2026 Fort Lauderdale Open: Day 3 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
• Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2

Day 3 Finals Heat Sheet

Welcome to the 3rd finals session of the 2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open. You can watch the action live here:

There are some exciting races on the docket this evening, and we are kicking off with some of the best swimmers in the world in the women’s 200 freestyle. The championship final is loaded. Katie Ledecky, Summer McIntosh, and Regan Smith are all World Record holders in their own events and they will be joined by Erin Gemmell, Rylee Erisman, Simone Manuel, Nikolett Padar, and Anna Moesch in the 2nd of two heats.

The men’s 200 freestyle will see Chris Guiliano as the top seed, less than a tenth ahead of Tomas Navikonis in 2nd. Hubert Kos and Luke Hobson will also be in the final heat.

In the women’s 50 breaststroke, Eneli Jefimova and Emma Weber were the only swimmers under 31 seconds in the prelims session while Ireland’s Mona McSharry was hot on their heels in 31.28, just three tenths back of Weber to qualify 3rd.

The men’s 50 breaststroke will see Jack Kelly as the top seed just a tenth ahead of 17-year-old Ian Call, one of the youngest ‘A’ finalists on the men’s side.

While some of the races are looking like they could be close tonight, the women’s 50 butterfly is all about Gretchen Walsh. She was 25.16 in prelims to come in almost four tenths ahead of teammate Kate Douglass, who will be the 2nd seed in 25.50.

Ilya Kharun and Josh Liendo will face off in the men’s 50 fly as the 1st and 3rd seeds respectively. Dylan Carter qualified in between them in 23.49, just one hundredth faster than Liendo’s 23.50. Kharun is seeded in 23.06 for the middle lane.

Isabelle Stadden is the top seed in the women’s 200 backstroke, but American Record holder Regan Smith is the favorite to earn the win tonight from lane 7. Youngsters Rylee Erisman and Audrey Derivaux hold the other two middle lanes.

Hubert Kos is the clear favorite to win the men’s 200 backstroke, swimming 1:58.05 in prelims to be the only swimmer under 2:00 in the event.

The meet will wrap up with the 400 IM events where Emma Weyant and Leon Marchand are the respective top seeds. Weyant sits about a second ahead of 2nd seed Sadie Buckley. Marchand is looking at potentially one of the most dominant event wins of the night with his 4:13.50 in prelims earning the top seed by more than five seconds.

Women’s 200 Freestyle

• World Record – 1:52.23 – Ariarne Titmus, AUS (2024)
• American Record – 1:53.61 – Allison Schmitt (2012)
• U.S. Open Record – 1:53.80 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2026)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Summer McIntosh (TXLA) — 1:54.36
2. Anna Moesch (GSCT) — 1:56.55
3. Simone Manuel (TXLA) — 1:56.80
4. Katie Ledecky (GSC) — 1:56.94
5. Regan Smith (TXLA) — 1:57.01
6. Nikolett Padar (TXLA) — 1:57.27
7. Erin Gemmell (TXLA) — 1:57.57
8. Rylee Erimsan (LAKR) — 1:57.63

Summer McIntosh dominated the women’s 200 freestyle final, swimming 1:54.36 to come in more than two seconds ahead of 2nd place finisher Anna Moesch‘s 1:56.55.

McIntosh split 55.44 on the first 100 to pick up a commanding lead over the field before coming home in 58.92 to lock up the win. This swim is just off the 1:53.80 she swam in March to set the U.S. Open record and the 2nd fastest time in the world this year.

Anna Moesch, who is coming off a huge NCAA season for Virginia, finished 2nd in 1:56.55. This swim was a new personal best by almost two seconds, dropping from the 1;58.34 she swam at last summer’s National Championships in June. She split 57.25/59.30 to come back on 3rd place finisher Simone Manuel.

Manuel touched in 1:56.80, three tenths back of Moesch after splitting 57.16/59.64. This swim is just off the season best 1:56.66 she swam at the U.S. Open in December, but is still more than half-a-second faster than she swam at Nationals last summer.

Katie Ledecky was 4th in 1:56.94, just ahead of Regan Smith‘s 1:57.01 in 5th. This was Ledecky’s first time racing the 200 freestyle this season, and she was a little more than a second off the 1:55.51 she swam at the Pro Swim Series stop this week last year.

Men’s 200 Freestyle

• World Record – 1:42.00 – Paul Biedermann, GER (2009)
• American Record – 1:42.96 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open Record – 1:43.76 – Luke Hobson, USA (2025)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Mitchell Schott (PRIN) — 1:46.70
2. Hubert Kos (TXLA) — 1:47.29
3. Luke Hobson (NYAC) — 1:47.50
4. Patrick Sammon (NYAC)/Thomas Navikonis (OSU) — 1:47.66
5. —
6. Chris Guiliano (TXLA) — 1:48.00
7. Ruslan Gaziev (OSU) — 1:49.67
8. Grant Sanders (SPA) — 1:52.88

The men’s 200 freestyle went to Princeton’s Mitchell Schott in 1:46.70, about half-a-second ahead of Hubert Kos and the second-fastest time of Schott’s career. Schott split 51.74/54.96 to lead at both 100 marks. His best time remains the 1:46.06 he went leading off the USA’s relay at the 2025 World University Games.

Hubert Kos finished 2nd overall. He was 52.05/55.24 to finish in 1:47.29. This swim is a new personal best time for him, dropping from the 1:49.61 he swam in June of 2021.

Luke Hobson grabbed the silver medal in 1:47.50 with his 52.05/55.45 splits. This time was about three seconds off the 1:44.49 he swam at the U.S. Open in December.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke

• World Record – 29.16 – Ruta Meilutyte, LTU (2023)
• American Record – 29.40 – Lilly King (2017)
• U.S. Open Record – 29.62 – Lilly King, USA (2018)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Eneli Jefimova (NCS) — 30.73
2. Mona McSharry (TNAQ) — 30.98
3. Emma Weber (CA) — 30.99
4. Hannah Back (OSU) — 32.09
5. Gabby Rose (BCA) — 32.26
6. Skylar Zuleger (TYDE) — 32.29
7. Sophia Umstead (UN) — 32.55
8. Maya McCarney (NCAP) — 33.01

NC State’s Eneli Jefimova swam the top time in the women’s 50 breaststroke final, touching in 30.73.

She came in more than two tenths ahead of the rest of the field. She was about a second off her lifetime best of 29.83 from April of last year.

Mona McSharry finished 2nd in 30.98, which was about half-a-second of fher season best of 30.43 from the Irish Open last month.

Emma Weber finished 3rd in 30.99, just one hundredth back of McSharry. Her lifetime best stands at 30.43 form the 2025 U.S. Nationals.

Men’s 50 Breaststroke

• World Record – 25.95 – Adam Peaty, GBR (2017)
• American Record – 26.39 – Van Mathias (2026)
• U.S. Open Record – 26.52 – Michael Andrew, USA (2022)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Jack Kelly (NYAC) — 27.42
2. Uros Zivanovic (UN) — 27.61
3. Ian Call (NAC) — 27.70
4. Pavel Romanov (UN) — 28.18
5. Spencer Kinsey (BSS) — 28.73
6. Reef McMeeking (LAKR) — 28.77
7. Keian Lam (PRIN) — 29.10
8. Louis Joos (BSS) — 29.16

The men’s 50 breaststroke went to Jack Kelly by just over two tenths. He stopped the clock in 27.42, just missing his personal best of 26.84 from April’s Irish Open Championships.

Uros Zivanovic, who competes internationally for Serbia, finished 2nd in 27.61, just off the 27.33 mark he swam at the Pro Swim Series Stop in Westmont.

17-year-old Ian Call finished 3rd in 27.70, three tenths off the 27.37 lifetime best he swam in prelims to qualify 2nd overall. He is committed to Texas for 2027.

Women’s 50 Butterfly

• World Record – 24.43 – Sarah Sjöström, SWE (2014)
• American Record – 24.66 – Gretchen Walsh (2025)
• U.S. Open Record – 24.66 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2025)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Gretchen Walsh (NYAC) — 25.08
2. Kate Douglass (NYAC) — 25.24
3. Lismar Lyon (SOFL) — 26.32
4. Phoebe Bacon (WISC)/Elizaveta Klevanovich (UN) — 26.92
5. —
6. Kennedi Southern (LAC) — 26.93
7. Emma Harvey (BER) — 27.00
8. Hanne Peeters (NTRO) — 27.40

Gretchen Walsh earned the win in the women’s 50 butterfly, touching in 25.08 to beat Kate Douglass‘ 2nd place swim of 25.24 by almost two tenths. This is a new season best time for Walsh and will improve her top time in the world this year of 25.12 from the China Swimming Open

Douglass was already in 2nd in the world with the 25.34 she swam also at the China Swimming Open, but she will increase the distance between herself and Alexandria Perkins in 3rd with her time of 25.24. This is also a new personal best for Douglass from her 25.34.

Lismar Lyon finished 3rd in 26.32, just two hundredths off the 26.30 mark she swam at the World Championships in August.

Men’s 50 Butterfly

• World Record – 22.27 – Andriy Govorov, UKR (2018)
• American Record – 22.35 – Caeleb Dressel (2019)
• U.S. Open Record – 22.80 – Maxime Grousset, FRA (2022)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Ilya Kharun (SUN) — 22.96
2. Caeleb Dressel (SJAC) — 23.48
3. Dylan Carter (AZFL) — 23.54
4. Shaine Casas (TXLA) — 23.65
5. Ralf Tribuntsov (EST) — 23.67
6. Josh Liendo (FLOR) — 23.73
7. Albert Smelzer (GSA) — 23.91
8. Daniel Zaitsev (EST) — 23.97

The men’s 50 fly went to Ilya Kharun in 22.96. This swim was a two hundredth drop from the 22.98 he swam at the U.S. Open in December. It will move him up to sit in a three-way tie for 3rd in the world this season with Russia’s Oleg Kostin and Switzerland’s Noe Ponti. Kharun will not be swimming at a major international meet this summer due to changing his international representation to the United States.

Caeleb Dressel finished 2nd in 23.48, just off his season best of 23.29 from the January Pro Swim Series stop in Austin.

Dylan Carter was 3rd in 23.54, five hundredths off his prelims swim of 23.49.

Women’s 200 Backstroke

• World Record – 2:03.14 – Kaylee McKeown, AUS (2023)
• American Record – 2:03.35 – Regan Smith (2019)
• U.S. Open Record – 2:03.80 – Regan Smith, USA (2023)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Isabelle Stadden (AQJT) — 2:04.37
2. Regan Smith (TXLA) — 2:06.38
3. Rylee Erisman (LAKR) — 2:08.20
4. Audrey Derivaux (JW) — 2:09.63
5. Erika Pelaez (NCS) — 2:10.52
6. Phoebe Bacon (WISC) — 2:11.17
7. Katie Grimes (CA) — 2:13.90
8. Catie Choate (GSC) — 2:13.92

Isabelle Stadden just continues to improve since moving to the University of Virginia to train earlier this season. She set a massive personal best time in the 200 backstroke, touching in 2:04.37 to take a second-and-a-half off the 2:05.91 mark she set back in March.

She came into the season at 2:07.29 from July of 2022 marking a near three second drop over the last few months. Her swim will also make her the 4th fastest performer in history and moves her up to 1st in the world this season, jumping Regan Smith‘s 2:04.90 from March and Kaylee McKeown’s 2:05.08, also from March.

She was out in 1:01.04 and came home in 1:03.33, outsplitting 2nd place finisher Smith by more than half-a-second on both 100s.

Smith touched 2nd in 2:06.38 on a tight double from the 200 freestyle at the beginning of the session. She split 1:02.40/1:03.98 to touch two seconds ahead of Rylee Erisman‘s 2:08.20 in 3rd.

Erisman split 1:03.05/1:05.15 to take another second off her prelims best time of 2:09.75. She came into the day at 2:11.80 from March of 2024.

Men’s 200 Backstroke

• World Record – 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)
• American Record – 1:51.92 – Aaron Peirsol (2009)
• U.S. Open Record – 1:53.08 – Aaron Peirsol, USA (2009)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Hubert Kos (TXLA) — 1:56.37
2. Kieran Smith (RAC) — 2:00.06
3. Ethan Bathala (BSS) — 2:01.78
4. Jack Aikins (UN) — 2:02.13
5. Aiden Norman (FLOR) — 2:02.54
6. Caleb Maldari (GSC) — 2:03.64
7. Joey Eaddy (REV) — 2:04.26
8. Brayden Capen (ACAD) — 2:04.39

While there was an upset in the women’s 200 backstroke, the men’s 200 backstroke was all about Hubert Kos. The Texas swimmer set the top time of 1:56.37, winning the event by almost four seconds over the rest of the field.

Kos split 56.62/59.75 to come in just ahead of the 1:56.45 mark he swam at last year’s Pro swim Series stop in Fort Lauderdale. He was just off his season best of 1:54.21, which he swam at the U.S. Open in December.

Kieran Smith touched 2nd in 2:00.06, about three seconds off his best of 1:57.32 from last March. He split 58.03/1:02.03 to beat Ethan Bathala by more than a second-and-a-half.

Bathala swam 2:01.78 for 3rd, splitting 58.73/1:03.05. This swim took two seconds off his lifetime best of 2:03.11 from August. He is committed to swim at Duke in the fall.

Women’s 400 IM

• World Record – 4:23.65 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2025)
• American Record – 4:31.12 – Katie Hoff (2008)
• U.S. Open Record – 4:26.98 – Summer McIntosh, CAN (2025)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Emma Weyant (GSC) — 4:35.23
2. Sadie Buckley (NCAP) — 4:39.79
3. Alex Walsh (NYAC) — 4:43.67
4. Katie Grimes (CA) — 4:44.73
5. Eleanor Sun (PRIN) — 4:45.82
6. Sydney Hardy (SYS) — 4:48.23
7. Sophia Umstead (UN) — 4:50.17
8. Emerson Callis (QSTS) — 4:50.41

The women’s 400 IM saw a close battle through the first 250 meters between Emma Weyant and Sadie Buckley. Ultimately, Weyant came out on top, swimming 4:35.23 to win by more than four seconds after trailing at the 200 mark.

Weyant was out behind Buckley after the backstroke. On the butterfly leg, Buckley split 1:01.97 to build about a second lead over Weyant’s 1:02.68. The backstroke leg saw Buckley extend her lead, splitting 1:10.41 to turn in 2:12.38. This was another half-second faster than Weyant who split 1:11.02 to turn 1.32 seconds back in 2:13.70.

Weyant turned on the gas on the breaststroke, splitting 1:18.36 to catch and pass Buckley’s 1:21.38. On the freestyle leg, Weyant split 1:03.17 to Buckley’s 1:06.03, locking up the win in the 6th fastest time in the world this year. She was just three seconds off her lifetime best 4:32.76 from July of 2021.

Buckley improved on her prelims personal best of 4:41.79 to swim 4:39.79 for 2nd place overall. This marks six seconds dropped today as she came into the meet at 4:45.21 from July. Her time will also move her up to 9th all-time in the United States 15-16 girls rankings. She will be 16 through the rest of the season, and will have a few more months to try to drop to Katie Grimes‘ NAG record of 4:32.57 from 2022.

Alex Walsh finished 3rd in 4:43.67, splitting 1:03.83/1:14.28/1:19.78/1:05.78.

Men’s 400 IM

• World Record – 4:02.50 – Leon Marchand, FRA (2023)
• American Record – 4:03.84 – Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open Record – 4:05.25 – Michael Phelps, USA (2008)

Top 8 Finishers

1. Leon Marchand (TXLA) — 4:09.33
2. Carson Foster (NYAC) — 4:10.24
3. Bobby Finke (GSC) — 4:19.07
4. Grant Sanders (SPA) — 4:25.72
5. Colt Chaires (NCAC) — 4:31.85
6. Devyn Caples (PRIN) — 4:32.07
7. Trey Chesney (JDST) – 4:34.91
8. Brayden Capen (ACAD) — 4:36.69

Leon Marchand led form wire-to-wire in the men’s 400 IM final, stopping the clock in 4:09.33 to set the 5th fastest time in the world this season.

Marchand split 55.22/1:03.51/1:10.31/1:00.29. He seemed to let off the gas a little on the final 100 meters as training partner Carson Foster nearly caught him on the back half, outsplitting him on both 50s with his 30.13/28.49 to Marchand’s 30.53/29.76.

Foster finished 2nd in 4:10.24, about three seconds off his 4:07.02 from the U.S. Open in December that is the 2nd fastest time in the world this season He split 55.76/1:04.35/1:11.51/58.62.

Bobby Finke picked up 3rd in 4:19.07, 12 seconds off his best of 4:19.07. He was a little more than five seconds slower than the 4:13.67 he swam at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Series last May, but he was only five hundredths off his season best of 4:19.02 from the U.S. Open Championships.