2025 World University Games: Day 1 Prelims Preview

2025 World University Games

• July 17th-23rd, 2025
• Berlin, Germany
• LCM (50 Meters)
• Meet Central
• Entries List
• Live Results
• Event Preview
• How To Watch

Day 1 of the World University Games kicks off today, and unlike the Chengdu 2021 Games (confusingly held in 2023) the U.S. is sending a full-strength team. That is evident today as they hold top seeds in four of the seven events this morning, but there are strong teams from several nations here in Berlin. That includes some swimmers who will be in Singapore at the end of July, including Denis Petrashov, Eldor Usmonov and Adela Piskorska, all of whom are medal contenders here.

Ryan Erisman is the top seed in the 400 freestyle and compatriot Alex Enyeart is the fourth fastest coming in. Splitting the two is Eduardo Oliveira de Moraes and Malaysia’s Khiew Hoe Yean, who was the SEA games silver medalist in this event in 2023. Moraes is himself the runner up from this event two years ago, although is entered nearly three seconds faster than the time he swam in that final. There are ten men entered sub-3:50, and after a time of just 3:54.80 was required to make the final at the last edition should be a lot faster this time around.  

The women’s 50 fly sees Czech Record holder Daryna Nabojcenko entered as the only women under 26 seconds as she leads the field by three-tenths of a second in 25.92. She was slightly faster than that at the European U23 Championships last month in 25.90, but will have the America’s Ella Welch (26.41) and Caroline Larsen (26.24) to deal with, along with 3rd seed Viola Scotto Di Carlo (26.35). Arizona State’s Julia Ullmann, who competes internationally for Switzerland, is the 11th seed in 26.80 and with only half a second separating 2nd through 1th the fight for finals places could be fierce.

The men’s 50 fly is tighter at the top, with Lorenzo Gargani and Eldor Usmonov coming in as joint-top seeds in 23.32. There are seven swimmers within four-tenths of a second of that pair, including Tennessee’s Kamal Muhammad (23.49) and Ohio State’s Matt Klinge (23.66). Gargani tied for silver at the Games in 2023 in 23.39, and will be looking for a repeat trip to the podium as the only returner from those medalists.

Leah Shackley (2:06.66) and Kennedy Noble (2:07.52) are the top two seeds in the women’s 200 backstroke, and only Portuguese Record holder Camila Rodrigues Rebelo (2:08.95) joins them under 2:10. Korea’s Eunji Lee and Poland’s Adela Piskorska should also be in the hunt for finals spots, but the Americans should look to pace the field this morning. Rebelo was 2nd in Chengdu two years ago, but is the only returner from the podium there and one of only three from the final, alongside South Africa’s Hannah Pears and Italy’s Francesca Pasquino.

There are three men entered sub-60 in the men’s 100 breaststroke, led by Denis Petrashov in 59.42. The Louisville swimmer has been quicker than that already this season after setting a Kyrgzstan record at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series in 59.23, and will have Reo Okura (59.80) and Nate Germonprez (59.89) for company. Great Britain’s Archie Goodburn is entered 6th-fastest in 1:00.56, but holds a lifetime best of 1:00.03 and will be aiming for a centre lane for tonight. After it took a time of 1:01.48 to qualify for the final last year, we have 18 men entered faster than that this year, so there could be some bigger names left out of the semi-finals if they don’t watch out this morning.

The U.S. have put a strong team forward in the women’s 4×100 free relay, with Julia Dennis, Maxine Parker, Leah Hayes and Isabel Ivey the lineup for this morning. Parker is the top seed for the individual 100 free tomorrow, with Dennis ranked 4th, and China could be there closest competitors this morning as they also have two swimmers entered under 55 seconds for the individual event.

Matt King will be the key man for the U.S. men tonight, but this morning will see an intriguing relay lineup for them, featuring a freestyle specialist (Camden Taylor), a 200 IM swimmer (Owen MacDonald), a 200 fly swimmer (Mitchell Schott) and the 10th-fastest 200 backstroke globally this season (David King). Their closest rival may be Russia/AIN, whose team features short course world medalist Aleksandr Schegolev.

Top Seeds

• Men’s 400 free: Ryan Erisman (USA) – 3:46.01
• Women’s 50 fly: Daryna Nabojcenko (CZE)– 25.92
• Men’s 50 fly: Lorenzo Gargani (ITA)/Eldor Usmonov (UZB)– 23.32
• Women’s 200 back: Leah Shackley (USA)– 2:06.66
• Men’s 100 breast: Denis Petrashov (KGZ)– 59.42