2025 Mare Nostrum – Barcelona Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2025 MARE NOSTRUM – Barcelona

• May 21-22, 2025
• Prelims at 8:30am local (2:30am ET)/Finals at 5pm local (11am ET)
• Club Natació Sant Andreu
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets (PDF)
• Live Results
• Live Stream ($)

The Mare Nostrum series has made its way to Barcelona for its second stop, and tonight the first half of medals for this stop are on the line. Swimmers such as Anastasia Gorbenko and Ilya Shymanovich will look to build on the successful campaigns they started earlier this week in Monaco. Others, like Swiss Olympic Medalist Noe Ponti will look to score their first hardware of the 2025 tour.

Men’s 800 Freestyle – Fastest Heat

• World record: 7:32.12 – Zhang Lin (CHN), 2009
• Mare Nostrum record: 7:48.19 – Henrik Christiansen (NOR), 2019
• Barcelona record: 7:52.51 – Ryan Cochran (CAN), 2015
• World Aquatics ‘A’ QT – 7:48.66

Overall Results

1. Daniel Wiffen (IRE) – 7:45.17
2. Ahmed Jaouadi (TUN) – 7:46.37
3. Tommasso Griffante (ITA) – 7:58.27

Daniel Wiffen and Ahmed Jaouadi started the night off with a thrilling battle that resulted in both of them under the old Mare Nostrum record. Wiffen got his hand on the wall first, going 7:45.17. That marks his second-best time this season, coming behind the 7:41.51 he turned it at the Irish Open. For Jaouadi, who wowed the swimming world with his 1500 gold at the 2024 Short Course World Championships, this marks his third best time ever. The only two times that he has gone faster than the 7:46.37 he posted today were a pair of 7:42s at the Paris Olympics. Henrik Christiansen’s 7:48.19 series record bit the dust with this heat.

Women’s 50 Back Final

• World record: 26.86 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023
• Mare Nostrum record: 27.24 – Kylie Masse (CAN), 2024
• Barcelona record: 27.37 – 27.24 – Kylie Masse (CAN), 2024
• World Aquatics ‘A’ QT – 28.22

1. Danielle Hill (IRE) – 27.85
2. Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 27.88
3. Tessa Giele (NED) – 27.99

Ireland’s Daniele Hill held on to her top seed from this morning by .03, tying her season best from the Irish Open Championships. Canada’s Ingrid Wilm repeated her second place podim finish from Monaco, coming in just behind Hill at 27.88. Tessa Giele rounded out the podium and the sub-28, sneaking under the barrier to go 27.99. This is a significant improvement from the 29.49 she posted in Monaco, but still shy of her 27.67 lifetime from the Bergen Swim Festival in April.

Men’s 50 Breast Final

• World record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty (GBR), 2017
• Mare Nostrum record: 26.33 – Felipe Lima (BRA), 2019
• Barcelona record: 26.55 – Adam Peaty (GBR), 2019
• World Aquatics ‘A’ QT – 27.33

1. Ilya Shymanovich (NAA) – 27.07
2. Ludovico Viberti (ITA) – 27.09
3. Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) – 27.11

Competing under a neutral flag, Belarusian Ilya Shymanovich repeated from Monaco as the men’s 50 breaststroke winner. He was nearly a half second slower here than in the skins race, going from 26.59 to 27.07, but he still held off the Italian duo of Ludovico Viberti and Nicolo Martinenghi. Two hundredths separated each man on the podium.

Women’s 50 Fly Final

• World record: 24.43 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2014
• Mare Nostrum record: 24.76 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
• Barcelona record: 24.76 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
• World Aquatics ‘A’ QT – 26.23

1. Arina Surkova (NAB) – 25.82
2. Mizuki Hirai (JAP) – 25.94
3. Sarah Junevik (SWE) – 25.98

Capping off the rapid-fire round of 50s, Arina Surkova held on to her top seed, coming in at 25.82. This time just misses her 25.76 season best from winning in Monaco. Japanese youngster Mizuki Hirai had a big swim for second place, breaking the 26 barrier for the first time in 25.94. Previously, the 18-year-old’s best stood at 26.32 from 2023 World Juniors.

Men’s 400 IM Final

• World Record: 4:02.50 – Leon Marchand, France (2023)
• Mare Nostrum Record: 4:07.96 – Laszlo Cseh, Hungary (2008)
• Barcelona Record: 4:11.22 – Lazlo Cseh, Hungary (2011)
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 4:17.48

1. Lewis Clareburt (NZL) – 4:13.33
2. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 4:15.89
3. Gabor Zombori (HUN) – 4:16.86

Lewis Clareburt, the Kiwi who won this event in Monaco, turned up the heat to repeat in a time four seconds faster than this weekend. The key leg for 25-year-old was the backstroke, where he built a five-and-a-half lead on the rest of the field. Italy’s Alberto Razzetti reeled him in a little bit on the freestyle, but it was not enough to surpass Clareburt’s 4:13.33 winning effort.

Women’s 100 Free Final

• World Record: 51.71 – Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2017)
• Mare Nostrum Record: 52.08 – Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2017)
• Barcelona Record: 52.28 – Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2017)
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 54.25

1. Milou Van Wijk (NED) – 53.56
2. Siobhan Haughey (HKG) – 53.88
3. Barbora Seemanova (CZE) – 54.25

Dutchwoman Milou Van Wijk leveraged a strong back half to flip the script on 100 free international staple Siobhan Haughey. The pair raced in this same event in Monaco this weekend, with Haughey running down Van Wijk on the last 50. Van Wijk didn’t allow it to happen again, going out a tenth ahead of Haughey and also beating her on the back half 27.6 to 27.9. For the 20-year-old Van Wijk, her 53.56 effort is within .05 of her lifetime best from February.

Men’s 100 Back Final

• World record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon (ITA), 2022
• Mare Nostrum record: 53.00 – Ryosuke Irie (JPN), 2022
• Barcelona record: 53.08 – Hugo Gonzalez (ESP), 2021
• World Aquatics ‘A’ QT – 53.94

1. Kliment Kolesknikov (NAB) – 53.91
2. Ksawery Masiuk (POL) – 54.25
3. Adam Jaszo (HUN) – 54.99

Kliment Kolesnikov dipped back under 54 to capture the men’s 100 back victory. His 53.91 swim allowed him to beat out Kwasery Masiuk, who got the best of the Russian Olympic medalist in this event in Monaco. Kolesnikov’s season best remains at 52.91 from the Russian Championship in April.

Women’s 100 Breast Final

• World record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King (USA), 2017
• Mare Nostrum record: 1:04.82 – Yuliya Efimova (RUS), 2017
• Barcelona record: 1:05.21 – Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013
• World Aquatics ‘A’ QT – 1:06.87

1. Anna Elendt (GER) – 1:06.55
2. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 1:06.93
3. Alina Zmushka (NAA) – 1:07.20

Anna Elendt continues to impress this season, establishing back-to-back Mare Nostrum stop wins in the 100 breaststroke. Her time this evening, 1:06.55, bests the 1:07.10 she posted to win in Monaco, but is still off 1:05.72 season best she swam at German Nationals.

Men’s 50 Free Final

• World record: 20.91 – Cesar Cielo (BRA), 2009
• Mare Nostrum record: 21.31 – Bruno Fratus (BRA), 2019
• Barcelona record: 21.58 – Ben Proud (GBR), 2019
• World Aquatics ‘A’ QT – 22.05

1. Abdelrahman Elaraby (EGY) – 21.94
2. Ian Ho (HKG) – 22.15
3. Sergio De Selis (ESP) / Piotr Ludwiczak (POL) – 22.48

For the first time in his career, Egyptian sprinter Abdelrahman Elaraby can say he’s a sub-22 50 freestyler. The former ACC star blasted a 21.94 to eclipse his 22.18 lifetime best from the 2024 Westmont Pro Series. This ties the national record set by Ali Khalafalla in 2021. Hong Kong’s Ian Ho rocked a new season best of 22.15 to claim second place.

Women’s 200 Back Final

• World record: 2:03.14 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023
• Mare Nostrum record: 2:06.66 – Emily Seehbohm (AUS), 2017
• Barcelona record: 2:07.30 – Emily Seehbohm (AUS), 2017
• World Aquatics ‘A’ QT – 2:11.08

1. Anastasiya Shkurdai (NAA) – 2:10.23
2. Estella Tonrath (ESP) – 2:11.38
3. Eszter Szabo Feltothy (HUN) – 2:11.94

Like in Monaco, Anastasiya Shkurdai controlled the women’s 200 backstroke. Her winning time today of 2:10.23 exactly ties the time she posted in the 2024 Olympic final, but she has been faster several times this season. 2:08.76 remains the Belarusian’s season best from the Russian cup in February.

Men’s 200 Breast Final

• World record: 2:05.48 – Qin Haiyang (CHN), 2023
• Mare Nostrum record: 2:07.23 – Arno Kamminga (NED) – 2021
• Barcelona record: 2:07.23 – Arno Kamminga (NED) – 2021
• World Aquatics ‘A’ QT – 2:10.32

1. Kirill Prigoda (NAB) – 2:08.38
2. Shin Ohashi (JAP) – 2:09.04
3. Dawid Wikiera (POL) – 2:12.52

Kirill Prigoda and Shin Ohashi duked it out in the men’s 200 breaststroke to post the #6 and #7 top times in the world this year. For Prigoda, his 2:08.38 is his best time since the Russian Championship over a year ago. For the 16-year-old Ohashi, this is a best time, beating out the 2:09.22 he swam in November 2024. It’s also the fastest registered time for a 16-year-old ever.

Women’s 200 Fly Final

• World Record: 2:01.81 – Liu Zige, China (2009)
• Mare Nostrum Record: 2:06.70 – Suzuka Hasegawa, Japan (2017)
• Barcelona Record: 2:07.11 – Mireia Belmonte, Spain (2017)
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 2:09.21

1. Laura Cabanes (ESP) – 2:09.99
2. Julia Pujadas (ESP) – 2:12.70
3. Sarah Dumont (BEL) – 2:12.77

The hometown crowd in Barcelona had a lot to cheer for in the women’s 200 fly. Spanish swimmers Laura Cabanes and Julia Pujadas put together a 1-2 finish on home soil. For Cabanes, this was within one second of her 2:09.03 lifetime best. Sarah Dumont, who represents Belgium but trains for CEM in Barcelona, rounded out the podium.

Men’s 100 Fly Final

• World Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel, United States (2021)
• Mare Nostrum Record: 50.75 – Kristof Milak, Hungary (2024)
• Barcelona Record: 50.95 – Kristof Milak, Hungary (2024)
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 51.77

1. Noe Ponti (SUI) – 51.05
2. Roman Shevlyakov (NAB) – 52.23
3. Ulises Cazau (ARG) – 52.53

Noe Ponti continues to show he’s in very solid shape in this post-Olympic year. The Swiss star holds the #1 time of the year at 50.27, and although his 51.05 is a ways off that, he still won the heat by over a second with a time that would rank him among the world’s top ten this year.

Women’s 200 IM Final

• World Record: 2:06.12 – Katinka Hosszu, Hungary (2015)
• Mare Nostrum Record: 2:08.49 – Katinka Hosszu, Hungary (2017)
• Barcelona Record: 2:08.55 – Anastasia Gorbenko, Israel (2024)
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 2:12.83

1. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) – 2:09.85
2. Emma Carrasco (ESP) -2:10.61
3. Anitta Gastaldi (ITA) – 2:11.98

For a fourth year in a row at the Barcelona Mare Nostrum stop, Anastasia Gorbenko cranked out a 200 IM win. The Israeli finished slightly faster than she did this weekend in Monaco, going from 2:10.18 down to 2:09.85. Behind her, Emma Carrasco put on a performance for her home country, smashing her 2:11.11 personal best to go 2:10.61 for silver.

Men’s 200 Free Final

• World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, Germany (2009)
• Mare Nostrum Record: 1:44.74 – David Popovici, Romania (2024)
• Barcelona Record: 1:44.74 – David Popovici, Romania (2024)
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 1:46.70

1. Duncan Scott (GBR) – 1:47.35
2. Jack Mc Millan (GBR) – 1:47.98
3. Danas Raspys (LTU) – 1:48.13

University of Stirling training mates Duncan Scott and Jack McMillan battled in the 200 free to cap off the mens’ session. Scott came out on top by about half a second, going 1:47.35.

Women’s 400 Free Final

• World Record: 3:55.38 – Ariarne Titmus, Australia (2023)
• Mare Nostrum Record: 4:02.84 – Camille Muffat, France (2013)
• Barcelona Record: 4:04.03 – Jazz Carlin, Great Britain (2015)
• World Aquatics ‘A’ Cut: 4:10.23

1. Simona Quadrella (ITA) – 4:07.00
2. Francisca Soares Martins (POR) – 4:08.68
3. Emma Vittoria Giannelli (ITA) – 4:13.13

After a slew of minor medals this evening, the Italians finally boasted a gold on the very last event. Distance ace Simona Quadrella put together a 4:07.00 winning performance, her best registered time in the event since June 2023. Italy also got the bronze thanks to Emma Vittoria Gianelli’s 4:13.13 swim. Sandwiched between the Italians was Portuguese Francisco Soares Martins, going a new best time by .1.