2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open: Day 4 Finals Live Recap

2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open

• Wednesday, April 29 – Saturday, May 2, 2026
• Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center
• LCM (50 meters)
• All the Links
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheet
• Live Results: “Fort Lauderdale Open” on Meet Mobile
• SwimSwam Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

Day 4 Finals Heat Sheet

We have made it to the final session of the 2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open! The last few days have seen some fast racing in Florida, and we have one more session with some of the most anticipated events on tonight’s schedule.

Watch Live Here

The evening will start off with the women’s and men’s 800 freestyle events. Last year, Katie Ledecky set the 800 freestyle world record on the final day and she will lead the women’s final tonight with her seed time of 8:04.12 (the aforementioned world record) coming in 30 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

Bobby Finke is the top seed in the men’s event at 7:38.67, but William Mulgrew is seeded 2nd and he has been having a very strong meet so far.

After the 800 freestyles, the women’s and men’s 100 backstroke events will race. Isabelle Stadden swam the fastest time in the prelims of the 100 backstroke, but world record holder Regan Smith will be right next to her in the final.

Hubert Kos is the top seed in the men’s race by almost two seconds over Jack Aikins, and he will be looking to pick up the win tonight.

The women’s and men’s 200 breaststroke races will see two of the top swimmers in the world in the middle of the pool. Kate Douglass is the women’s top seed and Leon Marchand is the men’s. They are both heavy favorites to win.

Gretchen Walsh is the top seed in the women’s 100 butterfly, swimming 55.39 in prelims to earn the top seed by more than three seconds over Claire Curzan‘s 58.61. She also set a world record in the event at last year’s Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series and could be looking for a repeat performance tonight.

The men’s race is looking like it will be the opposite of the domination we will likely see on the women’s side. Ilya Kharun and Josh Liendo are the 1st and 2nd seeds respectively, touching just eight hundredths apart in prelims.

Phoebe Bacon, Sadie Buckley, and Regan Smith are gearing up for a close race in the women’s 200 IM as all three were a little more than half-a-second apart in prelims.

The men’s 200 IM will be all about the Texas athletes as the 1st, 3rd, and 4th seeds tonight are all from Austin including world record holder Leon Marchand.

Finally, the meet will wrap up with the 50 freestyles. Gretchen Walsh is the women’s top seed by just two hundredths over Kate Douglass. On the men’s side, Josh Liendo and Ilya Kharun will meet again as the 1st and 3rd seeds with their 22.29 and 22.52 respective prelims swims. Dylan Carter qualified 2nd in 22.41.

Women’s 800M Freestyle — Timed Final

• World Record: 8:04.12 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2025)
• World Junior Record: 8:11.00 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2014)
• American Record: 8:04.12 — Katie Ledecky (2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 8:04.12 — Katie Ledecky, USA (2025)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream and Early Session Results)

1. Katie Ledecky (GSC) — 8:12.66
2. Katie Grimes (CA) — 8:40.80
3. Michaela Mattes (UN) — 8:40.84
4. Audrey Derivaux (JW) — 8:43.76
5. Cavan Gormsen (UN) — 8:44.81
6. Julia Strojnowska (UN) — 8:58.91
7. Izzy Riva (BSS) — 8:59.19
8. Grace Alegi (SYS) — 9:05.80

Katie Ledecky swam 8:12.62 to set the top time in the women’s 800 freestyle, coming in nearly 30 seconds ahead of Katie Grimes‘ 8:40.80 in 2nd overall.

Ledecky jumped out to the lead on the first 50, splitting 28.06 to lead Katie Grimes‘ 29.65 in 2nd in the heat. By the 400, she led her heat by 15 seconds, turning in 4:04.46 with Michaela Mattes sitting in 2nd with her 4:19.50.

Ledecky’s swim was just off her season best of 8:08.57 from the Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont in March.

Grimes finished 2nd in 8:40.80. She came in just four hundredths ahead of Michaela Mattes, who mounted a late charge to try and challenge for the silver. Grimes’ lifetime best stands at 8:17.05 from the 2020 Olympics, but her swim tonight was just three tenths off the 8:40.47 she swam at last year’s Pro Swim Series stop in Fort Lauderdale.

Mattes took 3rd in 8:40.84, a six second add from her best of 8:34.76, which she swam at last year’s Fort Lauderdale Pro Series.

Audrey Derivaux swam 8:43.76 in the early heats of the 800 free, for her first ever time racing the event.

Men’s 800M Freestyle — Timed Final

• World Record: 7:32.12 — Zhang Lin, CHN (2009)
• World Junior Record: 7:43.37 — Lorenzo Galossi, ITA (2022)
• American Record: 7:38.67 — Bobby Finke (2023)
• U.S. Open Record: 7:40.34 — Bobby Finke, USA (2023)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream and Early Session Results)

1. Bobby Finke (SPA) — 7:53.17
2. William Mulgrew (SAC) — 7:53.34
3. Juan Vallmitjana (SOFL) — 7:57.70
4. Luke Hobson (NYAC) — 8:08.31
5. Joey Eaddy (REV) — 8:09.55
6. Connor Buck (PRIN) — 8:14.71
7. Clay Magyar (BSS) — 8:17.52
8. William Shoesmith (BSS) — 8:19.33

Bobby Fine won the men’s 800 freestyle in old school Bobby Finke fashion, touching in 7:53.17 for a two tenth win off William Mulgrew‘s 7:53.34 in 2nd place.

Finke and Mulgrew traded the lead throughout the race before the final 100, when Finke held a slight lead at 6:57.06 to Mulgrew’s 6:57.25. Mulgrew swam 28.80 to take over the lead at the 750 mark by almost a second, turning in 7:26.05 to Finke’s 7:26.99, after he split 29.93 on the 50.

On the final 50 of the race, Finke had a monster 26.18 split, more than a second faster than Mulgrew’s 27.79, earning the overall win. Finke’s time was off his lifetime best of 7:38.67 from the 2023 World Championships. It was also a slight add from his season best 7:51.50 from the Pro Swim Series in Austin, but it was faster than both of his 800 freestyles in Westmont.

Juan Vallmitjana, who is committed to Virginia for 2027, finished 3rd in 7:57.70, a two second drop from the 7:59.66 he swam in August.

WOMEN’S 100M BACKSTROKE – Finals

• World Record: 57.13 – Regan Smith, USA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 57.57 – Regan Smith, USA (2019)
• American Record: 57.13 – Regan Smith (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 57.13 – Regan Smith, USA (2024)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream)

1. Regan Smith (TXLA) — 57.49
2. Isabelle Stadden (AQJT) — 57.55
3. Katharine Berkoff (WOLF) — 58.86
4. Erika Pelaez (NCS) — 59.78
5. Catie Choate (GSC) — 1:00.89
6. Sadie Buckley (NCAP) — 1:01.16
7. Roos Rottink (NAC) — 1:01.56
8. Brynn Lavigueur (SYS) — 1:01.81

The women’s 200 backstroke was a race between Regan Smith and Isabelle Stadden. Stadden grabbed the lead early, splitting 27.81 on the opening 50 to lead Smith’s 28.17 by almost four tenths.

On the 2nd 50, Smith came back hard, splitting 29.32 to take over the lead, winning the event in 57.49, the top time in the world this season.

Stadden split 57.55 to drop another half-second from her prelims swim and become the 3rd fastest performer in history, only behind Smith and Australia’s Kaylee McKeown. Her time will also move her up to the 2nd fastest performer in the world this year.

Katharine Berkoff swam 58.86 to finish 3rd, about a tenth off her 5th ranking season time of 58.71 from the U.S. Open in December. Berkoff’s lifetime best is 57.83 from June of 2024.

MEN’S 100M BACKSTROKE – Finals

• World Record: 51.60 – Thomas Ceccon, ITA (2022)
• World Junior Record: 52.08 – Miron Lifintsev, RUS (2024)
• American Record: 51.85 – Ryan Murphy (2016)
• U.S. Open Record: 51.94 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream)

1. Hubert Kos (TXLA) — 53.12
2. Jack Aikins (UN) — 55.43
3. Liam Carrington (BSS) — 55.48
4. Aiden Norman (FLOR) — 55.79
5. Ethan Bathala (BSS) — 55.82
6. Caleb Maldari (GSC) — 56.58
7. Gavin Schinkelshoek (WAC) — 57.05
8. Finn Harland (ALT) — 1:07.12

Hubert Kos picked up his 2nd backstroke win of the meet in dominant fashion. He touched the wall in 53.12, more than two seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

He was a little off his season best of 52.63 from the U.S. Open in December which currently ranks 4th in the world this season. His lifetime best is 52.20 from the World Championships last summer.

Jack Aikins finished 2nd in 55.43, a three second add from the 52.74 he swam in June of 2024 at the Olympic Trials.

Liam Carrington, who is committed to NC state for the fall, finished 3rd in 55.48, about a second add from the 54.54 he swam in August at the World Junior Championships.

WOMEN’S 200M BREASTSTROKE – Finals

• World Record: 2:17.55 – Evgenia Chikunova, RUS (2023)
• World Junior Record: 2:19.64 – Viktoria Gunes, TUR (2015)
• American Record: 2:19.24 – Kate Douglass (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:19.30 – Kate Douglass, USA (2024)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream)

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) — 2:20.94
2. Mona McSharry (TNAQ) — 2:24.82
3. Alex Walsh (NYAC) — 2:27.02
4. Sophia Umstead (UN) — 2:27.15
5. Eneli Jefimova (NCS) — 2:28.74
6. Summer McIntosh (TXLA) — 2:29.92
7. Kaidy Stout (GSA) — 2:30.70
8. Emma Weber (CA) — 2:31.15

Kate Douglass won the women’s 200 breaststroke in 2:20.94. This was a tenth add from her season best of 2:20.86 that she swam at the U.S. Open, which is currently ranked 2nd in the world behind Angharad Evans’ 2:19.70 fro the Aquatics GB Championships last month.

Her swim was just two tenths off the 2:20.78 she swam at the Fort Lauderdale stop of the Pro Swim Series last year.

Mona McSharry touched 2nd in 2:24.82, a two second add from the 2:22.22 mark she set at the 2026 Irish Open last month.

Alex Walsh finished 3rd in 2:27.02, just 13 hundredths ahead of Sophia Umstead‘s 2:27.15. Walsh added from her season best of 2:24.88 that she swam at the U.S. Open.

Umstead dropped four seconds from her pre-meet best time of 2:31.53 that she swam in June of 2024. She swam 2:28.38 in the prelims.

MEN’S 200M BREASTSTROKE – Finals

• World Record: 2:05.48 – Qin Haiyang, CHN (2023)
• World Junior Record: 2:08.04 – Dong Zhihao, CHN (2023)
• American Record: 2:06.54 – Matthew Fallon (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:06.54 – Matthew Fallon, USA (2024)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream)

1. Leon Marchand (TXLA) — 2:09.04
2. Jack Kelly (NYAC) — 2:12.46
3. Rafael Mimoso (WVU) — 2:15.02
4. Prakhanthi Rai (BSS) — 2:16.73
5. Ian Call (NAC) — 2:17.15
6. Jordan Willis (GSC) — 2:18.62
7. Charlie Russell (BSS) — 2:20.48
8. Cas Verstegen (WVU) — 2:23.67

Leon Marchand dominated the men’s 200 breaststroke final, touching in 2:09.04. This was four seconds off his lifetime best of 2:05.85, which he swam to win the Olympic Gold medal in Paris, but was a new season best time, dropping from the 2:09.72 he swam at the Pro Swim Series stop in January.

This swim will move Marchand up to 10th in the world this year.

Jack Kelly swam 2:12.46 to finish 2nd overall. His lifetime best stands at 2:09.90 from the U.S. Open in December.

Rafael Mimoso touched 3rd in 2:15.02, a two tenth drop from his previous best of 2:15.25 from July of 2024.

WOMEN’S 100M BUTTERFLY – Finals

• World Record: 54.60 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
• World Junior Record: 56.33 – Mizuki Hirai, JPN (2024)
• American Record: 54.60 – Gretchen Walsh (2024)
• U.S. Open Record: 54.60 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream)

1. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) — 54.33 **New World Record
2. Claire Curzan (TAC) — 58.44
3. Audrey Derivaux (JW) — 58.68
4. Lismar Lyon (SOFL) — 59.32
5. Bailey Hartman (CA) — 59.46
6. Tess Howley (LIAC) — 59.63
7. Erika Pelaez (NCS) — 59.72
8. Lindsay Looney (TXLA) — 59.95

Gretchen Walsh does it again. She swam 54.33 to win the women’s 100 fly, taking nearly three tenths off her own World Record time of 54.60 from this meet last year.

Walsh now owns the top 13 performances in history and is a full second faster than anyone else with Sarah Sjostrom coming in as the 2nd fastest performer in 55.48.

She was out in a blistering 25.09 before coming home in 29.24 as she continues to edge closer to a potential 53 second swim. She is also almost two full seconds faster than anyone else in the world this season with Regan Smith holding the 2nd fastest time in 56.18.

Claire Curzan finished 2nd in 58.44, just edging out Audrey Derivaux for the silver medal. Curzan’s swim was just over two seconds off her lifetime best of 56.20 from April of 2021.

Derivaux swam 58.68 for 3rd, about a second off her best of 57.57 from last summer’s World Junior Championships.

MEN’S 100M BUTTERFLY – Finals

• World Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2021)
• World Junior Record: 50.62 – Kristof Milak, HUN (2017)
• American Record: 49.45 – Caeleb Dressel (2021)
• U.S. Open Record: 49.76 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2021)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream)

1. Ilya Kharun (SUN) — 50.87
2. Josh Liendo (FLOR) — 51.17
3. Caeleb Dressel (SJAC) — 51.26
4. Shaine Casas (TXLA) — 51.27
5. Dylan Carter (AZFL) — 53.07
6. Patrick Sammon (NYAC) – 53.21
7. Hutch Paxton (NAC) — 53.93
8. Arthur Balva (PRIN) — 54.49

Ilya Kharun had a very strong performance in the men’s 100 fly final, stopping the clock in 50.87 to be the only swimmer under 51 seconds. He just missed his season best time of 50.40 from the  U.S. Open in December, which is currently ranked 3rd in the world.

Kharun’s lifetime best stands at 50.07 from the World Championships last summer.

Josh Liendo finished 2nd in 51.17, which is the 9th fastest time in the world this season, just ahead of Leon marchand‘s 51.20 from the U.S. Open. He was a little more than a second off his best of 49.99 from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

Caeleb Dressel touched 3rd in 51.26, a new season best time for him, dropping from the 51.33 he swam at the U.S. Open in December.

WOMEN’S 200M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – Finals

• World Record: 2:05.70 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2025)
• World Junior Record: 2:06.56 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2024)
• American Record: 2:06.15 – Ariana Kukors (2009)
• U.S. Open Record: 2:06.79 – Kate Douglass, USA (2024)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream)

1. Regan Smith (TXLA) — 2:10.63
2. Alex Walsh (NYAC) — 2:10.70
3. Sadie Buckley (NCAP) — 2:12.35
4. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) — 2:13.57
5. Emma Weyant (GSC) — 2:14.86
6. Eleanor Sun (PRIN) — 2:15.15
7. Sydney Hardy (SYS) — 2:16.55
8. Sophia Umstead (UN) — 2:16.99

Regan Smith swam 2:10.63 to earn her 2nd win of the night in the women’s 200 IM by just seven hundredths over Alex Walsh‘s 2:10.70.

Smith jumped out to an early lead, splitting 27.82/31.84 on her first 100 to turn in 59.66. She was the only swimmer under 1:00 on the opening 100 with Sadie Buckley sitting in 2nd at 1:01.22. Alex Walsh split 28.25/34.02 to turn in 3rd at 1:02.27

Smith dropped back to 2nd after the breaststroke leg, splitting 40.88 to Alex Walsh‘s 37.53. Smith had the 2nd slowest 50 split in the final.

On the freestyle, Smith came back strong, splitting 30.09 to take the lead back from Walsh, who split 30.90.

Smith’s swim was about two seconds off her lifetime best of 2:08.48 that she swam in June of 2023 and was about four tenths slower than the 2:10.25 she swam at last year’s Pro Swim Series stop in Fort Lauderdale.

Walsh’s season best sits at 2:09.28, which she swam at the U.S. Open in December.

Sadie Buckley swam 2:12.35 to finish 3rd overall, a full second drop from the 2:13.64 she swam in July of 2025.

MEN’S 200M INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY – Finals

• World Record: 1:52.69 – Leon Marchand, FRA (2025)
• World Junior Record: 1:56.53 – Yumeki Kojima, JPN (2026)
• American Record: 1:54.00 – Ryan Lochte (2011)
• U.S. Open Record: 1:54.43 – Ryan Lochte, USA (2010)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream)

1. Leon Marchand (TXLA) — 1:57.28
2. Hubert Kos (TXLA) /Carson Foster (NYAC) — 1:57.95
3. —
4. Mitchell Schott (PRIN) — 2:00.36
5. Kieran Smith (RAC) — 2:00.87
6. Grant Sanders (SPA) — 2:01.49
7. Aiden Norman (FLOR) — 2:04.97
8. Reef McMeeking (LAKR) — 2:05.85

The men’s 200 IM was all about the Texas swimmers as the three men who train in Austin were the only swimmers to touch under 2:00 in the event.

Leon Marchand won, picking up his 2nd title of the evening with his time of 1:57.28. This swim will move him up to tie for 9th in the world this season with Japan’s So Ogata. He split 24.97/29.51/33.90/28.90 to take over the lead at the 150 mark.

Hubert Kos and Carson Foster swam very different races, but had the same result of 1:57.95 to tie for 2nd overall. Kos got out fast, splitting 24.79/29.38/35.02/28.76 to hold the lead at the 100 before he gave up some ground to Foster on the breaststroke and freestyle.

Foster came back hard, splitting 25.21/29.65/34.63/28.46. He had the fastest final 50 in the field to tie with Kos for the silver.

WOMEN’S 50M FREESTYLE – Finals

• World Record: 23.61 – Sarah Sjostrom, SWE (2023)
• World Junior Record: 24.17 – Claire Curzan, USA (2021)
• American Record: 23.91 – Kate Douglass & Gretchen Walsh (2024 & 2025)
• U.S. Open Record: 23.91 – Gretchen Walsh (2025)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream)

1. Kate Douglass (NYAC) — 24.21
2. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) — 24.40
3. Bryn Greenwaldt (UN) — 24.84
4. Simone Manuel (TXLA) — 24.86
5. Lily King (NCS) — 25.10
6. Elizaveta Klevanovich (UN) — 25.23
7. Claire Curzan (TAC) — 25.29
8. Nikolett Padar (TXLA) — 25.52

The women’s 50 freestyle saw Kate Douglass pick up her 2nd individual event win of the evening in 24.21, just under two tenths ahead of Gretchen Walsh‘s 24.40 in 2nd.

Douglass currently holds the top time in the world this season with the 24.20 she swam at the U.S. Open in December.

Walsh touched in 24.40, just one hundredth of fher season best of 24.39 from the Pro Swim Series in Westmont last month.

Bryn Greenwaldt dropped more time after breaking 25 seconds for the first time this morning, touching in 24.84. She came into the day at 25.69 from November of 2023.

Simone Manuel was the final sub-25 swimmer, touching in 24.86, just two hundredths back of Greenwaldt. She missed her season best of 24.42 from the U.S. Open.

MEN’S 50M FREESTYLE – Finals

• World Record: 20.88 – Cameron McEvoy, AUS (2026)
• World Junior Record: 21.75 – Michael Andrew, USA (2017)
• American Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• U.S. Open Record: 21.04 – Caeleb Dressel, USA (2019)

Top 8 Finishers (According to Livestream)

1. Ralf Tribuntsov (EST) — 22.24
2. Ruslan Gaziev (OSU)/Chris Guiliano — 22.27
3. —
4. Ilya Kharun (SUN) — 22.34
5. Josh Liendo (FLOR) — 22.39
6. Dylan Carter (AZFL) — 22.42
7. Patrick Sammon (NYAC) — 22.49
8. Caeleb Dressel (SJAC) — 22.63

The final event of the meet, the men’s 50 freestyle went to Estonia’s Ralf Tribuntsov in 22.24. His lifetime best in the event is 22.07 from May of 2025.

Chris Guiliano and Ruslan Gaziev tied for 2nd in 22.27. They were both off their season best times with Guiliano swimming 21.43 at the Pro Swim Series in Westmont and Gaziev holding a season best of 21.93 from November’s Japan Open.

Ilya Kharun bested Josh Liendo once again for 4th, swimming 22.34 to beat Josh Liendo‘s 22.39 by five hundredths.