Anna Moesch Fires Off 51.94 100 Free For American Record, #2 Performer Ever

2026 AP RACE LONDON INTERNATIONAL

WOMEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINAL

  • British Record – 52.75, Anna Hopkin, 2021
  • European Record – 51.71, Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
  • Meet Record – 52.77, Marrit Steenbergen (NED), 2025

GOLD – Anna Moesch (USA), 51.94 *Meet Record* *U.S. Record*
SILVER – Barbora Janickova (CZE), 54.06
BRONZE – Theodora Taylor (GBR), 54.21

Anna Moesch swam to a new American Record in the women’s 100 freestyle, touching in a 51.94 at the AP Race International on Monday. That also made her the #2 performer all-time as she sits just off the World Record of a 51.71 set by Sarah Sjostrom back in 2017 at the World Championships in Budapest.

Moesch broke the previous American Record of a 52.04 set by Simone Manuel back at the 2019 World Championships.

Split Comparison

Moesch- New AR Manuel – Old AR Sjostrom – WR
50 25.18 24.81 24.83
100 26.76 27.23 26.88
51.94 52.04 51.71

Moesch was out much slower than both Manuel and Sjostrom but came home much faster to get under Manuel’s old American Record. Moesch was also 0.12 than Sjostrom was coming home.

Despite being the fastest in American history ever, Moesch will not represent the U.S. this upcoming summer at the 2026 Pan Pac Championships. Moesch was 6th in the 100 free in a 53.54 at 2025 U.S. Summer Nationals to book her ticket to the 2025 World Championships where she swam in prelims of the U.S. women’s 4×100 and 4×200 free relays.

In addition to her 100 freestyle best time, Moesch also swam to a 24.27 in the 50 free this weekend in London to become the #9 American all-time. She entered the meet with a lifetime best of a 53.25 that she swam just last month at the 2026 Fort Lauderdale Open.

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Carlos Fernandez
17 days ago

What’s scary is that she was really, really long on that finish, so if she had taken another stroke, she might have nabbed the WR! (Not sure if this has been pointed out in other comments)

Miranda
19 days ago

I love how shocked she is by this. The look on her face when he told her it was the American record is so adorable. Congrats, Anna on a fantastic swim! Looking forward to seeing what you can do.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Miranda
19 days ago

She made the same face in the pool when she saw the time, lol. It’s pretty endearing.

An Asian Boy
19 days ago

Its too erly to say but,,,in LA,

My dream teams..
Women 400 free – Huske , KD, Erisman, Anna M
Men 400 free – Guliano, Kulow, Sammon, Alexy
Women 800 free – Anna M, Huske, KL, Weinstien
Mens 800 free – Jet, Macfedden, Erisman, Hobson
Mixed medly – Regan , Van, Ilya, Anna M/ or, Modglin, Van, Gretchen, Anna..
Mens Medley – Modglin , Van, Ilya, Alexy
Womens – Regan, KD, Gretchen , Huske / Anna M

But lot could happen in 2 years

Swimfan
Reply to  An Asian Boy
19 days ago

I would pick Anna peplowski over huske on the 4×200

popvicioverpan
Reply to  An Asian Boy
19 days ago

hypothetically Mckean could beat Van in the next year or so (at least in the 100)

AragonSonof Arathorn
19 days ago

US is now set up to potentially sweep the women’s relays.

GOATKeown
Reply to  AragonSonof Arathorn
19 days ago

There were people who predicted this would happen for the last 3 years.

Moesch aside, I think US women likely sweep at Pan Pacs anyway. Home ground advantage, Aussies have a taper meet that finishes 10 days prior.

popvicioverpan
Reply to  GOATKeown
19 days ago

most of the Aussies are focusing on commies over Pan Pacs (e.g. Cam Mcevoy)

Last edited 19 days ago by popvicioverpan
Beth
19 days ago

I love how surprised she is by it. Good for her! Let’s all be positive and supportive of everyone…great swim!

CAA Swammer
19 days ago

After all the talk about money this weekend, the change in her reaction from “ten thousand pounds” to “American record” is endearing.

Double Breath
19 days ago

All the sudden Greg’s selection process for 2026 looks really bad. Moesch, Erisman, Luka, Stadden all out so that old Pro’s could get more training in the cycle… Those old Pro’s wont even be making LA2028. USAS should be catering to the future and not the past.

SwimShark1
Reply to  Double Breath
19 days ago

My theory other than laziness about not having a trials for Pan Pacs is exactly that. Giving the people who might retire a guaranteed spot a year in advance, and then what do you know only less than 2 years for the next Olympics, might as well stick around

Double Breath
Reply to  SwimShark1
19 days ago

Remember too that with the add of 50’s into the Olympic Program the team still only has 26 spots for Men and Women and so the likelihood of 6 place finishers in the 100 Free and 200 Free making the team is even lower…. With the young wave of kids coming the OT’s in Indy become so interesting to see what takes place. Cant wait!

wild
Reply to  SwimShark1
19 days ago

I genuinely wont be surprised if multiple people retire after pan pacs this year

jess
Reply to  Double Breath
19 days ago

It’s not a totally new process though. They just didn’t do it last quad because it was shortened.

In the pre-Tokyo quad they selected the 2019 world championship team like this.

From everything we hear the coaches and swimmers want one year without the selection meet to focus on training for longer blocks. If they want to skip a trials meet you skip the trials meet for Pan Pacs, not worlds like they have in the past.

Don’t get me wrong it does screw over certain swimmers (more anticipated with illness at world champs especially for somebody like Luka), but I see the rationale from a training perspective, especially for top top swimmers.

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Double Breath
19 days ago

MEEEEHHHHAAANNNNNN!!!!

Swimfan
19 days ago

When is her next meet? I have a feeling she gonna go mid 1:54 next time she swims the 200

Last edited 19 days ago by Swimfan

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. She also attended 2023 US Summer Nationals as well as the 2024 …

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