Swimming Day 2 Rio 2016 Olympics previews

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  • Katinka Hosszu is a big favourite in Rio.

    Get in touch with your thoughts on the Rio 2016 Olympics action so far, use #360fans on Twitter and Facebook. Have your say now!

    Swimming Day 2 previews

    Women’s 100m backstroke heats (20:02 UAE time)

    Ones to watch: Emily Seebohm (AUS), Katinka Hosszu (HUN)

    2012 Olympic champion: Missy Franklin (USA) 58.33

    2015 World champion: Emily Seebohm (AUS), 58.26

    World record: Gemma Spofforth (GBR) 58.12, July 28, 2009

    The plot: 2015 World champion and 2016 world leader Seebohm was stunned by Missy Franklin in this event in London four years ago, making Rio her shot at redemption. Franklin did not qualify for the 100m backstroke, and Seebohm’s main competition will come from Hungary’s Iron Lady, Katinka Hosszu, who is third-fastest in the 100 back this year, and Denmark’s Mie Nielsen, who beat Hosszu at the European Championships in May to clock the second-fastest time of 2016.

    Arab spotlight: N/A

    Men’s 200m freestyle heats (20:19 UAE time)

    Ones to watch: Sun Yang (CHN), James Guy (GBR)

    2012 Olympic champion: Yannick Agnel (FRA) 1:43.14

    2015 World champion: James Guy (GBR), 1:45.14

    World record: Paul Biedermann (GER) 1:42.00, July 28, 2009

    The plot: The field is wide open in this stacked 200m freestyle. Joining Yang (2016 world leader) and Guy (world champion) as the main protagonists are world record holder Paul Biedermann, defending champion Yannick Agnel, world No5 Kosuke Hagino, European Championships silver medallist Velimir Stjepanovic, and world No3 Conor Dwyer. There are 11 different swimmers who have swum 1:45 or faster in the 200 free this year, making the podium the least predictable amongst the men’s action this week.

    Arab spotlight: Egypt’s Marwan El Kamash, Jordan’s Khader Baqlah, Palestine’s Ahmed Gebrel and Tunisia’s Ahmed Mathlouthi are all swimming this event.

    Women’s 400m freestyle heats (21:33 UAE time)

    Ones to watch: Katie Ledecky (USA), Leah Smith (ESP), Jazz Carlin (GBR)

    2012 Olympic champion: Camille Muffat (FRA) 4:01.45

    2015 World champion: Katie Ledecky (USA) 3:59.13

    World record: Katie Ledecky (USA) 3:58.37, August 23, 2014

    The plot: Katie Ledecky narrowly missed out on breaking her own world record during Olympic Trials in June but still swam the third-fastest 400 free in history that day with a stunning 3.58.98. She is the overwhelming favourite for gold. The closest to the 19-year-old American is her compatriot Leah Smith, who swam 4:00.65 at Trials, making her the second-fastest in 2016. Watch out for Great Britain’s Jazz Carlin, who is eight-fastest in the event this year, as well as reigning European champion Boglárka Kapás of Hungary, who is third in the world in 2016.

    Arab spotlight: Lebanon’s Gabriella Doueihy is contesting the first heat of this event.

    Kicking off the Olympics!

    A photo posted by Katie Ledecky (@kledecky) on

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