2025 World Cup – Carmel: Day 1 Finals Live Recap

2025 SWIMMING WORLD CUP – CARMEL

• October 10-12, 2025
• Carmel, Indiana
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  • Prelims: Day 1

Day 1 Finals Heat Sheet 

Hello everyone — it’s time for the first finals session of the 2025 World Cup Series. This first stop takes place in Carmel, Indiana and if this session schedule looks familiar it’s because it’s the exact same as it was in prelims this morning. The one difference is that tonight, the fastest heats of the 400 freestyle timed finals will begin the session, before we get into the rest of a largely sprint-heavy slate.

Event Schedule: 

• Women’s 400 freestyle — fastest heat
• Men’s 400 freestyle — fastest heat
• Women’s 50 backstroke
• Men’s 200 backstroke
• Women’s 200 butterfly
• Men’s 100 butterfly
• Women’s 200 breaststroke
• Men’s 100 breaststroke
• Women’s 50 freestyle
• Men’s 50 freestyle
• Women’s 100 IM
• Men’s 100 IM

Women’s 400 Freestyle – Timed Finals (Fastest Heat)

• World Record: 3:50.25 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• World Junior Record: 3:50.25 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• World Cup Record: 3:52.80 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2022)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:54.04 – Katie Ledecky, USA (2022)

Final:

1. Lani Pallister (AUS) — 3:54.38
2. Erika Fairweather (NZL) — 3:58.83
3. Caitlin Deans (NZL) — 4:00.93
4. Anna Peplowski (CLB) — 4:01.03
5. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) — 4:01.09
6. Freya Colbert (GBR) — 4:03.54
7. Mila Nikanorov (CLB) — 4:07.72
8. Molly Anne Walker (AUS) — 4:09.93

Lani Pallister swam away with the first win of the session in Carmel, swimming 3:54.38 to win the women’s 400 freestyle crown. Her time checks in less than a second from her Oceanian record of 3:53.73, which she swam for silver at the 2024 Short Course World Championships.

Anna Peplowski had the lead at the 100-meter mark, but Pallister was in full control by the 200 mark, flipping in 1:54.38. She made the halfway turn in 2:24.25 and extended her lead on the back half of the race, winning by over four seconds.

It’s three Oceanian swimmers on the podium in Carmel, as New Zealand teammates Erika Fairweather and Caitlin Deans grabbed silver and bronze. Fairweather was the only swimmer besides Pallister to crack the four-minute barrier, stopping the clock at 3:58.83. Deans hit the wall in 4:00.93, winning a close race for third between herself, Peplowski, and Mary-Sophie Harvey. Peplowski touched in 4:01.03, a tenth behind Deans and six-hundredths ahead of Harvey.

Men’s 400 Freestyle – Timed Finals (Fastest Heat)

• World Record: 3:32.25 – Yannick Agnel, FRA (2012)
• World Junior Record: 3:37.92 – Matthew Sates, RSA (2021)
• World Cup Record: 3:32.77 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 3:35.99 – Kieran Smith, USA (2022)

Final:

1. Carson Foster (CLB) — 3:37.80
2. Sam Short (AUS) — 3:38.15
3. Leon Marchand (FRA) — 3:38.25
4. Kieran Smith (USA) — 3:38.66
5. Lewis Clareburt (NZL) — 3:41.65
6. Charlie Hawke (AUS) — 3:42.03
7. Kamil Sieradzki (POL) — 3:42.99
8. Luke Hobson (USA) — 3:43.87

The fastest heat of the men’s 400 freestyle produced a thrilling race that ultimately saw Carson Foster prevail over a loaded field that included Sam Short, his Texas training partner Leon Marchand, and his co-silver medalist at the 2024 Short Course World Championships, Kieran Smith.

It was the top-seeded Marchand that took the race out–he led at the 100-meter mark, flipping in 51.28. He was still on control at the 200-meter mark, but only by a hundredth, as Short had closed the gap. Marchand built about a half second lead heading into the final 100 meters, with both Smith and Short within a second of him.

Foster trailed Marchand by 1.64 seconds at the 300-meter turn. He closed hard over the final 100 meters, splitting 54.17 to make up the gap and charge into the lead. He anchored the race with a field-best 13.26 final 25 meters to seal the win in 3:37.80.

Short also closed well–with a 13.30 final 25 for his part–to also get over Marchand and grab silver in 3:38.15, .35 seconds behind Foster. Marchand swam 3:38.25, the same time that he swam in prelims, to take bronze.

Women’s 50 Backstroke – Final

• World Record: 25.23 – Regan Smith, USA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 26.03 – Sara Curtis, ITA (2024)
• World Cup Record: 25.36 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 25.37 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)

Final:

1. Kaylee McKeown (AUS) — 25.42
2. Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) — 25.80
3. Katharine Berkoff (CLB) — 25.82
4. Celia Pulido Ortiz (MEX) — 25.83
5. Bella Sims (CLB) — 26.30
6. Kylie Masse (CAN) — 26.39
7. Charlotte Crush (CLB) — 26.60
8. Hannah Jane Fredericks (AUS) — 26.86

Kaylee McKeown scared both her World Cup record and Gretchen Walsh‘s U.S. Open record during the women’s 50 backstroke finals. The double-double backstroke Olympic champion fired off a 25.42 for gold, winning by almost four-tenths.

It was a 1-2 podium for the Australians, who have earned a medal in each of the three events so far this evening. Mollie O’Callaghan won the close race for the silver medal, touhcing in 25.80 to Katharine Berkoff‘s 25.82 and Celia Pulido Ortiz‘s 25.83. O’Callaghan hasn’t been shy about her backstroke skill, but her focus on the 100/200 freestyle (and Australia’s relays) has often meant that she’s scratched those events at the major international meets. The World Cup, without relays or semifinals, is much lower stakes, which gives her the chance to mix it up in these sprint backstroke events in an international competition.

Men’s 200 Backstroke – Final

• World Record: 1:45.63 – Mitch Larkin, AUS (2015)
• World Junior Record: 1:48.02 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2017)
• World Cup Record: 1:46.11 – Arkady Vyatchanin, RUS (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:48.40 – Shaine Casas, USA (2022)

Final:

1. Hubert Kos (HUN) — 1:46.84
2. Leon Marchand (FRA) — 1:47.68
3. Shaine Casas (USA) — 1:49.81
4. Joshua Edwards-Smith (AUS) — 1:52.22
5. Kacper Stokowski (CLB) — 1:52.86
6. Tomoyuki Matsushita (JPN) — 1:53.29
7. Yumeki Kojima (JPN) — 1:53.61
8. Daniel Diehl (CLB) — 1:53.98

This summer, fans watched as Texas training partners Marchand, Hubert Kos, and Shaine Casas stood on the 200 IM podium together at the 2025 World Championships. Tonight in Carmel, that same trio are back on the podium–just in a different event and a slightly different order. 

While it’s Marchand with the advantage in the long-course IM, Kos holds the edge in the short-course 200-meter backstroke. He’s the reigning world champion and European record holder in this race, having swum a 1:45.65 at the 2024 Short Course World Championships that’s just two-hundredths from the world record. 

This time, Kos built into the race; he was running second for the majority of it behind Marchand, who had just raced the 400-meter freestyle. On a quick turnaround for his double, Marchand held the lead at the halfway point in 52.60, while Kos flipped second in 53.10. The Hungarian took over the lead at the 175 mark. He swam his last 50 meters 13.26/13.20, stopping the clock in 1:46.84. 

Marchand couldn’t maintain his lead but took silver–his second medal of the night–in 1:47.68. He was well clear of Casas, who finished in 1:49.81. He was the third and final swimmer to crack the 1:50 barrier this evening.

Women’s 200 Butterfly – Final

• World Record: 1:59.32 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• World Junior Record: 1:59.32 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• World Cup Record: 2:00.78 – Liu Zige, CHN (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:03.39 – Cammile Adams, USA (2015)

Final:

1. Regan Smith (USA) — 2:00.28 *World Cup, American, and U.S. Open Record*
2. Alex Shackell (CLB) — 2:02.51
3. Ellen Walshe (IRL) — 2:05.07
4. Brittany Castelluzzo (AUS) — 2:05.49
5. Emily Richards (GBR) — 2:07.28
6. Emily Wolf (CLB) — 2:10.53
7. Hadassah Vohs (CLB) — 2:14.03
8. Macartney Mahler (CLB) — 2:19.14

Regan Smith scratched out of the 50 backstroke this morning, choosing to focus on the 200 butterfly. The move paid off for her to the tune of new World Cup, American, and U.S. Open records as she crushed a 2:00.28 for gold.

The time makes her the third-fastest performer in history as she improves on the 2:01.00 she swam in December at the World Champs and moves ahead of Liu Zige in the rankings.

All-Time Top Performers, Women’s 200 Butterfly (SCM)

1. Summer McIntosh (CAN) — 1:59.32 (2024)
2. Mireia Belmonte (ESP) — 1:59.61 (2014)
3. Regan Smith (USA) — 2:00.28 (2025)
4. Liu Zige (CHN) — 2:00.78 (2009)
5. Katinka Hosszu (HUN) — 2:01.12 (2014)

Smith went out in 27.24, turning second behind her Olympic teammate Alex Shackell. She moved into the lead at the halfway point, heading into the back half of the race with a 57.85 opening 100 split. She made her turn for the final 50 meters in 1:28.77, then split 31.51 on the last 50 to stop the clock in record-time.

Shackell took silver in front of a home crowd in 2:02.51, well ahead of bronze medalist Ellen Walshe (2:05.07).

Men’s 100 Butterfly — Final

• World Record: 47.71 – Noe Ponti, SUI (2024)
• World Junior Record: 49.03 – Ilya Kharun, CAN (2022)
• World Cup Record: 48.40 – Noe Ponti, SUI (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 48.63 – Tom Shields, USA (2015)

Final:

1. Noe Ponti (SUI) — 48.53 *U.S. Open Record*
2. Ilya Kharun (CAN) — 49.02
3. Chad le Clos (RSA) — 49.57
4. Josh Liendo (CAN) — 50.20
5. Ksawey Masiuk (POL) — 50.30
6. Trenton Julian (CLB) — 50.52
7. Aiden Hayes (CLB) — 50.72
8. Ole Mats Eidam (GER) — 51.39

In the last event, Smith not only took down the American and World Cup record, she broke the long-standing U.S. Open record in the women’s 200 butterfly, held by Cammile Adams since 2015.

Noe Ponti took down the second decade-old U.S. Open record in as many events this evening, cracking Tom Shields‘ 48.63 in the men’s 100 butterfly. Ponti broke out in short-course meters last fall, eventually taking over the world record with a blistering 47.71.

This evening, Ponti was in control from start to finish as he swam a 48.53. He was out in 22.66, opening a five-hundredths gap to Ilya Kharun, who has been lighting it up in short-course yards to start the NCAA season. Ponti split 25.87 on the back-half of the race, breaking open his lead.

Kharun brought his yards speed to meters this weekend as he took silver in 49.02, shaving .01 seconds off his Canadian record from December. He touched over a half-second ahead of bronze medalist Chad le Clos. Le Clos made sure that all three medalists were under the 50-second mark as he clocked 49.57.

Liendo made the trip to Indiana this weekend while the Gators host the Cavaliers in NCAA racing. He was sixth at the 50-meter mark but made his move on the back half, splitting 13.31/13.29 to move into fourth at the finish (50.20).

Women’s 200m Breaststroke – Final

• World Record: 2:12.50 – Kate Douglass, USA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 2:14.70 – Evgeniia Chikunova, RUS (2023)
• World Cup Record: 2:12.72 – Kate Douglass, USA (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:15.99 – Kate Douglass, USA (2019)

Final:

1. Kate Douglass (USA) — 2:13.97 *U.S. Open Record* 
2. Anna Elendt (GER) — 2:17.80
3. Rebecca Meder (RSA) — 2:18.14
4. Alex Walsh (USA) — 2:18.96
5. Ella Ramsay (AUS) — 2:19.61
6. Mona McSharry (IRL) — 2:20.03
7. Eneli Jefimova (EST) — 2:20.58
8. Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) — 2:23.26

Kate Douglass set the tone for her meet in prelims this morning as she broke Lilly King‘s U.S. Open record in the 200-meter breaststroke with a 2:15.99. She crushed that time this evening, putting up a 2:13.97 to win the event in Carmel. The swim is about 1.5 seconds from her world record mark of 2:12.50, which she swam to break Rebecca Soni‘s super-suited mark.

Douglass lost to Anna Elendt in the World Championship 100-meter breaststroke final this summer. Tonight, she left no doubt as to who would win in what’s become her signature event on the international stage. This time, it was Elendt claiming silver as she swam a 2:17.80, edging ahead of Rebecca Meder in the final 50-meters.

This is Elendt’s second time breaking the German record today. In prelims, she swam 2:20.22 to break the super-suited 2:20.41 mark that Caroline Ruhnau swam in 2009. This swim marked her first time breaking 2:20 in the event.

Men’s 100m Breaststroke – Final

• World Record: 55.28 – Ilya Shymanovich, BLR (2021)
• World Junior Record: 56.66 – Simone Cerasuolo, ITA (2021)
• World Cup Record: 55.61 – Cameron Van der Burgh, RSA (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 55.92 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2019)

Final:

1. Caspar Corbeau (NED) — 56.67
2. Ilya Shymanovich (NAA) — 57.18
3. Van Mathias (CLB) — 57.26
4. Jeremias Pock (GER) — 57.36
5. Josh Matheny (CLB) — 57.39
6. Finn Brooks (CLB) — 57.49
7. Brian Benzing (CLB) — 57.73
8. Shin Ohashi (JPN) — 57.91

It was Caspar Corbeau who got his hands on the wall first in the men’s 100 breaststroke final. The Dutch Olympic medalist had a slight lead over his Indiana teammate last season, Finn Brooks, at the 50-meter mark, turning in 26.27 to 26.29.

Brooks fell to fourth with 25 meters to go, but Corbeau had another Hoosier teammate up at the front of the race with him. He and Van Mathias turned for home together, but Corbeau’s final split of 15.29 gave him the win in 56.67. After using his fifth-year of eligibility at Indiana last season, Corbeau is now back training with Mark Faber. This swim is three-hundredths faster than he went at the first stop of the 2024 Swimming World Cup in Shanghai.

Ilya Shymanovich was also able to pass Mathias down the stretch, stopping the clock in 57.18 while Mathias took third in 57.26.

You’d be excused if you thought that this was an Indiana Hoosier practice, or maybe a Big Ten final. Along with Corbeau, Mathias, and Brooks, Josh Matheny and Brian Benzing competed in the final, making it six out of the eight finalists who have trained in Bloomington.

Women’s 50m Freestyle – Final

• World Record: 22.83 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 23.66 – Eva Okaro, GBR (2024)
• World Cup Record: 22.93 – Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 23.10 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)

Final:

1. Kasia Wasick (POL) — 23.29
2. Alexandria Perkins (AUS) — 23.50
3. Mollie O’Callaghan (AUS) — 23.96
4. Olivia Wunsch (AUS) — 24.01
5. Marrit Steenbergen (NED) — 24.05
6. Chelsey Edwards (NZL) — 24.11
7. Florine Gaspard (BEL) — 24.18
8. Katharine Berkoff (CLB) — 24.46

While the men’s 100 breaststroke final was the Indiana Hoosiers show, the women’s 50 freestyle was another chance for the Australian women to shine. They managed to go 2-3-4 in this final, but it was Poland’s Kasia Wasick who came out with the win. She swam a 23.29 to get the job done this evening, faster than she swam for bronze at the 2024 Short Course World Championships.

Sprint butterflier Alexandria Perkins hit the wall second with a 23.50. On the back half of her 50 backstroke/freestyle double, O’Callaghan took bronze in 23.96, five-hundredths ahead of Olivia Wunsch. Fourth through seventh were separated by .17 seconds as Marrit Steenbergen (24.05), Chelsey Edwards (23.11), and Florine Gaspard (24.18) all checked in with 24-lows.

Men’s 50m Freestyle – Final

• World Record: 19.90 – Jordan Crooks, CAY (2024)
• World Junior Record: 20.98, Kenzo Simons, NED (2019)
• World Cup Record: 20.48 – Vlad Morozov, RUS (2018)
• U.S. Open Record: 20.24 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2019)

Final:

1. Chris Guiliano (CLB) — 20.83
2. Jack Alexy (CLB) — 20.88
3. Ilya Kharun (CAN) — 20.89
4. Dylan Carter (TTO) — 21.12
5. Leonardo Deplano (ITA) — 21.18
6. Brooks Curry (CLB) — 21.25
7. Ralf Tribuntsov (EST) — 21.28
8. Ruslan Gaziev (CAN) — 21.34

We’ll hold off on making another joke about mistaking a final at the World Cup for an NCAA event, but just know that it does also apply here. The top three swimmers were racing in the NCAA last year and Kharun still is.

Tonight, Chris Guiliano earned the win in the men’s 50 freestyle final, setting himself up for a chance to win the event’s Triple Crown. He swam a 20.83, stopping the clock five-hundredths ahead of his Paris Olympic teammate Jack Alexy (20.88).

It was a tight race for the top three spots, as Ilya Kharun swam a 20.89 for third, hitting the wall .01 second behind Alexy. Kharun already broke one Canadian record this evening, and this swim inched him closer to Liendo’s 20.76 50 freestyle national record.

The top three men were all under 21 seconds, while World Cup expert Dylan Carter placed fourth in 21.12.

Women’s 100m IM – Final

• World Record: 55.11 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 57.59 – Anastasiya Shkurdai, BLR (2020)
• World Cup Record: 56.51 – Katinka Hosszú, HUN (2017)
• U.S. Open Record: 55.98 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)

Final:

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 55.91 *World Cup and U.S. Open Record*
2. Kate Douglass (USA) — 56.34
3. Roos Vanotterdijk (BEL) — 57.44
4. Anastasia Gorbenko (ISR) — 58.06
5. Rebecca Meder (RSA) — 58.26
6. Marrit Steenbergen (NED) — 58.51
7. Alex Walsh (CLB) — 58.58
8. Phoebe Bacon (CLB) — 58.82

Gretchen Walsh took the short-course meters world by storm last year, powering to a historic performance at the 2024 Short Course World Championships where she tore up the record book in multiple events.

So, given that she’s the world record holder in the 100 IM, it was strange to not see her name next to the overall World Cup record. But remember–Walsh wasn’t on the World Cup circuit last season, as she was beginning her final season at Virginia.

Walsh earned the win in the 100 IM in her first World Cup final as a professional swimmer, checking in with a 55.91. That’s faster than any other swimmer except herself has been and marks the third-fastest performance in event history. Walsh now owns the top five times in event history.

Behind her, Douglass popped a 56.34 in her second swim of the session. It’s a lifetime best for her and improves her standing as the second-fastest swimmer all-time.

All-Time Top Performances, Women’s 100 IM (SCM) 

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 55.11 (2024)
2. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 55.71 (2024)
3. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 55.91 (2025)
4. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 55.98 (2024)
5. Gretchen Walsh (USA) — 56.06 (2024)
6. Kate Douglass (USA) — 56.34 (2025)
7. Kate Douglass (USA) — 56.49 (2024)
8. Katinka Hosszu (HUN) — 56.51 (2017)

Walsh split 11.33/13.79/16.65/14.14 en route to her World Cup record. Her breaststroke split was just a hundredth slower than Douglass’ split. Douglass split 11.57/14.46/16.64/13.67, pressing the pace on the back half of her race.

Men’s 100m IM – Final

• World Record: 49.28 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2020)
• World Junior Record: 50.63 – Kliment Kolesnikov, RUS (2018)
• World Cup Record: 49.92 – Leon Marchand, FRA (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 51.04 – Shaine Casas, USA (2022)

Final:

1. Shaine Casas (USA) — 50.86 *U.S. Open Record*
2. Noe Ponti (SUI) — 51.13
3. Finlay Knox (CAN)/Hubert Kos (HUN) — 51.29
4. (tie)
5. Thomas Ceccon (ITA) — 51.39
6. Grant House (CLB) — 51.45
7. Luke Barr (CLB) — 52.09
8. Caspar Corbeau (NED) — 52.49

The final event of the session, the men’s 100 IM, featured a bevy of swimmers on their second event of the session. That includes the winner, Casas, who took third in the 200 backstroke earlier tonight.

Casas held the lead after the butterfly leg with a 10.30 split, leading Thomas Ceccon (10.45), and a tie between Ponti (10.51) and Kos (10.51). Kos pressed the backstroke leg, splitting 12.35 to take over the lead. But Casas struck back quickly on the breaststroke leg, putting in a 15.30 effort to take a slight lead over Kos, 38.29 to 38.36, heading into the freestyle leg. There was a slew of other competitors hanging with the Longhorns, as Ceccon split 38.43, Knox a 38.50, and Ponti 38.53.

Casas had the fastest freestyle split in the field (12.57) which sealed his win in 50.86, breaking his own U.S. Open Record. Ponti’s 12.60 split wasn’t too far off that pace and helped pull him from fifth after the breaststroke leg onto the podium for silver in 51.13. Knox, back from injury, tied with Kos for the bronze medal in 51.29. Kos’ effort marks a new Hungarian record as he breaks the 52.11 he swam in the heats this morning.