2025 World University Games: Day 5 Prelims Live Recap

2025 World University Games

• July 17th-23rd, 2025
  • Prelims: 9 a.m. local time (3 a.m. EST)
  • Finals: 7 p.m. local time (1 p.m. EST)
• Berlin, Germany
• LCM (50 Meters)
• Meet Central
• Entries List
• Live Results
• Livestream
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

Welcome to day 5 prelims of the 2025 World University Games in Berlin! This morning’s action will feature 6 individual races and a relay. Here’s a look at the schedule of events.

Day 5 Prelims Schedule:

• Men’s 100 Butterfly
• Women’s 200 Freestyle
• Men’s 50 Breaststroke
• Women’s 50 Backstroke
• Women’s 200 IM
• Mixed 4×100 Freestyle Relay
• Men’s 800 Freestyle

After setting the WUGS Record in the women’s 100 backstroke last night, American Kennedy Noble will be back in action today in the 50 back. She comes in as the 2nd seed in the event, however, as American teammate Leah Shackley is the top seed. Shackley and Noble are the only swimmers in the field seeded under 28 seconds in the event, and after going 1-2 in the 100 backstroke last night, their fortunes look good here as well.

American Leah Hayes comes in as the top seed in the women’s 200 IM this morning. Hayes was the bronze medalist at the 2022 World Championships. She comes in with a seed time that is just half a second off the WUGS record.

MEN’S 100 BUTTERFLY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2021)
• World Junior Record: 50.62 – Kristof Milak, RUS (2017)
• World University Games Record: 50.85 – Jason Dunford, KEN (2009)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Bjorn Kammann (GER) – 51.94
2. Ole Eidam (GER) – 52.12
3. Adrian Jaskiewicz (POL) – 52.32
4. Thomas Nankervis (AUS) – 52.52
5. Eldorbek Usmonov (UZB) – 52.62
6. Kamal Muhammad (USA) – 52.66
7. Matthew Klinge (USA) – 52.67
8. Riku Kitagawa (JPN) – 52.71
9. Wang Kuan-hung (TPE) – 52.73
10. Gianmarco Sansone (ITA) – 52.80
11. Patrick Hussey (CAN) – 52.82
12. Michele Busa (ITA) – 52.86
13. Ihor Troianovskyi (UKR) – 52.89
14. Kim Jihun (KOR) – 52.91
15. Pedro Henrique Buch E Grahl De Souza (BRA) – 52.99
16. Ruard Van Renen (RSA) – 53.27

The German duo of Bjorm Kammann and Ole Eidman got off to a great start in prelims of the men’s 100 fly this morning. Swimming in the same heat, Kammann won with a time of 51.94, establishing the top seed for tonight’s semifinals. Meanwhile, Eidam was right behind in 52.12, for the 2nd-fastest time of the morning. Eidam was out a touch faster than Kammann, splitting 24.04 on the opening 50 to Kammann’s 24.05.

Poland’s Adrian Jaskiewicz wasn’t too far behind the German duo this morning, swimming a 52.32.

The American duo of Kamal Muhammad and Matthew Klinge were solid this morning, swimming times of 52.66 and 52.67 respectively. Both safely advanced to semifinals, taking 6th and 7th respectively.

WOMEN’S 200 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2024)
• World Junior Record: 1:53.65 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2023)
• World University Games Record: 1:56.71 – Siobhan Haughey, HGK (2017)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Izzy Ivey (USA) – 1:59.23
2. Cavan Gormsen (USA) – 1:59.83
3. Nicole Maier (GER) – 2:00.17
4. Julie Brousseau (CAN) – 2:00.33
5. Giulia D’Innocenzo (ITA) – 2:00.59
6. Francisca Soares (POR) – 2:00.67
7. Sarah Dumont (BEL) – 2:00.82
8. Ai Yanhan (CHN) – 2:01.07
9. Lucile Tessariol (FRA) – 2:01.08
10. Ainhoa Campabadal (ESP) – 2:01.18
11. Kanon Nagao (JPN) – 2:01.23
12. Anna Fomina (POR) – 2:01.25
13. Ge Chutong (CHN) – 2:01.31
14. Hannah Robertson (RSA) – 2:01.70
15. Hanane Hironaka (JPN) – 2:01.79
16. Noemi Lamberti (ITA) – 2:01.82

American Izzy Ivey led the field in prelims of the women’s 200 free this morning, swimming a 1:59.23. That was a solid prelims performance for Ivey, coming in a little over a second off her personal best of 1:57.88. She was out in 57.92 on the opening 100 this morning, then came home in 1:01.31.

American teammate Cavan Gormsen was the only other swimmer in the field to go under 2:00 this morning, clocking in at 1:59.83. Gormsen swam a very different race than Ivey, getting out to a 59.76 on the opening 100, then came home in 1:00.07.

Germany continues to look great this morning, as Nicole Maier took 3rd overall in 2:00.17.

Canadian Julie Broussea, who was the top seed coming into the morning, came in 4th this morning with a 2:00.33.

MEN’S 50 BREASTSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 25.95 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2017)
• World Junior Record: 26.97 – Nicolo Martinenghi, ITA (2017)
• World University Games Record: 26.38 – Qin Haiyang, CHN (2023)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Federico Rizzardi (ITA) – 27.13
2. Archie Goodburn (GBR) – 27.41
3. Nate Germonprez (USA) – 27.51 (Tie)
4. Reo Okura (JPN) – 27.51 (Tie)
5. Flavio Mangiamele (ITA) – 27.54
6. Dawid Wiekiera (POL) – 27.61
7. Mael Allegrini (SUI) – 27.62
8. Henrique Borges (BRA) – 27.64
9. Vojtech Janecek (CZE) – 27.73
10. Park Geon (KOR) – 27.74
11. Goh Andrew Zheng Yen (MAS) – 27.85
12. Guilherme De Godoy (BRA) – 27.91
13. Jeremias Pock (GER) – 27.92
14. Cheung Chi Kit Nicholas (HGK) – 27.93
15. Christopher Palvadre (EST) – 27.98
16. Linus Forsgren (SWE) – 28.00

Italy’s Federico Rizzardi posted the top time of the morning in the men’s 50 breaststroke, swimming a 27.13. It was a speedy prelims swim, earning Rizzardi the top seed for semifinals by about a quarter of a second. He took nearly half a second off his entry time of 27.51 with the performance this morning.

Great Britain’s Archie Goodburn was very strong as well, swimming a 27.41. Goodburn was also well under his entry time of 27.75.

American Nate Germonprez and Japan’s Reo Okura tied for 3rd this morning with a time of 27.51. For Germonprez, he took 0.02 seconds off his entry time, while Okuro was off his best of 27.15.

WOMEN’S 50 BACKSTROKE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 26.86 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2023)
• World Junior Record: 27.49 – Minna Atherton, AUS (2016)
• World University Games Record: 27.84 – Adela Piskorska, POL (2023)

TOP 16 QUALIFERS:

1. Leah Shackley (USA) – 28.03
2. Olivia Nel (RSA) – 28.19
3. Kennedy Noble (USA) – 28.20
4. Michaela De Villiers (RSA) – 28.30
5. Adela Piskorska (POL) – 28.32
6. Francesca Pasquino (ITA) – 28.54
7. Federica Toma (ITA) – 28.62
8. Lee Eunji (KOR) – 28.68
9. Kim Yeeun (KOR) – 28.80
10. Nika Sharafutdinova (UKR) – 28.83
11. Rafaela Azevedo (POR) – 28.90
12. Aimi Nagaoka (JPN) – 29.17
13. Liao Yu-fei (TPE) – 29.22
14. Britta Koehorst (NED) – 29.36
15. Gabriela Krol (POL) – 29.37
16. Charlotte Cullen (IRE) – 29.38

American Leah Shackley led prelims of the women’s 50 back with a 28.03, earning the top seed for semifinals tonight. Shackley broke the WUGS Record in the 200 back earlier in the meet, then came in 2nd in the 100 back final last night. Her personal best is 27.43, which is the top time in the field.

Fellow American Kennedy Noble came in 3rd this morning with a 28.20. Noble is fresh off her victory in the 100 back last night, where she broke the WUGS Record. Noble holds a personal best of 27.86.

South Africa’s duo of Olivia Nel and Michaela De Villiers were exceptional as well. Nel took 2nd this morning in 28.19, taking a quarter of a second off her entry time of 28.41. De Villiers clocked a 28.30 for 4th this morning, coming in just off her entry time of 28.25.

Poland’s Adela Piskorska, who set the WUGS Record in this event back in 2023, came in 5th this morning with a 28.32. That was a strong morning swim for Piskorska, who set the WUGS Record at 27.84 2 years ago.

WOMEN’S 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 2:05.70 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2025)
• World Junior Record: 2:06.56 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• World University Games Record: 2:10.03 – Yui Ohashi, JPN (2017)

TOP 16 QUALIFIERS:

1. Leah Hayes (USA) – 2:10.71
2. Teagan O’Dell (USA) – 2:13.10
3. Ashley McMillan (CAN) – 2:14.86
4. Rio Sato (JPN) – 2:15.60
5. Lisa Nystrand (SWE) – 2:16.34
6. Ieva Maluka (LAT) – 2:16.41
7. Ge Chutong (CHN) – 2:16.44
8. Han Ai-chi (TPE) – 2:16.53
9. Chiara Della Corte (ITA) – 2:16.64
10. Camille Tissandie (FRA) – 2:16.72
11. Suden Denizli (TUR) – 2:16.73
12. Hanna Bergman (SWE) – 2:16.83
13. Kim Herkle (GER) – 2:17.03
14. Iana Shakirova (AIN) – 2:17.04
15. Anna Pirovano (ITA) – 2:17.80
16. Dakota Tucker (RSA) – 2:17.93

American Leah Hayes was phenomenal this morning in the women’s 200 IM, swimming a 2:10.71. With that performance, Hayes was just off the WUGS Record of 2:10.03. Hayes was the bronze medalist in this event at the 2022 World Championships. This morning, she split 28.75 on fly, 33.26 on back, 37.71 on breast, and 30.99 on free.

Fellow American Teagan O’Dell came in 2nd overall with a 2:13.10. She was very strong on the front half of the race, splitting 28.09 on fly and 32.57 on back, for a 1:00.66 on the opening 100.

Canadian Ashley McMillan rounded out this morning’s top 3, swimming a 2:14.86.

MIXED 4 x 100 FREESTYLE RELAY – PRELIMS

• World Record: 3:18.83 – Australia (2023)
• World Junior Record: 3:24.29 – Australia (2023)
• World University Games Record: 3:25.38 – China (2023)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. USA – 3:26.13
2. Japan – 3:30.51
3. Italy – 3:30.57
4. Cyprus – 3:31.30
5. South Africa – 3:31.51
6. Poland – 3:31.88
7. Switzerland – 3:32.40
8. Portugal – 3:32.69

The American team of Owen McDonald (49.48), Mitchell Schott (48.05), Caroline Larsen (54.41), and Julia Dennis (54.19) combined for a 3:26.13 this morning, touching less than a second off the WUGS Record of 3:25.38, which China set back in 2023. With that performance, the US is set up nicely to break the record tonight.

Japan’s team of Konosuke Yanagimoto (49.23), Yuta Watanabe (49.47), Sakura Ohshima (56.24), and Ayu Mizoguchi (55.57) put up a 3:30.51 in the first heat, which wound up being the 2nd fastest time of the morning.

After putting up a great swim in the 50 back prelims earlier today, South Africa’s Olivia Nel was excellent on South Africa’s relay this morning, swimming a 54.60 on the 3rd leg.

MEN’S 800 FREESTYLE – PRELIMS

• World Record: 7:32.12 – Lin Zhang, CHN (2009)
• World Junior Record: 7:43.37 – Lorenzo Galossi, ITA (2022)
• World University Games Record: 7:45.76 – Gregorio Paltrinieri, ITA (2017)

TOP 8 QUALIFIERS:

1. Tommaso Griffante (ITA) – 7:55.78
2. Aleksandr Stepanov (AIN) – 8:00.75
3. Kyo Nakayama (JPN) – 8:02.13
4. Daichi Yamamoto (JPN) – 8:02.33
5. Joao De Gruttola (BRA) – 8:02.65
6. Ryan Erisman (USA) – 8:02.81
7. Simon Reinke (GER) – 8:03.45
8. Davide Marchello (ITA) – 8:04.08