2024 SC World Championships: Day 1 Prelims Live Recap

2024 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m)

• December 10-15, 2024
• Duna Arena – Budapest, Hungary
• SCM (25 meters)
• Meet Central
• Full Schedule
• Live Results

Welcome to the 2024 iteration of the Short Course World Championships. Competition kicks off this morning with 10 events on the roster, including the preliminary heats of the men’s and women’s 4×100 freestyle relay and the slower heats of the men’s 1500 freestyle.

We should see some exciting races right from the start, with a number of big names headlining the morning’s events.

The women’s 400 free will bring together returning SC world champion Lani Pallister, world junior record holder Summer McIntosh and Olympic finalist Paige Madden. Freestyle powerhouses Claire Weinstein and Simona Quadarella are set to appear in the same heat.

Regan Smith will be looking put in a strong showing in the 100 backstroke this morning, while fellow Olympians Katharine Berkoff, Kylie Masse and Iona Anderson are also entered in the event.

On the men’s side, Hubert Kos, Mewen Tomac and Yohann Ndoye-Brouard are notable names in the 100 back, while Ilya Kharun, Michael Andrew, Chad le Clos, Noe Ponti and Dare Rose will all take on the 50 butterfly.

Ponti is set to take on a double this morning, as he is also entered in the 200 IM alongside familiar names like Carson Foster, Tristan Jankovics and Max Litchfield.

Women’s 400 Freestyle

• World Record: 3:51.30 – Li Bingjie, CHN (2022)
• World Junior Record: 3:52.80 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2022)
• World Championship Record: 3:53.92 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2018)
• 2022 SC World Champion: Lani Pallister, AUS – 3:55.04

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 3:57.55
2. Lani Pallister (AUS) – 3:57.97
3. Claire Weinstein (USA) – 3:58.58
4. Paige Madden (USA) – 3:58.83
5. Isabel Gose (GER) – 3:59.87
6. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) – 4:00.04
7. Leah Neale (AUS) – 4:01.99
8. Sofia Diakovo (NAB) – 4:02.03

Competition got off to a strong start with the prelims of the women’s 400 free.

Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh secured the top spot heading into the finals of the event, posting a time of 3:57.55 to take almost a second off of her entry time.

Just behind was Australia’s Lani Pallister, who raced into the wall in a time of 3:57.97. Pallister led the field for the first 300 meters before she was overtaken in the final stretch by McIntosh. McIntosh’s split a 59.84 on the final 100, while Pallister split a 1:00.29.

Claiming the next two spots heading into finals were American teammates Claire Weinstein and Paige Madden, who posted times of 3:58.58 and 3:58.83, respectively. Both medalists at the 2024 Olympics, the pair will be vying for one of the top spots in the finals of the 400.

Germany’s Isabel Gose threw down a time of 3:59.87 to secure the 5th spot. Nearly 2.5 seconds faster than her entry time, Gose’s sub-4:00 performance put her in close contention with the top four.

Sneaking into the finals from the earlier heats, Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey turned in a time of 4:00.04 to qualify in the #6 spot. Harvey led her heat for much of the race, posting a strong performance that was a few seconds off her personal best performance of 3:56.78 from the 2024 World Cup in Incheon.

Women’s 100 Backstroke

• World Record: 54.27 – Regan Smith, USA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 55.75 – Bella Sims, USA (2022)
• World Championship Record: 55.03 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2014)
• 2022 SC World Champion: Kaylee McKeown, AUS – 55.49

Top 16 Qualifiers:

1. Regan Smith (USA) – 55.86
2. Iona Anderson (AUS) – 56.25
3. Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 56.33
4. Anastasiya Shkurdai (NAA) – 56.50
5. Kylie Masse (CAN) – 56.58
6. Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 56.66
7. Carmen Weiler Sastre (ESP) – 56.68
8. Xinan Qian (CHN) – 56.69
9. Miranda Grana Perez (NAC) – 56.83
10. Maaike de Waard (NED) – 57.01
11. Louise Hansson (SWE) – 57.14
12. Pauline Mahieu (FRA) – 57.18
13. Hanna Rosvall (SWE) – 57.26
14. Mizuki Hirai (JPN) – 57.29
15. Helena Gasson (NZL) – 57.43
16. Hulyu Zheng (CHN) – 57.52

In her first race of a busy week, Regan Smith took it out strong in the 100 back, claiming the top spot heading into finals with a time of 55.86. She led the pack by nearly a body length, taking it out in a 26.78 and coming home in a 29.08. Smith was the only swimmer in the field to go sub-56 this morning.

Next up behind Smith was Australia’s Iona Anderson, who won her heat in a 56.25. Out in a 26.95, Anderson’s performance was about half a second off her best and just .19 off of her performance at the World Cup in November.

The 2024 Olympic bronze medalist in the 100 back, Katharine Berkoff secured the #3 spot just behind Anderson with a 56.33. Berkoff had a strong back half, coming home in a 29.04, which was faster than Anderson’s 29.3 and just .01 off of Smith’s second 50.

The next five qualifying athletes were separated by only .19 from 4th to 8th. Neutral athlete Anastasiya Shkurdai threw down a 56.50, just .03 off of her lifetime best from November. Close behind was Kylie Masse, whose time of 56.58 took over a second off of her entry time and bumped her up to 5th overall heading into finals.

Following in quick succession was Ingrid Wilm (56.66), Carmen Weiler Sastre (56.68) and Xinan Qian (56.69). Weiler Sastre’s performance marked a huge time drop, as she set a new lifetime best by over 1.5 seconds. the 20-year-old previously had a top time of 58.37, set back in 2022

Men’s 100 Backstroke

• World Record: 48.33 – Coleman Stewart, USA (2021)
• World Junior Record: 48.90 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2017)
• World Championship Record: 48.50 – Ryan Murphy, USA (2022)
• 2022 SC World Champion: Ryan Murphy, USA – 48.50

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Hubert Kos (HUN) – 49.12
2. Kacper Stokowski (POL) – 49.22
3. Miron Lifintsev (NAB) – 49.44
4. Ruard Van Renen (RSA) – 49.73
5. Blake Tierney (CAN) – 49.85
6. Pavel Samusenko (NAB) – 50.20
7. Mewen Tomac (FRA) – 50.22
8. Lorenzo Mora (ITA) – 50.30
9. Denis-Laurean Popescu (ROU) – 50.35
10. Ralf Tribuntsov (EST) – 50.38
11. Christian Bacico (ITA) – 50.48
12. Isaac Cooper (AUS) – 50.60
13. Jack Aikins (USA) – 50.64
14. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA)/Ksawery Masiuk (POL) – 50.80
16. Masaki Yura (JPN) – 50.81

Hungarian star Hubert Kos enjoyed a tremendous swim this morning, throwing down a time of 49.12 to snag the top spot heading into finals. Out in a 23.61, Kos had the fastest opening split in the field as he blasted to a quick lead.

Close behind was Poland’s Kacper Stokowski, who threw down a new lifetime best time of 49.22. His performance lowered his previous time by .13, which he set back in 2022, and was .65 faster than his World Cup performance.

Also turning in a personal best was Ruard Van Renen, whose time of 49.73 bested his previous time by .30 and marked his first time going sub-50. Taking it out in a 23.91, he came home in a 25.82 to definitely slide under that 50 second mark.

Blake Tierney saw a massive time drop in his swim, posting a 49.85 to lower his lifetime best by over two seconds (previously a 52.00, set in November). The final swimmer to go sub-50, Tierney claimed the 5th spot heading into finals.

Separated by just .02, Pavel Samusenko and Mewen Tomac both turned in strong performances to secure their spots in the finals, turning in times of 50.20 and 50.22, respectively. Close behind was Lorenzo Mora, who narrowly snuck into the top 8 with a 50.30, just .05 ahead of 9th-place qualifier Denis-Laurean Popescu. While over a second off his lifetime best, the race marked a season best performance for Mora by .61.

Texas-bound Kswaery Masiuk, a two-time World Championships bronze medalist in the 50, snuck in to the semi-final tied for 14th.

Women’s 50 Butterfly

• World Record: 24.38 – Therese Alshammar, SWE (2009)
• World Junior Record: 24.55 – Claire Curzan, USA (2021)
• World Championship Record: 24.244 – Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED (2021)
• 2022 SC World Champion: Torri Huske, USA & Maggie MacNeil, CAN – 24.64

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 24.02 WR
2. Arina Surkova (NAB) – 24.78
3. Tessa Giele (NED) – 25.01
4. Alexandria Perkins (AUS) – 25.04
5. Sara Junevik (SWE) – 25.13
6. Silvia Di Pietro (ITA) – 25.16
7. Maaike De Waard (NED) – 25.33
8. Beryl Gastaldello (FRA) – 25.36
9. Helena Gasson (NZL) – 25.39
10. Lily Prize (AUS) – 25.40
11. Laura Lahtinen (FIN) – 25.47
12. Melanie Henique (FRA) – 25.52
13. Mizuki Hirai (JPN) – 25.59
14. Ellen Walshe (IRL) – 25.65)
15. Daryna Nabojcenko (CZE) – 25.68
16. Jenjira Srisa-Ard (THA) – 25.72

Gretchen Walsh smashed the world record in the 50 fly, throwing down an astonishing time of 24.02 to set a new standard by .36 and take down the oldest record on the books. Despite not being the fastest off the block, Walsh was quick to surge past the field and blazed into the top spot .76 ahead of the runner-up.

Claiming the #2 spot was Arina Surkova, who turned in a time of 24.78. The only other swimmer to go sub-25, Surkova’s performance marked a season best time and was just .20 off of her lifetime best.

Tessa Giele posted a personal best time of 25.01 to qualify 3rd heading into finals. She lowered her personal best by .09 and knocked down her previous season best of 25.31 that she posted just a few weeks ago.

Trailing just .03 behind Giele was Australia’s Alexandria Perkins, who qualified 4th in a time of 25.04 and narrowly missed her lifetime best time of 24.99 that she set in September this year.

Of note, New Zealand’s Helena Gasson qualified for the semis in 25.39, marking a successful completion of the 100 back/50 fly double in back-to-back women’s races.

Men’s 50 Butterfly

• World Record: 21.50 – Noe Ponti, SUI (2024)
• World Junior Record: 22.28 – Ilya Kharun, CAN (2022)
• World Championship Record: 21.78 – Nicholas Santos, BRA (2022)
• 2022 SC World Champion: Nicholas Santos, BRA – 21.78

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Noe Ponti (SUI) – 21.53 CR
2. Nyls Korstanje (NED) – 21.62
3. Ilya Kharun (CAN) – 21.84
4. Tzen Wei Teong (SGP) – 21.97
5. Grigori Pekarski (NAA) – 22.08
6. Oleg Kostin (NAB) – 22.16
7. Szebasztian Szabo (HUN) – 22.18 (tie)
8. Dylan Carter (TTO) – 22.18 (tie)
9. Roma Shevliakov (NAB) – 22.24
10. Dare Rose (USA)/Gui Santos (BRA) – 22.26
12. Michele Busa (ITA) – 22.28
13. JTT Peters (GBR) – 22.35
14. Daniel Zaitsev (EST) – 22.37
15. Marius Kusch (GER) – 22.39
16. Matthew Temple (AUS) – 22.43

Records continued to fall in the men’s 50 fly, which was nothing short of adrenaline-boosting. Nyls Korstanje got the excitement going by taking down the championship record with a personal best time of 21.62, .16 faster than the previous record, only for Ponti to take it back in the very next heat with a time of 21.53.

Ponti, who also holds the world record in the event, notched the 2nd-fastest all-time performance with his swim, while Korstanje logged the 3rd-fastest. Ponti previously held the top four all-time performances.

Also making a splash was Ilya Kharun, who demolished his lifetime best by with a 21.84, marking his first time under 22 seconds and claiming the 3rd spot heading into finals. Kharun’s performance set a new Canadian record and is the 17th-fastest all-time performance in the 50 fly.

Singapore’s Tzen Wei Teong also logged a personal best time, shaving just .01 off of his previous time. He posted a 21.97, not far behind Kharun and marking the only other sub-22 performance in the field.

Adding some additional excitement by rounding out the top 8 with a tie were Szebasztian Szabo and Dylan Carter, who both posted times of 22.18 to edge their way into the the top heat.

The two American entries Dare Rose (22.26) and Michael Andrew (22.65) finished 10th and 20th, respectively. Rose makes the semis with his time, while Andrew does not.

Women’s 200 IM

• World Record: 2:01.86 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2014)
• World Junior Record: 2:04.48 – Yu Yiting, CHN (2021)
• World Championship Record: 2:01.86 – Katinka Hosszu, HUN (2014)
• 2022 SC World Champion: Kate Douglass, USA – 2:02.12

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Abbie Wood (GBR) – 2:05.16
2. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) – 2:05.99
3. Kate Douglass (USA) – 2:06.08
4. Rebecca Meder (RSA) – 2:06.15
5. Emma Carrasco Cadens (ESP) – 2:06.42
6. Elle Walshe (IRE) – 2:06.50
7. Alex Walsh (USA) – 2:06.63
8. Tamara Potocka (SVK) – 2:07.17

The women’s 200 IM saw Great Britain’s Abbie Wood claim the top spot heading into finals with a time of 2:05.16. Out in a 26.66 on the fly, Wood had one of the fastest opening splits in the field and held onto that speed throughout her race. Her overall time was just a few tenths off of her best time (2:04.77), which she set back in 2020.

Bouncing back after the 400, Mary-Sophie Harvey qualified for her second final of the day with a dominant performance in the 200 IM. She posted a time of 2:05.99, just over a second off of her lifetime best in the event, and secured the runner-up spot heading into finals.

Defending world champion Kate Douglass took 3rd, turning in a time of 2:06.08, about two seconds off of her most recent performance in the event. Douglass split a 26.61 on the fly leg, the fastest in the field, and continued to turn in faster splits than Harvey for much of the race before falling off slightly on the freestyle, where she was overtaken by Harvey.

South Africa’s Rebecca Meder threw down a personal best time of 2:06.15 to claim the #4 spot. Her race marked a huge performance for her, as it knocked over a second off of her previous best time of 2:07.42 that she set less than two months ago.

Also seeing a significant time drop was Emma Carrasco Cadens; she posted a time of 2:06.42, nearly three seconds faster than her entry time of 2:09.19.

A big name in the event coming into the meet, Alex Walsh qualified 7th for finals with a time of 2:06.63, about three seconds off of her time.

Men’s 200 IM

• World Record: 1:48.88 — Leon Marchand, FRA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 1:51.45 – Matt Sates, RSA (2021)
• World Championship Record: 1:49.63 — Ryan Lochte, USA (2012)
• 2022 SC World Champion: Matt Sates, RSA — 1:50.15

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Shaine Casas (USA) – 1:51.52
2. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 1:52.21
3. Finlay Knox (CAN) – 1:52.24
4. Carson Foster (USA) – 1:52.59
5. Daiya Seto (JPN) – 1:53.20
6. Ilia Borodin (NAB) – 1:53.30
7. Berke Saka (TUR) – 1:53.43
8. David Schlicht (AUS) – 1:53.55

Shaine Casas brought the energy in the men’s 200 IM, charging straight to a lead and pushing to hold onto it the entire race. The only one in the field to go sub-1:52, Casas threw down a time of 1:51.52, just two-tenths off of his lifetime best in the event, to secure the top spot heading into finals.

Vying for one of the top spots was Alberto Razzetti, who raced into the wall behind Casas in a time of 1:52.21. Razzetti did his best to chase down Casas, coming home in a closing split of 27.57 in comparison to Casas’s 28.18, but Casas managed to hold him off all the way to the wall.

Throwing down one of the top times from an early heat, Canada’s Finlay Knox secured the #3 spot heading into finals. Just .03 behind razzetti, he posted a time of 1:52.24, not far off his best time of 1:51.04 from 2022.

American IM powerhouse Carson Foster also turned in a strong performance this morning, posting a time of 1:52.59 to qualify 4th. The runner-up at the 2022 World Championships, Foster should be one of the top contenders in the finals. While he sits .61 ahead of 5th-place qualifier Daiya Seto, there is a smaller time gap between Foster and 8th-place David Schlicht then between Foster and Casas.

Berke Saka posted a personal best in his race with his time of 1:53.43, shaving .09 off of his previous time from last December. Schlicht also threw down a significant lifetime best, knocking .66 off of his previous time to narrowly edge his way into the top 8.

Women’s 400 Freestyle Relay

• World Record: 3:25.43, Australia (2022)
• World Championship Record: 3:25.43 – Australia (2022)
• 2022 SC World Champion: Australia, 3:25.43

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. Italy – 3:29.86
2. Germany – 3:30.37
3. United States – 3:31.16
4. Hungary – 3:31.36
5. Sweden – 3:31.56
6. Neutral Athletes B – 3:31.89
7. Australia – 3:31.90
8. Canada – 3:34.50

After the results of this morning, the finals of the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay are shaping up to be a tight race for the top spots. Italy threw down the fastest swim of the prelims, with the team of Sofia Morini, Sara Curtis, Chiara Tarantino and Emma Virginia Menicucci posting a time of 3:29.86.

The only team to go under 3:30 this morning, Italy holds a decent edge over several of the other teams but was closely chased by Germany and the United States. Germany claimed the runner-up spot, with Nina Jazy, Nicole Maier, Nina Holt and Nele Schulze turning in a time of 3;30.37.

The United States, normally a dominant force in the relays, claimed the #3 spot heading into finals. After vying closely with Germany during the 2nd leg, the U.S. fell back on the 3rd leg, trailing by two seconds at the 300 mark. Gretchen Walsh managed to close the gap some in the anchor position, helping the U.S. land 3rd overall. Splitting a 50.51 on her leg, Walsh had the fastest split in the field by nearly two seconds.

Not far behind the U.S. were Hungary and Sweden, just .2 apart in the rankings. Both teams were leading the U.S. at the 300 mark, but their final legs proved unable to hold off Walsh at the end.

Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay

• World Record: 3:02.75 – Italy (2022)
• World Championship Record: 3:02.75 – Italy (2022)
• 2022 SC World Champion: Italy, 3:02.75

Top 8 Qualifiers:

1. United States – 3:05.20
2. Italy – 3:05.40
3. Brazil – 3:06.77
4. Poland – 3:06.88
5. Australia – 3:07.02
6. Neutral Athletes B – 3:07.04
7. Croatia – 3:07.07
8. Spain – 3:07.09

The men’s 4×100 freestyle relay prelims turned into a battle between the United States and Italy, as the two teams vied for control of the race.

Italy kicked it off fast with a 46.32 thanks to Alessandro Miressi, followed by the leadoff swimmers from several other relay teams while the U.S. trailed in a 47.80 at the first 100. Luke Hobson brought it back in a 45.39, the fastest split across the board, putting the Americans back in the race for the top spot.

Jack Alexy sealed the deal as the anchor the U.S., throwing down a closing split of 45.58 to overtake a half second gap between the U.S. and Italy and help his team to a winning time of 3:05.20.

Also turning in top performances were the relay teams from Brazil and Poland. Separated by just .11, they took the 3rd and 4th spots, respectively, heading into finals. Brazil had notably been leading the U.S. at the 300 mark before being overtaken by Alexy, putting them in a position to be a strong contender for one of the top spots.

Rounding out the top 8 were the teams from Australia, Neutral Athletes, Croatia and Spain; with only .07 separating 5th-place from 8th-place, the finals of this event are sure to be a tight race from start to finish.

Men’s 1500 Freestyle

• World Record: 14:06.88, Florian Wellbrock, GER – 2021
• World Junior Record: 14:27.78 – Gregorio Paltrinieri, ITA (2012)
• World Championship Record: 14:06.88, Florian Wellbrock, GER – 2021
• 2022 SC World Champion: Gregorio Paltrinieri, ITA – 14:16.88

*The slower heats of the men’s 1500 will be contested during prelims this morning, while the fastest heat will compete in the finals this evening.*

Top 8

1. Florian Wellbrock (GER) – 14:17.27
2. Sven Schwarz (GER) – 14:22.29
3. Luca de Tullio (ITA) – 14:28.44
4. Daniel Matheson (USA) – 14:37.56
5. Andrei-Theodor Proca (ROU) – 14:39.42
6. Charlie Clark (USA) – 14:41.61
7. Kris Mihaylov (RSA) – 14:52.53
8. Timothe Barbeau (CAN) – 15:02.76

Germany’s Florian Wellbrock turned in the fastest time in the preliminary heats of the 1500 this morning, posting a 14:17.27 to claim the top spot by five seconds. The current world record holder in the event, Wellbrock was a little over 10 seconds off of his best as he raced into the wall ahead of the field.

Not far behind was German teammate Sven Schwarz, who threw down a personal best time of 14:22.29. His performance knocked nearly four seconds off of his previous lifetime best of 14:26.24, which he set back in 2021.

Luca de Tullio also shaved several seconds off of his best time, turning in a 14:28.44 to go sub-14:30 for the first time.

Daniel Matheson, who narrowly missed qualifying for the Paris Olympics in the distance events, took 4th in a time of 14:37.56 and narrowly beat out Romania’s Andrei-Theodor Proca, who posted a lifetime best performance with his time 14:39.42.

South Africa’s Kris Mihaylov recorded a significant time drop, lowering his best time by five seconds with a time of 14:52.53 after just setting the previous standard in September this year.