2025 Swimming World Cup – Toronto: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2025 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP – Toronto

• October 23-25, 2025
• Toronto, Canada
• SCM (25 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1
  • Finals: Day 1

Good Morning Swim Fans, I hope you all have your double-double and are rearing to go for some fast swimming. I also hope that Toronto is able to recover from the blistering fast swim last night and is prepared for the double whammy that is Day 2 of swimming and Game 1 of the World Series.

However, that game isn’t scheduled until tonight and we won’t know who is swimming in the finals session until we get through this morning’s prelims session, a session that based on yesterday’s results in bound to be fast.

Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet

After the women took centerstage at the first two stops, it was the men’s turn to light things up last night as two World Records fell by the wayside, one by Hubert Kos and the other by hometown hero Josh Liendo. Both are in action again today with Kos, who broke the record in the 200 back, taking on the 50 back and 200 IM. The Hungarian has swept the backstrokes events so far and will be looking for his second triple crown in the stroke, while in the 200 IM will be looking to play spoiler to training partner, Shaine Casas in the 200 IM.

Liendo, still rocking a goatee, broke the 100 fly record and in the process prevented the former World Record holder, Noe Ponti, from collecting the triple crown. This morning the Canadian who trains at Florida will take on the 100 free, and will be looking to break the USA’s Jack Alexy‘s chances at the crown.

The women’s events too are replete with World Record holders, as Mollie O’Callaghan, who reset the 200 free record last weekend returns to the event and seeks her second sub 1:50 time. Regan Smith, who tied her own WR last week in the 100 returns after winning the 200 fly triple crown last night. However, like on the men’s side, her control of the 100 back is under threat as Kaylee McKeown, who has won the 50 and 200 back at every offering, is lurking and is coming off of a World Cup record in the 50 back last night.

After breaking the 100 free record last weekend and owning the 200 breaststroke record from the 2024 World Champs, heads will be turning to Kate Douglass to see if the American can better the 1:02.36 world record, a mark that has thrice been reached. Ruta Meilutyte was the first, hitting the mark in 2013, but then equaled twice by Jamica’s Alia Atkinson, once in 2014 and then again in 2016.

Women’s 400m IM — Early Heats

• World Record: 4:15.48 — Summer McIntosh, Canada (2024)
• World Junior Record: 4:15.48 — Summer McIntosh, Canada (2024)
• World Cup Record: 4:18.94 — Mireia Belmonte Garcia, Spain (2017)

Top 8:

Callie Cardiff who swims for the University of Calgary Club dominated the first heat of the women’s 400 IM stopping the clock in 4:50.73 winning by over seven seconds. Cardiff was seeded with a  time of 4:57.19, which appears to be her previous best set back in December of last year.

Heat 2, the last heat in the morning session, saw lane 2’s Payton Leigh open a very small lead at the 100 turn, as she hit the wall in 1:04.98, .03 over lane 0’s Maria-Theoni Karagiannias and .11 over top seeded Charlotte Brousseau. Brousseau took over on the backstroke and by the half way point was in the lead by .37 over Leigh, flipping in 2:18.84. However it was not to be either of those swimmers to get to the wall first as Pleasanton Seahawk Rylee Hutchinson made her move on the breaststroke and set herself up for the win. Her teammate Brooke Bennet waited a little longer, not jumping ahead of Brousseau until the freestyle, and finished .55 back of Hutchinson 4:49.11 to 4:48.56.

Men’s 50m Backstroke — Prelims

• World Record: 22.11 — Kliment Kolesnikov, Russia (2022)
• World Junior Record: 22.47 — Miron Lifintsev, Russia (2024)
• World Cup Record: 22.58 — Isaac Cooper, Australia (2024)

Top 8:

1. Hubert Kos (HUN) – 22.90
2. Kacper Stokowski (CLB) – 23.02
3. Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 23.11
4. Dylan Carter (TTO) – 23.15
5. Lorenzo Mora (ITA) – 23.23
6. Gabriel Jett (USA) – 23.25
7. Ralf Tribuntsov (EST) – 23.26
8. Jack Alexy (USA) – 23.38

With an empty lane on one side of him, with Shaine Casas no-showing, Ralf Tribuntsov of Estonia looked good to win the first of the circle seeded heats of the men’s 50 back, but he was denied by Thomas Ceccon, who touched first in the heat at 23.11, with Tribuntsov, .15 back at 23.26. Ceccon did not contest the 50 in Carmel, but their times this morning are their fastest prelims times so far this month.

The second of three circle seeded heats was a faster affair as Poland’s Kacper Stokowski and Lorenzo Mora of Italy duked it out in the middle of the pool. Mora was out quick, flipping in 11.29, but faded a little on the back 25 and with a lead of just .02, he could not hold off the Pole. Stokowski closed in 11.71, hitting the wall in 23.02, but seemed displeased with the race, and visibly had an off finish.

Showing off his sprinting prowess after setting the 200 back WR last night, Hubert Kos swam the lone sub-23 time of this morning, as he split 11.40/11.50 to stop the clock in 22.90, .01 faster than his winning time in Westmont. The US’s Jack Alexy appeared to give Kos so early issues as he flipped first at 11.38 but faded on the last 25 closing in 12.00 to sneak into the final in 8th at 23.38. With the 100 free on schedule this morning it remains to be seen if he swim tonight.

Alexy’s teammate, Gabe Jett, swimming out of the first heat survived the circle-seeded heats and moved into the final as the 6th seed at 23.25.

Women’s 200m Freestyle — Prelims

• World Record: 1:49.77 — Mollie O’Callaghan, Australia (2025)
• World Junior Record: 1:51.62 — Claire Weinstein, United States (2024)
• World Cup Record: 1:50.43 — 1:49.77 — Mollie O’Callaghan, Australia (2025)

Top 8:

1. Lani Pallister (AUS) – 1:53.99
2. Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) – 1:54.15
3. Erika Fairweather (NZL) – 1:54.19
4. Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 1:54.54
5. Freya Colbert (GBR) – 1:54.67
6. Brittany Castelluzzo (AUS) – 1:54.69
7. Caitlin Deans (NZL) – 1:55.27
8. Hannah Casey (AUS) – 1:55.77

Kayla Sanchez, a former Canadian Olympian but who know internationally represents The Philippines, exploded off the blocks in the first heat and established the time to beat as the University of British Columbia swimmer opened in and hit the wall in

With just four total heats, the circle-seeded heats came fast and quick and Australia’s Lani Pallister got things going in heat 2. The Australian freestyle star took things out fastest of all competitors, as the distance star opened in 55.79 and kept up the strong pace. Ove the last 100 she pulled herself away from Freya Colbert who was 56.01 at the 100 and touched in 1:53.99, .68 ahead of the Brit.

Canadian fans might be a little disappointed as Mary-Sophie Harvey was a no-show in the 2nd to last heat, but that did not seem to throw off Marrit Steenbergen, who produced a strong 200 to touch first in the heat at 1:54.54. The multi-talented Dutchwoman opened in 55.81 and like Pallister before her, she pulled herself away from Hannah Casey, who was within striking distance at the 100 (56.25) but faded a little to stop the clock at 1:55.77.

The last heat was a much faster affair as it advanced four swimmers into the final with World Record Holder Mollie O’Callaghan winning the heat in 1:54.15. O’Callaghan looked to be playing some cat and mouse games with Erika Fairweather and Brittany Castelluzzo as O’Callaghan sat off the pace until the very end. The trio were separated by just .18 at the 100 with the WR holder flipping in 55.92. At the 150, the lead was just .03, but O’Callaghan used a strong 150 turn to pull herself ahead and ensure she got her hand on the wall first albeit by just .04 over Fairweather’s .04.

As an interesting note, six of the eight finalists tonight hail from Australia or New Zealand, with Australia claiming four of them, led by Pallister and O’Callaghan.

Men’s 200 IM — Prelims

• World Record: 1:48.88 — Leon Marchand, France (2024)
• World Junior Record: 1:51.45 — Matthew Sates, South Africa (2021)
• World Cup Record: 1:48.88 — Leon Marchand, France (2024)

Top 8:

1. Shaine Casas (USA) – 1:53.38
2. Tomoyuki Matsushita (JPN) – 1:53.39
3. Kieran Smith (USA) – 1:54.01
4. Finlay Knox (CAN) – 1:54.13
5. David Schlicht (AUS) – 1:54.43
6. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 1:54.92
7. Massimiliano Matteazzi (ITA) – 1:55.00
8. Yumeki Kojima (JPN) – 1:55.16

If the prelim results are a preview of tonight’s final then we are set for some very exciting racing. Top seeded Shaine Casas, who is in the hunt for the 200 IM triple crown as out quick in the last heat, making the transition to the breaststroke in 52.34. However, Tomoyuki Matsushita, the 7th overall seed, closed the .39 of a second gap and used a strong back half to touch second by the smallest of margins, 1:53.39 to 1:53.38. Casas was 1:53.54 and 1:53.58 in the prelims in Carmel and Westmont, so looks to be in good form for another sub 1:50 time tonight.

After the top two, there is a bit of a gap back to the next set of swimmers, with Kieran Smith and Finlay Knox occupying the 3rd and 4th seeds tonight with their times of 1:54.01 and 1:54.13 from the first of the circle seeded heats. Knox had the lead at the 100, 53.03 to 53.21, but Smith used a strong breaststroke 50 to pull ahead by .30 and held off Knox’s 12.96 last 25, the fastest in the field to touch ahead of the Canadian by .12.

Japanese IM legend Daiya Seto swam in the last heat with Casas and Matsushita but couldn’t match their pace and finished 11th overall with a time of 1:57.23, 2.07 seconds back of his compatriot Yumeki Kojima, who qualified 8th into the final, just behind Alberto Razzetti and Massimiliano. Thomas Ceccon, Max Litchfield, Hubert Kos and Lorne Wigginton were all no-shows.

Women’s 100 Backstroke — Prelims

• World Record: 54.02 — Regan Smith, United States (2024 & 2025)
• World Junior Record: 55.75 — Bella Sims, United States (2022)
• World Cup Record: 54.02 — Regan Smith, United States (2025)

Top 8:

1. Regan Smith (USA) – 55.38
2. Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 56.11
3. Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 56.45
4. Kylie Masse (CAN) – 56.63
5. Hannah Fredericks (AUS) – 56.75
6. Rhyan White (USA) – 56.77
7. Ingrid Wilm (CAN) – 56.80
8. Taylor Ruck (CAN) – 56.90

Regan Smith used a strong last 50 to set herself up as the top seed for the final tonight. The 200 Fly triple crown winner, Smith was out in 27.00 and closed in 28.38 to stop the clock in 55.38. The top seed was 55.39 in the Westmont prelims, and if she follows form she could break her own World Record as she tied it last weekend winning the event in 54.02.

Looking to hunt down Smith and prevent her from collecting another event crown are the usual trio of suspects as Kaylee McKeown, Katharine Berkoff and Kylie Masse will surround Smith tonight. The trio rank 2nd, 3rd and 4th after this morning’s prelims results of 56.11, 56.5 and 56.63. McKeown came close in Carmel to beating Smith, but last weekend was over a second back, winning silver in 55.04.

The Australians, Americans and Canadians, the most dominant women’s backstroking nations presently, showed off that dominance as Hannah Fredricks (56.75) joins McKeown, while US Olympian Rhyan White (56.75) joins Smith and Berkoff in the final. Looking for some outside smoke tonight will be the hometown favorites, Ingrid Wilm and Taylor Ruck, who join with Masse and make it three Canadians in the final.

Men’s 50 Breaststroke — Prelims

• World Record: 24.95 — Emre Sakci, Turkey (2021)
• World Junior Record: 25.66 — Chris Smith, South Africa (2024)
• World Cup Record: 25.25 — Cameron van der Burgh (2009)

Top 8:

1. Finn Brooks (USA) – 25.80
2. Caspar Corbeau (NED) – 25.90
3. Adam Peaty (GBR) – 26.17
4. Michael Andrew (USA) – 26.50
5. Luke Barr (CLB) – 26.58
6. Shin Ohashi (JPN) – 26.66
7. Brian Benzing (CLB) – 26.68
8. Ludovico Viberti (ITA) – 26.70

Dutch Record Holder Caspar Corbeau made breaking 26.00 look easy as the Texas and Indiana collegiate swimmer did it for the fifth time over the past two weekends. The top seed, swimming out of heat 5 will be looking for his second victory in the event after taking the silver in Carmel to South Africa’s Chris Smith.

Things will not be easy for Corbeau as the Westmont bronze medalist, Finn Brooks, posted the fastest time of the morning from the first of the circle seeded heats. Brooks was out fastest amongst the field, 11.71, and came home quickest as well (14.09) to stop the clock at 25.80. His time this morning in .16 faster than his prelims time from Westmont and spells good news for the Indiana based swimmer to improve upon his 25.75, a time that made him the 2nd fastest american, behind only Nic Fink.

Great Britain’s Adam Peaty through down a strong morning swim of 26.17 and will flank Brooks from lane 3 tonight. His 26.17 exactly ties his prelim time from last weekend, where he ended up finishing 4th overall at 26.10.

Women’s 50 Butterfly — Prelims

• World Record: 23.72 — Gretchen Walsh, United States (2025)
• World Junior Record: 24.55 — Claire Curzan, United States (2021)
• World Cup Record: 23.72 — Gretchen Walsh, United States (2025)

Top 8:

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 24.19
2. Alexandria Perkins (AUS) – 24.95
3. Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) – 25.48
4. Taylor Ruck (CAN) – 25.68
5. Laura Lahtinen (FIN) – 25.70
6. Phoebe Bacon (USA) – 25.87
7. Katarzyna Wasick (POL) – 25.89
8. Marie Wattel (FRA) – 26.24

Gretchen Walsh did Gretchen Walsh things as the World Record holder looked both smooth and explosive this morning as the UVA product won the last heat of the 50 fly by just under 1.5 seconds. Out in 11.26, Walsh did, as per usual, much of the damage on the back half as she closed in 12.93, just one of two sub 13.5 splits, to stop the clock in 24.19. Walsh was faster than her prelim time in Westmont but a little off her 24.13 from Carmel, where she would go on to set the World Record at 23.72.

Joining her under 25 seconds this morning was Australia’s Alexandria Perkins. The Aussie has had a strong series, collecting the silver medal behind Walsh in each of the 50s and 100s Fly, and looks to be in a good position to do so again. Perkins opened in 11.49, and was just .23 back of Walsh, but will need to improve her 13.46 back 50 if she wishes to stay in contact with Walsh,

After the top two, there is a little of gap to the next set of swimmers as Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk and Taylor Ruck, who has had a busy morning, will flank the top two. Vanotterdijk posted a time of 25.48, but shouldn’t rest too comfortably in the presumptive bronze position as Ruck was 25.68 and closely followed by Lahtinen at 25.70 and Phoebe Baccon at 25.87.

Men’s 100 Freestyle — Prelims

• World Record: 44.84 — Kyle Chalmers, Australia (2021)
• World Junior Record: 45.64 — David Popovici, Romania (2022)
• World Cup Record: 44.84 — Kyle Chalmers, Australia (2021)

Top 8:

1. Chris Guiliano (USA) – 45.76
2. Josh Liendo (CAN) – 45.79
3. Jack Alexy (USA) – 46.26
4. Matthew Richards (GBR) – 46.27
5. Patrick Sebastian Dinu (ROU) – 46.27
6. Ruslan Gaziev (CAN) – 46.85
7. Luke Hobson (USA) – 46.91
8. Lamar Taylor (BAH) – 46.97

The trip north across the border seemed to be a be a tonic for the USA’s Chris Guiliano. The Texas based swimmer, set a 45.50 PB in the prelims in Carmel, but did not break 46.00 in the finals or in Westmont, where his 46.11 in finals was good for silver. This morning, the 2024 Olympian opened in 21.66, the fastest of all competitors and closed in 24.10 to stop the clock in 45.76.

In the same heat and obviously enjoying the trip to Toronto, as evidenced by his World Record last night, Josh Liendo, posted the second fastest opening 50 (21.93) to secure himself the #2 seed tonight. Liendo had a rough 3rd 25 (12.22) but used a blistering 11.64 last 25 to nearly run down Guiliano as the Canadian stopped the clock in 45.79. The time is a massive improvement for the Florida Gator as he was 14th in prelims in Carmel (47.24) and finished 6th in the Westmont final (46.60). Liendo will be chasing not only Brent Hayden’s 2009 record of 45.56, but also the crown busting money.

Looking to retain his crown is Jack Alexy. The American won in Carmel with a time of 45.32 but was over half a second slower in Westmont (45.84). This morning the Cal Bear product secured himself the 3rd seed as he opened in 22.04 and closed in 24.22, stopping the clock in 46.26. Its a crowded field behind him as Matt Richards and Patrick Dinu tied at 46.27.

Women’s 100 Breaststroke — Prelims

• World Record: 1:02.36 — Alia Atkinson, Jamaica/Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2016/2013)
• World Junior Record: 1:02.36 — Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2013)
• World Cup Record: 1:02.36 — Ruta Meilutyte, Lithuania (2013)

Top 8:

1. Kate Douglass (USA) – 1:03.88
2. Mona McSharry (IRL) – 1:03.96
3. Satomi Suzuki (JPN) – 1:04.65
4. Sophie Angus (CAN) – 1:04.86
5. Henrietta Fangli (HUN) – 1:05.00
6. Ella Ramsay (AUS) – 1:05.25
7. Florine Gaspard (BEL) – 1:05.38
8. Rebecca Meder (RSA) – 1:05.52

The women’s 100 breaststroke circle seeded heats were a very mixed bag as the four of the fastest five times came from the last heat while one heat advanced just one swimmer into the final. Leading the way is 200 breaststroke and 100 freestyle world record holder Kate Douglass. Douglass, who has won at each of the last two stops, posted a very controlled time this morning going 1:03.88, faster than her 1:03.99 from Westmont, but slower than her 1:03.53 from Carmel.

Out in 30.14, Douglass had a lead of .40 over Satomi Suzuki and Sophie Angus, and continued to distance herself as she wound up with a margin of victory of .77 over the Japanese veteran, who was a little stronger than Angus, out touching the Canadian by .21. Joining them in the final from heat 4 will be Henrietta Fangli, who was out slower than the leading three (31.02) but closed on them to finish in 1:05.00, which was good for 5th overall.

The closest swimmer to busting Douglass’s crown is Ireland’s Mona McSharry. McSharry, who swam collegiately for the Tennessee Volunteers, won the first of the circle seeded heats with a time of 1:03.96. McSharry was out quick, 30.15, just .01 back of Douglass’s time but will need to find a new level if she wishes to challenge Douglass tonight.

The middle of the circle seeded heat, advanced just one swimmer as Rebecca Meder, the #2 overall seed touched in 1:05.52, which was good for 8th. With the slower pace in the heat, Alex Walsh and Sienna Harben, the 5th and 8th overall seeds missed the final as the pair touched in 1:05.72 and 1:06.48, which was good for 9th and 11th overall.

Men’s 200 Butterfly — Prelims

• World Record: 1:46.85 — Tomoru Honda, Japan (2022)
• World Junior Record: 1:49.61 — Chen Juner, China (2022)
• World Cup Record: 1:48.46 – Ilya Kharun, Canada (2025)

Top 8:

1. Ilya Kharun (CAN) – 1:52.22
2. Gabriel Jett (USA) – 1:53.04
3. Trenton Julian (USA) – 1:53.33
4. Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 1:53.79
5. Mitchell Schott (CLB) – 1:54.20
6. Richard Marton (HUN) – 1:54.55
7. Anton Semenyuk (CAN) – 1:55.30
8. Yeziel Morales (PUR) – 1:55.82

With just three overall heats, the top seeds were thrown right into the mix, however the first heat saw the #3 seed Noe Ponti No-show leading to a duel between Mitchell Schott and Richard Marton. The pair were just seperated by .01 at the 100 mark, with the Hungarian, Marton opening in 5506, but he could not keep up with Schott, who out of the early heats of the 400 free placed 7th overall. Schott closed in 59.13 to touch .35 ahead of Marton, 1:54.20 to 1:54.55.

The aforementioned pair were the lone swimmers to advance to the final from their heat as the 2nd heat advanced four swimmers, led by the USA’s Gabriel Jett. Jett who already has booked a final spot in the 50 back, took things out quickly opening in 53.67 leaving Alberto Razzetti over a second back at 54.73. The American continued his pace as cruised into the wall to touch in 1:53.04 and secure himself lane 5 tonight. Razzetti managed to close the gap a little as the Italian touched the wall in 1:53.79, ahead of Anton Semenyuk and Yeziel Morales, who will occupy lanes 1 and 8 this evening.

Like the first heat, the last heat only advanced two swimmers, but the two will be the first and 3rd seeds tonight as Ilya Kharun and Trenton Julian each posted strong times. Kharun, who is seeking the 200 Fly Triple crown gave his home nation’s crowd something cheer about as the Canadian opened up in 53.64, nearly three quarters of a second ahead of Julian’s 54.25. The ASU swimmer continued his assault and closed in a swift 14.45 to post a time of 1:52.22, over a second ahead of Julian’s 1:53.33.

Men’s 1500 Freestyle — Early Heats

• World Record: 14:06.88 — Florian Wellbrock, Germany (2021)
• World Junior Record: 14:20.64 — Kuzey Tuncelli, Turkey (2024)
• World Cup Record: 14:15.49 — Mykhailo Romanchuk, Ukraine (2016)

Top 8:

1. Max Litchfield (GBR) – 15:03.13
2. Santiago Gutierrez (MEX) – 15:10.32
3. Simon Fonseca (CAN) – 15:17.19
4. Alexandre Lepine (CLB) – 15:37.96
5. Yannick Morgans (CLB) – 15:55.32
6. Morgan Sparkes (CLB) – 15:59.28
7. Coller Stanton (CLB) – 16:05.11
8. C.R.G. MacDonald (CAY) – 16:07.07

British 400 IM Record holder Max Litchfield opted to swim the 1500 free and posted the fastest time of the morning and the time to beat this evening of 15:03.13. The Brit was closely trailed by Mexico’s Santiago Gutierrez over the opening quarter of the race, with the Mexican sitting just on Litchfield hip and abutting the lane line in an effort to draft off of his faster competitor. It was a strong strategy but Litchfield turned what was less than half a second lead at the 500 into a margin of victory of over seven seconds, as he touched in 15:03.13.