2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup – Shanghai Day 2 Finals Live Recap

2024 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP-SHANGHAI

• Friday, October 18th – Sunday, October 20th
• Shanghai, China
• Prelims at 9:30 am local (9:30 pm ET previous night)/Finals at 6:30 pm local (6:30 am ET)
• SCM (25m)
• Meet Central
• Event Schedule
• Entries Book
• Day 1 Prelims/Day 1 Finals
• Day 2 Prelims
• Live Results

DAY 2 FINALS START LIST

We’re entering day 2 finals of the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Shanghai with multiple records on notice.

This morning we saw Australia’s Isaac Cooper take down a 2009-era World Cup record in the men’s 50m back while Frenchman Leon Marchand is chasing history in the men’s 200m IM.

American Kate Douglass appeared fired up in this morning’s 50m fly prelims and China’s Qin Haiyang will vie for gold against Belarus’ Ilya Shymanovich, racing as an independent athlete in the men’s 50m breast.

With Aussie Kaylee McKeown withdrawing from the remainder of the World Cup series, the women’s 100m back is American Regan Smith‘s to lose, so look for a statement-making swim from the Olympic multi-medalist.

WOMEN’S 400 IM – FASTEST HEAT

• World Record: 4:19.24 – Mireia Belmonte (ESP), 2017
• World Cup Record: 4:19.24 – Mireia Belmonte (ESP), 2017
• World Junior Record: 4:21.83 – Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2022

GOLD – Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN), 4:28.03
SILVER – Nikoleta Trnikova (SVK), 4:44.81
BRONZE – Rouxin Tan (MAS), 4:55.27

Canada got on the board first on day 2, courtesy of Mary-Sophie Harvey‘s performance in this women’s 400m IM.

25-year-old Harvey punched a time of 4:28.03 to easily defeat tonight’s field, with Slovakia’s Nikoleta Trnikova representing the next-closest swimmer in 4:44.81. Malaysia’s Rouxin Tan posted 4:55.27 as the bronze medalist.

Harvey’s outing was within striking distance of her lifetime best, a time which remains at the 4:26.42 registered back in 2016. That rendered her Canada’s 5th-fastest performer in history.

Both Trnikova and Tan are their respective nation’s record holders in this event. The former owns a lifetime best of 4:37.69 from the 2021 European Short Course Championships while the latter has been as quick as 4:54.48 from July’s Malaysian Championships.

We’ll see Harvey compete later in the session in the women’s 200m free event.

MEN’S 1500 FREE – FASTEST HEAT

• World Record: 14:06.88 – Florian Wellbrock (GER), 2021
• World Cup Record: 14:15.49 – Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR), 2016
• World Junior Record: 14:27.78 Gregorio Paltrinieri (ITA), 2012

GOLD – Charlie Clark (USA), 14:40.57
SILVER – Benjamin Goedemans (AUS), 14:48.46
BRONZE – Kregor Zirk (EST), 14:54.57

Ohio State’s Charlie Clark of the United States got it done for gold tonight in the men’s 1500m free, registering a time of 14:40.57.

Clark got to the wall nearly 8 seconds ahead of the next-closest competitor, Benjamin Goedemans of Australia who touched in 14:48.46.

Behind Goedemans was versatile Estonian Kregor Zirk who hit 14:54.57 to round out the podium.

Clark is America’s 4th-fastest man ever in this grueling event, owning a career-best of 14:33.93 from the 2022 Short Course World Championships. There in Melbourne, Clark snagged 7th place overall with that performance.

MEN’S 50 BACK FINAL

• World Record: 22.11 – Kliment Kolesnikov (RUS), 2022
• World Cup Record: 22.58 – Isaac Cooper (AUS), 2024
• World Junior Record: 22.52 – Isaac Cooper (AUS), 2022

GOLD – Isaac Cooper (AUS), 22.75
SILVER – Pieter Coetze (RSA), 22.95
BRONZE – Xu Jiayu (CHN), 22.98

After firing off a new World Cup Record this morning with a heats swim of 22.58, 20-year-old Olympic medalist Isaac Cooper added slightly to turn in a final result of 22.75.

That was good enough for gold, holding off a charging South African in Pieter Coetze who settled for silver .20 behind in 22.95.

China’s Xu Jiayu, who earned Olympic silver in the 100m back both in 2016 Rio and 2024 Paris, was right in the mix, bagging bronze in 22.98.

20-year-old Olympic finalist Coetze’s time was just off his South African national record and African continental record of 22.84 put up at the 2022 Short Course World Championships where he finished 5th.

Xu’s PB remains at the 22.80 scored during the 2018 edition of the World Cup circuit.

WOMEN’S 200 FREE FINAL

• World Record: 1:50.31 – Siobhan Haughey (HKG), 2021
• World Cup Record: 1:50.43 – Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2017
• World Junior Record: 1:52.59 – Bella Sims (USA), 2022

GOLD – Siobhan Haughey (HKG), 1:51.46
SILVER – Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN), 1:53.36
BRONZE – Yaqi Kong (CHN), 1:55.21

26-year-old Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong dominated this women’s 200m free, getting to the wall nearly 2 solid seconds ahead of the competition.

Olympic multi-medalist Haughey stopped the clock at 1:51.46, a time just over a second outside of her own World Record of 1:50.31 she put on the books in 2021.

Harvey of Canada pulled an impressive double, racing in this event shortly after her victory in the 400m IM. Harvey snagged silver in 1:53.36, a new lifetime best. She now checks in as her nation’s 5th-swiftest performer of all time.

China got on the board with Yaqi Kong posted 1:55.21 for bronze, a new personal best. Kong is just 16 years of age and now already has a World Cup medal in her pocket.

MEN’S 200 IM FINAL

• World Record: 1:49.63 – Ryan Lochte (USA), 2012
• World Cup Record: 1:50.37 – Shaine Casas (USA), 2022
• World Junior Record: 1:51.45 – Matt Sates (RSA), 2021

GOLD – Leon Marchand (FRA), 1:50.30 *World Cup Record, *European Record
SILVER – Duncan Scott (GBR), 1:51.08
BRONZE – Noe Ponti (SUI), 1:51.78

In a stacked final of the men’s 200m IM, it was four-time Olympic gold medalist Leon Marchand who broke through the crowd for gold in a new World Cup Record.

22-year-old Marchand powered his way to the victory in a time of 1:50.30, slicing .07 off American Shaine Casas’ World Cup mark of 1:50.37 set in 2022.

Marchand’s performance also surpassed the European Record of 1:50.85 Greek athlete Andreas Vazaios put on the books in 2019.

Great Britain’s Duncan Scott collected his 3rd medal of this stop, taking silver in 1:51.08. 27-year-old Scott already earned 400m free gold and 100m IM bronze last night here in Shanghai. Scott’s time this evening was just shy of his British Record of 1:50.98 put up at the 2023 European Short Course Championships.

Swiss ace Noe Ponti rounded out tonight’s podium in 1:51.78 after crushing a new European Record in the men’s 100m fly last night.

Ponti’s performance this evening represents a big-time personal best and a new Swiss record. Entering this competition, the Olympic medalist’s Swiss standard stood at the 1:53.10 established at the 2021 Swiss Championships.

China’s Olympic medalist Wang Shun landed off the podium, producing a time of 1:52.40 to fall to 4th after entering the final as the 3rd-seeded swimmer.

As for Marchand, the Frenchman now checks in as the 3rd-fastest SCM 200 IM performer in history. For a fun fact, Marchand wore American Caeleb Dressel’s cap yesterday while racing in the heats of the men’s 100m IM.

Top 5 Men’s SCM 200 IM Performers All-Time

1. Ryan Lochte (USA) – 1:49.63, 2012
2. Matt Sates (RSA) – 1:50.15, 2022
3. Leon Marchand (FRA) – 1:50.30, 2024
4. Shain Casas (USA) – 1:50.37, 2022
5. Kosuke Hagino (JPN) – 1:50.47, 2024

WOMEN’S 100 BACK FINAL

• World Record: 54.56 – Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2024
• World Cup Record: 55.23 – Shiho Sakai (JPN), 2009
• World Junior Record: 55.75 – Bella Sims (USA), 2022

GOLD – Regan Smith (USA) – 54.89 *World Cup Record
SILVER – Beata Nelson (USA) – 56.26
BRONZE – Ingrid Wilm (CAN), 56.64

22-year-old Regan Smith crushed a time of 54.89 in her statement-making victory in this women’s 100m backstroke.

Sans Aussie Kaylee McKeown who has withdrawn from the World Cup series due to mental health reasons, Smith erased the former World Cup Record of 55.23 set by Japan’s Shiho Sakai in 2009.

American teammate Beata Nelson wrangled up silver in 56.26 and Canada’s Ingrid Wilm turned in a time of 56.64 as the bronze medalist.

Smith’s effort represents a new American Record, tying teammate Gretchen Walsh who also hit 54.89 in a domestic NCAA meet yesterday. Both Walsh and Douglass overtook Olivia Smoliga’s former mark of 55.04 from 2020’s International Swimming League (ISL) final.

Smith now becomes the #2 performer in history in this women’s SCM 100 back and the second-ever American to dip under the 55-second barrier.

Top 5 Women’s SCM 100 Back Performers All-Time

1. Kaylee McKeown (AUS) – 54.56, 2024
2. Minna Atherton (AUS) – 54.89, 2019 & Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 54.89, 2024 Regan Smith (USA) – 54.89, 2024
3. –
4. Katinka Hosszu (HUN) – 55.03, 2014
5. Olivia Smoliga (USA) – 55.04, 2020

MEN’S 50 BREAST FINAL

• World Record: 24.95 – Emre Sakci (TUR), 2021
• World Cup Record: 25.25 – Cameron van der Burgh (RSA), 2009
• World Junior Record: 25.85 – Simone Cerasuolo (ITA), 2021

GOLD – Qin Haiyang (CHN) – 25.38
SILVER – Ilya Shymanovich (NIA) – 25.51
BRONZE – Sun Jiajun (CHN) – 25.79

China’s Qin Haiyang overtook top-seed Ilya Shymanovich of Belarus, competing as an independent athlete, to top this men’s 50m breast podium.

25-year-old Qin stopped the clock at 25.38 to get the edge over Shymanovich who settled for silver in 25.51. Qin’s teammate Sun Jiajun was the 3rd place finisher in 25.79 as the only other sub-26-second swimmer among the field.

Qin is the reigning Asian Games gold medalist in the LCM edition of this event and finished 4th in Melbourne at the 2022 Short Course World Championships.

His time tonight established a new Chinese national record, surpassing Sun’s former mark of 25.72 put up just last month at the Chinese Short Course Championships.

WOMEN’S 50 FLY FINAL

• World Record: 24.38 – Therese Alshammar (SWE), 2009
• World Cup Record: 24.38- Therese Alshammar (SWE), 2009
• World Junior Record: 24.55 – Claire Curzan (USA), 2021

GOLD – Kate Douglass (USA), 24.54
SILVER – Zhang Yufei (CHN) – 24.94
BRONZE – Lily Price (AUS) – 25.07 & Yu Yiting (CHN) – 25.07

Kate Douglass soared to the wall first with a solid win in this women’s 50 fly, ripping a new American Record in the process.

The 22-year-old Olympic medalist produced a time of 24.54, slicing .01 off of countrywoman Claire Curzan‘s national record of 24.55 logged in 2021. Douglass now slides into slot #4 among the top women’s SCM 50 butterfly performers in history.

Top 5 Women’s SCM 50 Fly Performers All-Time

1. Therese Alshammar (SWE) – 24.38, 2009
2. Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) – 24.44, 2021
3. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) – 24.50, 2021
4. Kate Douglass (USA) – 24.54, 2024
5. Claire Curzan (USA) – 25.55, 2021

China’s Zhang Yufei, who secured an incredible 6 Olympic medalist this summer in Paris, posted 24.94 for silver and the only other result under the 25-second barrier.

Aussie Lily Price also landed on the podium in 25.07 for bronze but tied Yu Yiting of China who simultaneously clocked the same result.

MEN’S 100 FREE FINAL

• World Record: 44.84 – Kyle Chalmers (AUS), 2021
• World Cup Record: 44.84 – Kyle Chalmers (AUS), 2021
• World Junior Record: 45.64 – David Popovici (ROU), 2022

GOLD – Thomas Ceccon (ITA) – 46.32
SILVER – Pan Zhanle (CHN) – 46.35
BRONZE – Pieter Coetze (RSA) – 46.59

Outside smoke carried Thomas Ceccon to the wall first in this men’s 100m free after the 23-year-old endured a swim-off to snag the 8th seed to even be able to make it into tonight’s final.

The Italian 100m back Olympic champion clocked 46.32 to eke out the victory over LCM 100 free Olympic champion and world record holder Pan Zhanle of China.

Pan registered 46.35 as the runner-up and Pieter Coetze, not far off his 50m back podium, collected bronze in 46.59.

Ceccon placed 5th in this event at the 2022 Short Course World Championships (45.72) while Pan placed 6th there in Melbourne (45.77).

Despite entering tonight’s main event as the top seed, Aussie Jamie Jack downgraded to 4th in 46.67

WOMEN’S 100 BREAST FINAL

• World Record: 1:02.36 – Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013 & 1:02.36 – Alia Atkinson (JAM), 2014/2016
• World Cup Record:1:02.36 – Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013 & 1:02.36 – Alia Atkinson (JAM), 2014/2016
• World Junior Record: 1:02.36 – Ruta Meilutyte (LTU), 2013

GOLD – Tang Qianting (CHN) – 1:02.53
SILVER – Alina Zmushka (NIA) – 1:04.48
BRONZE – Rebecca Meder (RSA) – 1:05.25

The women’s 100m breast World Record was on notice during the final, with 20-year-old Tang Qianting coming within striking distance en route to gold.

Tang, who earned silver in the LCM version of this event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, crushed a result of 1:02.53. That fell just .17 off of Lithuanian Ruta Meilutyte and Jamaican Alia Atkinson’s shared World Record of 1:02.36 thrown down in multiple years.

Tang’s time shaved .13 off her own Chinese and Asian record of 1:02.66 established just last month at the Chinese National Short Course Championships.

Belarusian Alina Zmushka came into the wall at 1:04.48 for silver as an independent athlete while South Africa’s Rebecca Meder earned bronze in 1:05.25.

MEN’S 200 FLY FINAL

• World Record: 1:46.85 – Tomoru Honda (JPN), 2022
• World Cup Record: 1:48.56 – Chad Le Clos (RSA), 2013
• World Junior Record: 1:49.61 – Chen Juner (CHN), 2022

GOLD – Trenton Julian (USA) – 1:51.24
SILVER – Chad Le Clos (RSA) – 1:51.46
BRONZE – Alberto Razzetti (ITA) – 1:51.88

It was a close affair in the final event of the evening, with the top 3 men’s 200m fly performers touching within .64 of one another.

USA’s Trenton Julian got the job done for gold, hitting 1:51.24 to maintain his top-seeded position from this morning’s heats.

South Africa’s Chad Le Clos, 32 years of age, was runner-up in 1:51.24 to bring his monster World Cup medal haul total to 227.

Italy’s Alberto Razzetti raced his in his 2nd event tonight, following up his 200m IM 5th place performance with a bronze here in 1:51.88.