Women’s 100m butterfly - Gretchen Walsh does even better, breaks seventh world record

American Gretchen Walsh broke the world record once again in the 100m butterfly, taking the record from 54.05 at the start of the year to 52.71 to close out 2024.

Walsh broke her seventh world record of the week at the 2024 World Swimming Championships (25m) as she has cashed in on a big pay day this week in Budapest.

“Every single time I got a bit better, I'm happy that I was able to execute and drop that time,” Walsh said. “It's really just all the tiny little details, timing, structure, what counts for me. I just like to push myself, especially over that last 25 meters.”

Walsh is the third American to win this event at the World Short Course Championships after Jenny Thompson (1997, 1999, 2000) and Kelsi Dahlia (2018).

“I wasn't happy with my last 25 last night,” Walsh said. “I made the correction and fixed it. “It’s been harder and harder to get through these races because it’s been a very long meet. I am proud of myself for staying consistent and pushing myself to the limits of what I can accomplish.”

Gretchen Walsh streaks by breaking the World Record in the heats, semis and finals as well 🙌🔥🤯#AQUABudapest2024 pic.twitter.com/aRWZim01EN
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) December 14, 2024

Walsh left the field in the dust as Tessa Giele (54.66) had a huge swim to win the silver medal to move up to fifth all-time.

Australia’s Alexandria Perkins (55.10) broke the Oceania record in winning the bronze medal ahead of defending bronze medalist Louise Hansson (55.23) of Sweden.

Japan’s Mizuki Hirai (55.61), Ireland’s Ellen Walshe (55.68), Australia’s Lily Price (55.82) and Finland’s Laura Lahtinen (56.92) also swam in the championship final.

Men’s 100m butterfly - Noe Ponti erases Caeleb Dressel’s world record

Switzerland’s Noe Ponti (47.71) broke his third world record of the week in Budapest, lowering Caeleb Dressel’s 47.78 from November 2020 as Ponti set the 21st record of the championships.

“I was hoping for such a quick swim,” Ponti said. “It was sensational! I just did my own race and I was not nervous before the final. I will never say before a final what is my plan. I don’t want to talk too much and too early, my race should speak for itself.”

Ponti, age 23, followed up his record in the 50m butterfly as he completely dominated the field in Hungary, beating 2023 World champion Maxime Grousset (48.57) of France, and Matthew Temple (48.71).

“This is my first individual medal at a World Championships, so I’m happy with that one,” Temple said. “After the Olympics, it’s always hard to get back in the water, but I got the job done. Doing the World Cups helped my preparation for this. I did .01 off my best, I cannot complain. Getting so close to my best time and picking up a medal gives me the urge to keep going.”

Ponti missed the podium at the Paris Olympics but has rebounded in a huge way this fall, setting a myriad of world records in the 50m and 100m butterfly. Ponti cashed in big by virtue of his three World Cup wins.

Italy’s Michele Busa (49.08) finished off the podium in fourth ahead of Austria’s Simon Bucher (49.19) and Andrei Minakov (49.21) of the Neutral Athletes.

Simone Stefani’ (49.29) and Dare Rose (49.37) also swam in the championship final.

Women’s 400m IM - Summer McIntosh blasts unthinkable 4:15 for 24th world record

Canada’s Summer McIntosh (4:15.48) took three seconds off of Mireia Belmonte’s 4:18.94 world record from Doha 2014 as this is the 24th world record of the championships, breaking the record for the most world records in a World Short Course Championships, which was set ten years ago back in Doha.

“Maybe I can go 4:16, but 4:15 is definitely not something that I would even wildly dream about,” McIntosh said. “So, yeah, I mean overall I'm very ecstatic about that race, but honestly right now I'm focusing on warming down. It's so important to stay in the moment. I mean, I'm not flying, I'm really just focusing on building my stroke, feeling how high I feel in the race.

“Backstroke is all tempo, and then once I get to the breaststroke it's laser focused tunnel vision. I'm just staying in my own lane. Honestly, it's really easy to get caught up in the moment like, oh my god I might break the world record, I might break the world record. Just stay in the moment, take it stroke by stroke, and that's how you can actually do the best race possible.”

Incredible 🤯 3️⃣ seconds off the World Record — Summer McIntosh crushes it in the 400IM 🔥🙌 #AQUABudapest2024 pic.twitter.com/Opyucqjym5
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) December 14, 2024

Katie Grimes (4:20.14) won yet another silver medal behind McIntosh as the two teenagers finished 1-2 at the Paris Olympics and the World Championships in 2022 and 2023.

Great Britain’s Abbie Wood (4:24.34) broke through for bronze, matching her place from the 200m IM earlier. Wood won her first individual medals this week on the global stage.

Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey (4:26.09) finished fourth overall ahead of Ireland’s Ellen Walshe (4:29.86). The Australian duo of Tara Kinder (4:30.01) and Kayla Hardy (4:30.87) finished sixth and seventh, respectively, ahead of Spain’s Emma Carrasco (4:31.18).

Men’s 400m IM - Ilia Borodin first non-Seto winner in 14 years

Ilia Borodin of the Neutral Athletes became World Short Course champion in the 400m IM on Saturday in Budapest, swimming 3:56.83 to upgrade his silver from Abu Dhabi 2021. This is the first time since Dubai 2010 that Daiya Seto did not win the 400m IM as he finished ninth and out of the final this morning.

Borodin received plenty of push from American Carson Foster (3:57.45), who won his eighth career silver medal at the World Championships in short course and long course.

Italy’s Alberto Razzetti (3:58.83) won bronze ahead of Japan’s Kaito Tabuchi (4:00.43) and Great Britain’s Max Litchfield (4:00.50).

“When you come out of the world championship pool with a medal, its something special and you can't complain,” Razzetti said.

“I was expecting to swim a bit faster this week, 200m fly, 200m IM, 4x200m relay, I just felt tired from the beginning. The 400 im is a challenging race, mentally and physically.”

Canada’s Tristan Jankovics (4:00.57), who broke the oldest national record on the books this morning, finished sixth overall ahead of Greece’s Apostolos Papastamos (4:04.26) and USA’s Trenton Julian (4:05.81).

Men’s 800m freestyle - Zalan Sarkany wins Hungary’s first gold of the championships

Hungary’s Zalan Sarkany, age 21, gave Hungary its first gold medal of the 2024 World Swimming Championships (25m) with his 7:30.56 in the 800m freestyle. Sarkany did battle with 1500m champion Ahmed Jaouadi with the Tunisian leading the first 325 meters. At 350m, Sarkany took over and never gave up the lead as this is Hungary’s ninth medal of the week.

A golden moment for 🇭🇺 Hungary! 🥇 Zalan Sarkany claims his first-ever World Champion title, earning the host nation’s first gold 🥇 in Budapest! The crowd erupted for their hometown hero — what an unforgettable night! 🙌🔥#AQUABudapest2024 pic.twitter.com/B7jxsUL77f
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) December 14, 2024

Germany’s Florian Wellbrock, who swam this morning to put up a 7:31.90 from an earlier heat, won the silver medal as he virtually ran down Jaouadi, who won bronze at 7:31.93. The time is a new African record for Jaouadi.

Germany’s Sven Schwarz (7:33.24), who also swam in an earlier heat, finished fourth overall ahead of Italy’s Luca de Tullio (7:34.32) and Sweden’s Victor Johansson (7:34.65).

Australia’s Elijah Winnington finished seventh from an earlier heat at 7:35.34 as Ireland’s Nathan Wiffen (7:35.92) rounded out the top eight.

Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay - Neutral Athletes holds off United States in opposite lineup

The Neutral Athletes elected to go two men and two women on their mixed relay as the United States led off two women, an unlikely start due to the amount of water needed to be made up.

The American almost pulled the unthinkable on Saturday, but the Neutral Athletes claimed the gold at 3:30.47 to the United States’s 3:30.55.

The team of Miron Lifintsev (48.90), Kirill Prigoda (54.86), Arina Surkova (55.63), and Daria Klepikova (51.08) won gold in the first time this event has been held at the World Short Course Championships. The race was under a lengthy review, but Prigoda’s -0.01 relay exchange counted, and the Neutral Athletes claimed the inaugural gold.

The American team of Regan Smith (54.19), Lilly King (1:03.05), Dare Rose (48.68), and Jack Alexy (44.63) did all they could, including an unofficial world record from Smith on the lead-off, but it was not enough for gold.

“We had a really good lineup of people, we knew it would be a close race at the end,” Smith said. “I love leading off relays. I think I always rise to the occasion knowing I have a great group of people behind me. I delivered and I was really proud of that and I know that everyone else did more than their part, so it was a great race.”

“It was my first time swimming on a mixed medley,” Alexy said. “Anchoring that against the rest of the heat were girls and trying to catch back up. Regardless of the time or place, it was super fun and I am always happy to put on a USA cap and race with my teammates, it's been an honor.”

Canada (3:31.97) won bronze with the team of Ingrid Wilm (55.82), Finlay Knox (56.39), Ilya Kharun (48.27), and Mary-Sophie Harvey (51.49) as they out-raced Australia (3:32.83) for their 13th medal of the week.

Great Britain (3:35.46) finished fifth ahead of Spain (3:35.52), Italy (3:35.54), and the Netherlands (3:36.04).

Semis Wrap

Women’s 50m breaststroke

Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte nearly broke her own world record in the semis at 28.39, getting oh-so-close to her 28.37 from Melbourne 2022 as the defending champion is seeded ahead of 100m champion Tang Qianting (28.86) of China.

2016 champion Lilly King (28.99) of the United States could potentially be swimming in her last World Short Course Championships as she is third overall.

Poland’s Dominika Sztandera (29.22) and Italy’s Benedetta Pilato (29.24) could also factor into the medals tomorrow, along with 2023 World Junior champion Eneli Jefimova (29.39) of Estonia.

Finland’s Veera Kivirinta (29.44) is seeded seventh ahead of Alina Zmushka (29.68) of the Neutral Athletes.

Men’s 50m breaststroke

Kirill Prigoda of the Neutral Athletes moved through as the top seed after two rounds at 25.48 ahead of 100m champion Qin Haiyang (25.60) of China.

South Africa’s Chris Smith (25.66) broke the world junior record in finishing third overall as the 18-year-old is in his first World Short Course Championships.

World record holder Emre Sakci (25.67) of Turkiye is tied for fourth with Ilya Shymanovich (25.67), who is second on the all-time list. Sakci has never won a medal at the World Short Course Championships.

South Africa’s Michael Houlie (25.69), Italy’s Ludovico Viberti (25.80) and Italy’s Simone Cerasuolo (25.80) also advanced to the championship final.

Women’s 50m freestyle

Like clockwork, Gretchen Walsh broke her eighth world record of the week, swimming 22.87 to lower Ranomi Kromowidjojo’s 22.93 from 2017, who was pool-side to give Walsh her world record check for $25,000 USD.

“It was a quick turnaround but I was definitely still in the zone,” Walsh said. “I was really trying to make the best out of this race!”

Walsh could be the first American to win this event at the World Short Course Championships tomorrow when she lines up alongside teammate Kate Douglass (23.35).

“I am in a little bit of disbelief of myself honestly,” Walsh said of her eighth world record of the week. “And not in a bragging way but I don't know if anyone has done this many back to back to back records. I think it’s really cool to do it and I am honored honestly to be doing this at this stage and accomplishing what I am accomplishing.”

🚨 World Record again from Gretchen Walsh — she just shattered the women’s 50m freestyle World Record with an incredible time of 22.87! 🔥💨 What a performance! 👏 #AQUABudapest2024 pic.twitter.com/Db7Jeqq9Qt
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) December 14, 2024

Walsh is also the first American to hold the world record in this event.

Poland’s Kasia Wasick (23.46) is seeded third overall as the silver medalist from Melbourne 2022.

She is ahead of Italy’s Silvia di Pietro (23.68) and Arina Surkova (23.69) of the Neutral Athletes.

Great Britain’s Eva Okaro (23.71), Australia’s Meg Harris (23.74), and Italy’s Sara Curtis (23.76) also advanced to the championship final.

Men’s 50m freestyle

Jordan Crooks of the Cayman Islands stormed through the 50m freestyle semi-finals with a 19.90, the fastest swim in history as he is the first to break 20 seconds from a flat start. Crooks, who swims for coach Matt Kredich at the University of Tennessee, lowered his own 20.08 record from this morning.

🇰🇾Jordan Crooks🚀 first man ever under 20seconds in the men’s 50m free 🤯 #AQUABudapest2024 pic.twitter.com/Hxz87DvT4p
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) December 14, 2024

“It means a lot, it's been a long time coming,” Crooks said. “I definitely learned a lot in my years of competitive swimming. I have been to these meets before sometimes I have had my ups and down, missing semis

“I hope it shows that anyone out there who might be going through a rough patch or not performing the way they expect, with time and dedication and putting in the effort, can turn things around, it can work out.”

Jordan Crooks makes history! 🇰🇾
19.90 🔥 Cayman Islands’ sprinting sensation dominates the 50m Freestyle at #AQUABudapest2024 🏊‍♂️💥 pic.twitter.com/VlERdVDnRf
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) December 14, 2024

Crooks is the defending champion from Melbourne 2022 as he is seeded ahead of American Jack Alexy (20.51), who won the 100m freestyle over Crooks.

Crooks’s Tennessee teammate Guilherme Caribe (20.59) is seeded third ahead of Nyls Korstanje (20.63) of the Netherlands, and Egor Kornev (20.75) of the Neutral Athletes.

France’s Maxime Grousset (20.78), Chris Guiliano (20.79) of the United States, Ji Yuchan (20.80) of Korea, who broke the Asian record, also advanced to the championship final.

Notably, defending bronze medalist from Melbourne, Dylan Carter (20.82) of Trinidad & Tobago, finished ninth and out of the final.

Contributing: Gregory Eggert

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