2025 World Championships: Day 2 Finals Preview

2025 World Championships

• July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
• Singapore, Singapore
• World Aquatics Championships Arena
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• How To Watch
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Entry Book
• Live Results
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2
  • Finals: Day 1

Day 2 Finals Heat Sheets

Day 2 Finals Event Lineup

• Men’s 100 Breast Final
• Women’s 100 Fly Final
• Men’s 100 Back Semis
• Women’s 100 Breast Semis
• Men’s 50 Fly Final
• Women’s 100 Back Semis
• Men’s 200 Free Semis
• Women’s 200 IM Final

Night two will feature four individual finals, with the men’s 100 breaststroke kicking off the night. China’s Qin Haiyang posted the top time of semifinals with a 58.24 and will look to bounce back in the event after a 7th place finish in the event last summer at the Paris Olympics. Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi swam the 2nd fastest time in semifinals with a 58.62. He will swim out of lane five. Martinenghi was originally disqualified in the event for a dolphin kick on his finish, but the DQ was overturned. He won gold in the event in Paris last summer. Lucas Matzerath (Germany) and Caspar Corbeau (Netherlands) are the only other finalists from Paris.

The women’s 100 butterfly will follow as Gretchen Walsh of the US looks to claim gold. Walsh is the World Record holder in the event after swimming a 54.60 in May at the Pro Series stop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Walsh led through prelims (55.68) and semifinals (56.07). Tying Walsh in semifinals was Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk as she also swam to a 56.07 last night, breaking her own National Record. Notably absent from the final is 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist Torri Huske of the US as she did not race in prelims of the event yesterday.

Yohann Ndoye-Brouard of France led through prelims of the men’s 100 backstroke with a 52.30 and will look to punch his ticket to finals. Kliment Kolesnikov is the #2 seed tonight and is one of the favorites to make the podium. Also in the semifinals tonight is Thomas Ceccon of Italy who was 13th this morning and will look to move up in order to make the final. Ceccon won gold in the event last summer in Paris with a 52.00.

Ireland’s Mona McSharry posted the top time in prelims of the women’s 100 breast with a 1:05.99. McSharry won bronze in the event last summer in Paris. Germany’s Anna Elendt swam to a 1:06.01 for 2nd this morning, a huge swim for her after she was 20th in prelims in Paris. World Record holder Lilly King of the US was 15th this morning and will look to move up to make the final. King is in her final competitive ever.

The men’s 50 fly final had numerous big names miss including Ilya Kharun (CAN), Josh Liendo (CAN), Dare Rose (USA), and Michael Andrew (USA). Leading the way instead was Maxime Grousset of France who swam to a 22.61, just ahead of Noe Ponti (Switzerland) who swam a 22.72 last night. Also in the final is Thomas Ceccon of Italy who won the title in 2023. Ceccon has a busy night as he is also in the 100 back about 25 minutes before the final of the 50 fly.

Regan Smith and Katharine Berkoff of the US led the way in prelims of the 100 backstroke as Smith swam to a 58.20 and Berkoff swam to a 58.55. Right behind the two was Australia’s Kaylee McKeown who touched in a 58.57 this morning. The three were the only swimmers under 59 seconds this morning. The three look to advance to finals as they have the potential to repeat being on the podium together as McKeown won gold, Smith won silver, and Berkoff won bronze in Paris last summer.

Olympic Champion David Popovici of Romania cruised through prelims of the men’s 200 free in a 1:45.43, the top time of the morning. Popovici looks to advance to the final once again after finishing 4th in 2023. Luke Hobson of the US was last off of the blocks in his heat this morning but was strong in the water as he posted the 2nd fastest time of prelims with a 1:45.61. 2023 World Champion Matt Richards of Great Britain was 3rd this morning with a 1:45.66. Gabe Jett of the US (1:45.91) and Tatsuya Murasa of Japan (1:45.92) were the only other sub-1:46 swimmers in prelims.

After a busy night last night, Summer McIntosh will race only in the final of the 200 IM tonight. She is the top seed after swimming a 2:07.39 last night, even with the 400 free final earlier in the session. Alex Walsh of the US was 2nd in semifinals with a 2:08.49 and looks to return to the podium. Walsh won silver behind Kate Douglass, who is not competing in the event, at 2023 Worlds but was disqualified in finals last summer in Paris.