Noe Ponti Breaks 50 Fly World Record in Shanghai; First Swiss World Record in Almost 40 Years

2024 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP-SHANGHAI

Swiss swimmer Noe Ponti, who has had a fast weekend in Shanghai already, broke through with a new World Record in the men’s 50 fly on Sunday morning during the prelims session, touching in 21.67. The World Record swim comes with a $10,000 bonus and is the first World Record of this year’s series (though Gretchen Walsh broke one in the 100 IM on domestic soil in America on Friday, coincidental timing).

Ponti’s swim broke the old record that was shared by Nicholas Santos of Brazil and Szebasztian Szabo of Hungary at matching 21.75s. Santos’ swim was done in October 2018 at the Budapest stop of the World Cup, while Szabo’s was done in November 21 at the European Short Course Championships in Kazan, Russia.

Ponti’s swim also breaks Szabo’s European Record, Santos’ World Cup Record, and Ponti’s own Swiss Record of 21.79 from last December’s European Championships that itself narrowly-missed the World Record.

Top 5 Performers All-Time, Men’s 50 SCM Fly

  1. Noe Ponti, Switzerland, 2024 – 21.67
  2. (TIE) Nicholas Santos, Brazil, 2018/Szebasztian Szabo, Hungary, 2021 – 21.75
  3. Steffen Deibler, Germany, 2010 – 21.80
  4. Roland Schoeman, South Africa, 2010 – 21.87

Ponti becomes the first Swiss swimmer to set a World Record in swimming in a World Aquatics approved event since Dano Halsall set the long course World Record in the 50 meter free on July 21, 1985 (22.52).

Ponti is the top seed by about three-tenths over the Netherlands’ Nyls Korstanje, whose 21.96 split breaks his own Dutch Record of 22.25 from 2022. That makes Korstanje just the 9th man in history to break 22 seconds in this event.

Ponti previously finished 3rd in the 200 IM in 1:51.78 and won the 100 fly in 48.40. Both were new Swiss Records and the latter is both a World Cup and European Record.

He was scheduled to swim the 200 free on Sunday as well, but scratched the race.

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Dan
1 hour ago

It is a shame that the World Record bonuses are not better, been the same or gotten worse since the early 1990’s, Word Athletics have at least increased theirs to $50,000

Last edited 1 hour ago by Dan
Alison England
4 hours ago

Of course Ponti’s WR broke those other ones!

Smglsn12
4 hours ago

Did Dressel just never swim this? I feel like he’d have been able to drop a nasty 50 fly scm back in the day

Alison England
Reply to  Smglsn12
4 hours ago

Why does everything have to be about Dressel?

Swimdad
Reply to  Alison England
3 hours ago

Because he’s the greatest sprinter in history!

AquaDuck
Reply to  Swimdad
3 hours ago

Is he?

Dan
Reply to  AquaDuck
2 hours ago

In my book you have to get past Popov to be the best sprinter of all time. I know he did mostly Free, but he swam some very fast sprint backstroke races early on in the 90’s. Not sure if any were a WB/WR but EB/ER at least.

GOATKeown
Reply to  Swimdad
3 hours ago

Yeah if you ignore the numerous sprinters who are better than him

Lisa
Reply to  GOATKeown
1 hour ago

2017-2021 proves he’s one of the best sprinter in history.

Troyy
Reply to  Lisa
1 hour ago

No one’s claiming he’s not one of the best in history.

Lisa
Reply to  Troyy
1 hour ago

He probably one of the best sprinter in the last 20 years and he may not have the longevity like Phelps but those five years proves he belongs in the conversation for GOAT of sprinters.

Troyy
Reply to  Swimdad
2 hours ago

In order to be the GOAT sprinter he’s gonna have to start winning golds again because currently his longevity is not looking so great.

Lisa
Reply to  Troyy
1 hour ago

Unless you decided to ignored 2017-2021 cause those five years proves he is one of the best sprinter and the guy almost won seven gold at 2019 world championship which is mind boggling.

Last edited 1 hour ago by Lisa
Joel
Reply to  Lisa
1 hour ago

He lost in 2018.
And didn’t race in 2020 (no one did).
Popov was more dominant for longer.

artiebeer
Reply to  Smglsn12
2 hours ago

12 times(14 including skin race) in ISL from 2019 to 2021 including semi-final and final 2020 when he set all of his SC WRs.

Dan
Reply to  artiebeer
1 hour ago

Popov was near/at the Top of the World Rankings 1991-2004, even if his Championship racing was not quite as good post 1996 (post stabbing)

Last edited 1 hour ago by Dan
Dan
Reply to  Smglsn12
1 hour ago

Dressel never broke 22

Facts
5 hours ago

NC State legend Noe Ponti

Thomas The Tank Engine
5 hours ago

Swimswam, do you have another photo of Noe Ponti?

You did him dirty, no pun intended.

Alison England
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
4 hours ago

My first thought too!

Tan
Reply to  Thomas The Tank Engine
3 hours ago

My first thought as well about the picture.

Greenangel
6 hours ago

And finished second in the 100 IM, just one hundredth of second behind Marchand. I’m sure , he’ll lower the record to 21.50 between now and the Worlds. And maybe the 48 seconds barrier on the 100 fly.

Eddie
6 hours ago

Honestly great photo

BR32
7 hours ago

Bro would have been the greatest SCY flyer ever

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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