2025 World Championships: Day 2 Prelims Live Recap

2025 World Championships

• July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
• Singapore, Singapore
• World Aquatics Championships Arena
• LCM (50m)
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• Live Results
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1
  • Finals: Day 1

Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheet

Day 2 Prelims Schedule:

• Women’s 100 Back
• Men’s 100 Back
• Women’s 100 Breast
• Men’s 200 Free
• Women’s 1500 Free

Welcome to day 2 of the 2025 World Championships in Singapore! After the excitement of yesterday’s opening day, we’re in for a fairly light prelims session this morning, featuring 5 events.

American Regan Smith will begin her attempt to take down Australia’s Kaylee McKeown in the women’s 100 back this morning. Smith enters the meet as the top seed and the World Record holder, but her time of 57.13 isn’t too far ahead of McKeown’s 57.33. That’s not even mentioning that American Katharine Berkoff and Canadian Kylie Masse have both been under 58 seconds as well.

It’s another World Record holder who comes in as the top seed in the men’s 100 back. Italy’s Thomas Ceccon enters this meet with a 52.00, while he holds the WR at 51.60, which he swam back in 2022. While it’s easy to hype the women’s 100 back up more than the men’s because of the longstanding rivalry between Smith and McKeown, the men’s 100 back should be just as hotly contested this week. Kliment Kolesnikov is seeded just 0.04 seconds behind Ceccon, while Great Britain’s Oliver Morgan comes in with a 52.12, just 0.12 seconds behind Ceccon.

China’s Tang Qianting comes in as the top seed by a huge margin in the women’s 100 breast. She enters with a 1:04.39, which is 0.98 seconds faster than the #2 seed.

American Luke Hobson comes in as the top seed in a stacked field in the men’s 200 free. Hobson ripped a huge career best of 1:43.73 at the US National meet 2 months ago, which puts him 1st on the psych sheet by nearly a full second. Even so, Hobson has his work cut out for him, as this field also includes World Junior Record holder David Popivici, 100 free World Record holder Pan Zhanle, Hwang Sunwoo, Edward Sommerville, James Guy, Matt Richards, and fellow American Gabriel Jett.

Then, we’ll end the session with prelims of the women’s 1500. As per usual, Katie Ledecky is the heavy favorite here and should come out of this morning as the top seed for the final, which will take place tomorrow night.

WOMEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 57.13 – Regan Smith, USA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 57.57 – Regan Smith, USA (2019)
• Championship Record: 57.53 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2023)
• 2023 World Champion: Kaylee McKeown, AUS – 57.53
• 2024 Olympic Champion: Kaylee McKeown, AUS – 57.33

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Regan Smith (USA) – 58.20
2. Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 58.55
3. Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 58.57
4. Peng Xuwei (CHN) – 59.34
5. Wan Letian (CHN) – 59.35
6. Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) – 59.37
7. Mary-Ambre Moluh (FRA) – 59.47
8. Taylor Ruck (CAN) – 59.55
9. Kylie Masse (CAN) – 59.71
10. Hannah Fredericks (AUS) – 59.80
11. Carmen Weiler Sastra (ESP) – 59.86 (TIE)
12. Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 59.86 (TIE)
13. Anastasiya Shkurdai (NAA) – 1:00.11
14. Pauline Mahieu (FRA) – 1:00.48
15. Kim Seungwon (KOR) – 1:00.51
16. Alina Gaifutdinova (NAB) – 1:00.56

While the US had a bit of an underwhelming first day of the meet, the Americans came out swinging in the women’s 100 back this morning. Regan Smith, the World Record holder in this event, led the way with a speedy 58.20. Coming in right behind her was teammate Katharine Berkoff, who clocked a 58.55. That means the US will have a swimmer in the fastest lane of each of the semifinals heats tonight.

Kaylee McKeown was a tick slower than Berkoff this morning, swimming a 58.57 for the 3rd-fastest time overall. Her Australian teammate, Hannah Fredericks, had a decent swim as well, taking 10th with a 59.80.

China had a strong showing this morning, seeing their swimmers take 4th and 5th. Peng Xuwei was 59.34, while Wan Letian was 59.35. China isn’t historically super strong in this event, however, this duo looks like they could make some noise this year. It will all depend on how tonight goes.

Canadian Taylor Ruck wound up getting the better of teammate Kylie Masse this morning. In a strong morning performance, Ruck clocked a 59.55, taking 8th overall. Masse, who has formerly held the World Record in this event, came in 9th with a 59.71.

MEN’S 100 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon, ITA (2022)
• World Junior Record: 52.08 – Miron Lifintsev, RUS (2024)
• Championship Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon, ITA (2022)
• 2023 World Champion: Ryan Murphy, USA – 52.22
• 2024 Olympic Champion: Thomas Ceccon, ITA – 52.00

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Yohann Ndoye-Brouard (FRA) – 52.30
2. Kliment Kolesnikov (NAB) – 52.57
3. Hubert Kos (HUN) – 52.60
4. Apostolos Christou (GRE) – 52.61
5. Christian Bacico (ITA) – 52.72
6. Miron Lifintsev (NAB) – 52.77
7. Pieter Coetze (RSA) – 52.80
8. Ksawery Masiuk (POL) – 52.82
9. Oliver Morgan (GBR) – 52.93
10. Mewen Tomac (FRA) – 53.07
11. Evangelos Makrygiannis (GRE) – 53.29
12. Miroslav Knedla (CZE) – 53.59
13. Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 53.65
14. Xu Jiayu (CHN) – 53.73
15. Ulises Saravia (ARG) – 53.74
16. Adam Jaszo (HUN) – 53.78

World Record holder Thomas Ceccon had a slight scare this morning, finishing 13th with a 53.65. While he wound up being safely in semifinals tonight by a few spots, Ceccon was only 0.14 seconds faster than 17th place this morning. Nonetheless, we can expect Ceccon to be considerably quicker moving forward.

While Ceccon was slightly off this morning, Italy’s other swimmer, Christian Bacico, performed spectacularly, clocking a 52.72 to finish 5th.

France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard posted the top time of the morning with a 52.30, which is a huge swim for him. That time comes in just 0.19 seconds off the French Record in the race.

Kliment Kolesnikov, one of the top contenders in this event, was strong this morning, swimming a 52.57 for 2nd. Hungarian Hubert Kos also threw his hat into the ring, putting up a 52.60 this morning.

After gaining some momentum with the women’s 100 back, the US was shut out of semifinals in the men’s 100 back. Tommy Janton came in 18th this morning with a 53.87, while Jack Aikins was 44th with a 56.54.

WOMEN’S 100 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King, USA (2017)
• World Junior Record: 1:04.35 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2013)
• Championship Record: 1:04.13 – Lilly King, USA (2017)
• 2023 World Champion: Ruta Meilutyte, LTU – 1:04.62
• 2024 Olympic Champion: Tatjana Schoenmaker, RSA – 1:05.28

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Mona McSharry (IRL) – 1:05.99
2. Anna Elendt (GER) – 1:06.01
3. Satomi Suzuki (JPN) – 1:06.13
4. Evgeniia Chikunova (NAB) – 1:06.19
5. Kotryna Teterevkova (LTU) – 1:06.21
6. Kate Douglass (USA) – 1:06.32
7. Tang Qianting (CHN) – 1:06.45
8. Ruta Meilutyte (LTU) – 1:06.55
9. Lisa Angiolini (ITA) – 1:06.59
10. Anita Bottazzo (ITA) – 1:06.83 (TIE)
11. Yang Chang (CHN) – 1:06.83 (TIE)
12. Dominika Sztandera (POL) – 1:06.85 (TIE)
13. Eneli Jefimova (EST) – 1:06.85
14. Florine Gaspard (BEL) – 1:06.89
15. Lilly King (USA) – 1:06.93
16. Alina Zmushka (NAA) – 1:06.96

It took going under 1:07 to make it back to semifinals in the women’s 100 breaststroke this morning. In fact, the field was so deep it almost knocked World Record holder Lilly King out of the race. King came in 15th this morning with a 1:06.93.

Meanwhile, Ireland’s Mona McSharry was excellent this morning, swimming a 1:05.99 to claim the top seed for tonight’s final. McSharry was quick on the first 50 this morning, splitting 30.70.

Behind McSharry, the field was very tight all the way through 9th. In fact, 1st and 9th this morning were separated by just 0.60 seconds. Germany’s Anna Elendt was also very impressive this morning, taking 2nd overall with a 1:06.01.

MEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• World Junior Record: 1:42.97 – David Popovici, ROU (2022)
• Championship Record: 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• 2023 World Champion: Matt Richards, GBR – 1:44.30
• 2024 Olympic Champion: David Popovici, ROU – 1:44.72

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. David Popovici (ROU) – 1:45.43
2. Luke Hobson (USA) – 1:45.61
3. Matt Richards (GBR) – 1:45.66
4. Gabriel Jett (USA) – 1:45.91
5. Tatsuya Murasa (JPN) – 1:45.92
6. Flynn Southam (AUS) – 1:46.00
7. Lucas Henveaux (BEL) – 1:46.03
8. Hwang Sunwoo (KOR) – 1:46.12
9. Zhang Zhanshuo (CHN) – 1:46.17
10. James Guy (GBR) – 1:46.19
11. Dimitrios Markos (GRE) – 1:46.28
12. Kamil Sieradzki (POL) – 1:46.31
13. Filippo Megli (ITA) – 1:46.39
14. Sander Sorensen (NOR) – 1:46.63
15. Evan Bailey (IRL) – 1:46.66
16. Carlos D’Ambrosio (ITA) – 1:46.67

World Junior Record holder and reigning Olympic champion David Popovici led the field in prelims of the men’s 200 free this morning. Popovici clocked a 1:45.43, putting up the fastest 4th 50 split in the field with a 26.59.

American Luke Hobson, who came in as the top seed, took 2nd this morning with a 1:45.61. Hobson was 1:43.73 back in early June at US Nationals, so his swim this morning was a bit off that time. Teammate Gabirel Jett got it done this morning as well, swimming a 1:45.91 for 4th overall.

Matt Richards was right behind Hobson this morning, swimming a 1:45.66, which put him 3rd heading into semifinals.

WOMEN’S 1500 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 15:20.48 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2018)
• World Junior Record: 15:28.36 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)
• Championship Record: 15:25.48 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2015)
• 2023 World Champion: Katie Ledecky, USA – 15:26.27
• 2024 Olympic Champion: Katie Ledecky, USA – 15:30.02

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Katie Ledecky (USA) – 15:36.68
2. Lani Pallister (AUS) – 15:46.95
3. Simona Quadarella (ITA) – 15:47.43
4. Ching Gan (SGP) – 16:01.29
5. Li Bingjie (CHN) – 16:02.31
6. Moesha Johnson (AUS) – 16:05.13
7. Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (FRA) – 16:06.97
8. Yang Peiqi (CHN) – 16:08.19

Unsurprisingly, Katie Ledecky clocked the top time of the morning, securing herself the top seed for tomorrow night’s final in the women’s 1500 free. Ledecky was excellent this morning, swimming a 15:36.88. For context, that time is 11 seconds faster than ledecky went in prelims at the Paris Olympics last summer, and 5 seconds faster than she went in prelims back at the 2023 World Championships.

Ledecky should be on her way to yet another gold medal in this event, however, that’s a conversation for tomorrow. As far as her race this morning goes, Ledecky seems to be very much in control of her race. She split 5:11.07 on the opening 500m, then went 5:14.05 on the middle 500m, and finished with a 5:11.56 on the final 500m.

Australian Lani Pallister had an awesome race this morning, finishing 2nd with a 15:46.95. With Italy’s Simona Quadarella having gone 15:47.43 this morning, the race between she and Pallister tomorrow should be very exciting.

We’ll also have to keep an eye on Li Bingjie, who was terrific in the 400 free yesterday. Bingjie was 16:02.31 this morning, but she has the ability to contend for a medal if she’s firing on all cylinders tomorrow.

Singapore’s own Ching Gan will be swimming in a middle lane tomorrow night, having swum a 16:01.29 for 4th this morning. That performance marks a new Singaporean Record in the event, which Gan just swam in front of a home crowd.