session that begins at 11:30 a.m. EST Thursday.
Preliminary heats will be broadcast on the Olympic Channel, with semifinals coverage and final coverage set to be broadcast on NBCSN.
17th FINA World Swimming Championships
When: July 14-30
Where: Budapest, Hungary
Local tie: Spring Grove graduate Hali Flickinger
200-meter butterfly: preliminary heats/semifinals Wednesday; final Thursday
Online: www.fina.org
Live timing: http://fina.org/latest-results
Television, livestream: Olympic Channel and NBCSN
