2025 World University Games
- July 17th-23rd, 2025
- Prelims: 9 a.m. local time (3 a.m. EST)
- Finals: 7 p.m. local time (1 p.m. EST)
- Berlin, Germany
- LCM (50 Meters)
- Meet Central
- Entries List
- Live Results
Good Morning! Welcome to the first prelims session of the 2025 World University Games in Berlin.
This will be the first of seven prelims sessions, and it will be our first look at how some of the top athletes look for the meet.
The first event is the men’s 400 freestyle, where American Ryan Erisman comes in as the top seed in 3:46.01. Erisman, who will be joining the Cal men’s team next year finished 3rd at U.S. Nationals in this event, setting his personal best of 3:46.01, and he will be attempting to qualify for tonight’s final and potentially break the WUGs record. He sits just two tenths ahead of 2nd seed Eduardo Oliveira de Moraes, a rising junior at Michigan who is seeded in 3:46.29.
There will be seven heats of the women’s 50 butterfly, the next event, and Czech swimmer Daryna Nabojcenko is the top seed by three tenths over American swimmer Caroline Larsen, a sophomore at Louisville.
Italy’s Lorenzo Gargani and Uzbekistan’s Eldorbek Usmonov are tied for the top seed in the men’s 50 fly in 23.32, and American Kamal Muhammad is seeded 3rd just over a tenth back in 23.49. The whole field is incredibly close in this event, and the top 16 will be moving on to tonight’s semifinal.
The women’s 200 backstroke will be our first look at four-event leader Leah Shackley, from NC State. American Shackley and teammate, both in country and in college, Kennedy Noble are the only swimmers who have been under 2:08 this season with Shackley coming in at 2:06.66 and Noble coming in at 2:07.52.
The final individual event of the session will be the men’s 100 breaststroke. Denis Petrashov, Kyrgyzstan and Indiana, is the top seed of three men who are coming in under a minute in the event. Japan’s Reo Okura is the 2nd seed, 59.80, and American Nate Germonprez is the 3rd seed, 59.89.
The final events of the session will be the prelims editions of the men’s and women’s 400 freestyle relays, both of which see the United States as the heavy favorite.
Men’s 400 Freestyle– Prelims
- World Record: 3:39.96- Lukas Märtens (GER), 2025
- World Junior Record: 3:44.31- Petar Mitsin (BGR), 2023
- World University Games Record: 3:45.96- Mykhailo Romanchuk (UKR), 2017
Top 8 Qualifiers
- Nikolai Kolesnikov (AIN)- 3:48.75
- Ryan Erisman (USA)- 3:48.81
- Eduardo Oliveira de Moraes (BRA)- 3:48.84
- Khiew Hy (MAS)- 3:50.13
- Davide Marchello (ITA)- 3:50.43
- Kyo Nakayama (JPN)- 3:50.94
- Leonardo Barbiera Alcantara (BRA)- 3:51.01
- Alec Enyeart (USA)- 3:51.32
Only the final two heats of the men’s 400 freestyle were championship seeded. This is a slight change from the rest of the events this morning where the last three heats are.
The first three heats all went to athletes with significant time drops. Victor Hugo Jimenez of Ecuador swam 4:39.80 to take the very first heat of the meet and drop almost 15 seconds from his seed time of 4:54.30. Ilan Gagnebin from Switzerland took heat two coming in at 3:56.95 which was also a huge drop from his seed of 4:04.11. Cameron Casali from South Africa won heat three, coming in at 3:54.70, a three second drop form his seed of 3:57.85.
The first circle-seeded heat went to 2nd seed Eduardo Oliveira de Moraes who touched in 3:48.84. Oliveira de Moraes, a University of Michigan junior, started the race off in 8th place at the 50 before slowly climbing the ranks to 5th at the 100 (56.76), 4th at the 200 (1:55.28) and 2nd at the 250 mark (3:23.59) before ultimately taking over the lead at the 300 and continuing to build to the finish. He negative split his 200s 1:55.28/1:53.56
Davide Marchello of Italy took 2nd, after leading for most of the race, swimming 3:50.43, about four seconds off his seed of 3:49.91. Kyo Nakayama from Japan finished 3rd in 3:51.32, and American Alec Enyeart was 4th in 3:51.32, a four second add from his seed of 3:48.46 to just squeak into the final.
Nikolai Kolesnikov, a neutral athlete, won heat five and the top seed for tonight’s final in 3:48.75 with American Ryan Erisman coming in just behind at 3:48.81 making a very tight race for tonight’s final between the top three.
Women’s 50 Butterfly– Prelims
- World Record: 24.43- Sarah Sjostrom (SWE), 2014
- World Junior Record: 25.46- Rikako Ikee (JPN), 2017
- World University Games Record: 25.20- Zhang Yufei (CHN), 2023
Top 16 Qualifiers:
- Josephine Crimmins (AUS)- 26.33
- Daryna Nabojcenko (CZE)- 26.40
- Viola Scotta Di Carlo (ITA)- 26.50
- Kalia Antoniou (CYP)- 26.59
- Caroline Larsen (USA)- 26.61
- Ella Welch (USA)- 26.67
- Ciara Schlosshan (GBR)- 26.71
- Julia Ullmann (SUI)/Beatrix Tanko (HUN)- 26.83
- —
- Mariana Cunha (POR)- 26.93
- Paulina Cierpialowska (POL)- 26.94
- Chiu Yi-chen (TPE)- 26.98
- Britta Berdina Henriette Koehorst (NED)- 27.01
- Julia Malina Maik (POL)- 27.02
- Yeo Chiok Sze (SGP)- 27.16
- Rita Maria Pignatiello (ITA)- 27.18
The first four heats were mostly without any surprises, except for Latvia’s Ieva Maluka, a Georgia sophomore, swimming 27.25 to win heat one by more than three seconds and set the fastest non-circle seeded time of the morning. She finished 17th overall.
Heat five went to Josephine Crimmins of Australia in 26.33 with Viola Scotta Di Carlo touching 2nd in 26.50 for Italy.
American Caroline Larsen, Louisville, won heat six in very smooth fashion, stopping the clock in 26.61 to beat Switzerland’s Julia Ullmann, ASU, by more than two tenths.
Heat seven was won by Czech swimmer Daryna Nabojcenko winning in 26.40. Kalia Antoniou from Cyprus took 2nd in 26.59, and Ella Welch from America and the University of Louisville touched in 26.67 for 3rd.
Men’s 50 Butterfly– Prelims
- World Record: 22.27- Andrei Govorov (UKR), 2018
- World Junior Record: 22.96- Diogo Ribeiro (POR), 2022
- World University Games Record: 22.90- Andrei Govorov (UKR)- 22.90
Top 16 Qualifiers
- Ole Mats Eidam (Germany)- 23.33
- Eldorbek Usmonov (UZB)- 23.40
- Bjorn Kammann (GER)- 23.53
- Phillip Weeks (CAN)- 23.67
- Lorenzo Gargani (ITA)- 23.69
- Aleksandr Shchegolev (AIN)- 23.70
- Simone Stefani (ITA)
- Pawl Uryniuk (POL)- 23.79
- Baek Inchul (KOR)- 23.80
- Matthew Klinge (USA)- 23.94
- Soon Mitsunag (JPN)- 23.96
- Benedicton Rohit Beniston Manickaraj (IND)- 24.00
- Maddox Harley James Roberts (GBR)- 24.05
- Kamal Muhammad (USA)- 24.09
- Riky Kitagawa (JPN)/Ihor Troianovskyi (UKR)- 24.10
There were 10 heats of the men’s 50 fly, and Benedicton Rohit Beniston Manickaraj from India had the fastest time in the first seven heats, swimming 24.00 from heat 6 to drop 8 tenths from his seed of 24.88 and finish 12th overall.
Canadian Phillip Weeks won the first circle seeded heat in 23.67. He was followed by Pawl Uryniuk in 23.79, Shoon Mitsunaga from Japan in 23.96, and Kamal Muhammad in 24.09.
Heat nine was the fastest heat of the morning. Michigan swimmer Ole Mats Eidam from Germany won in a blistering 23.33 to take the overall top seed. Eldorbek Usmonov, a University of South Carolina junior from Uzbekistan took 2nd at 23.40 and Germany’s Bjorn Kammann, a Tennessee sophomore, was 3rd in 23.53.
Lorenzo Gargani, the top seed coming in, won the final heat in 23.69. He was followed by Neutral Athlete Aleksandr Shchegolev (23.70) and American Matthew Klinge (23.94)
Women’s 200 Backstroke– Prelims
- World Record: 2:03.14- Kaylee McKeown (AUS), 2023
- World Junior Record: 2:03.35- Regan Smith (USA), 2019
- World University Games Record: 2:07.91- Lisa Bratton (USA)- 2:07.91
Top 16 Finishers:
- Leah Shackley (USA)- 2:09.64
- Lee Eunji (KOR)- 2:10.51
- Kennedy Noble (USA)- 2:11.09
- Camila Rodrigues Rebelo (POR)- 2:11.42
- Kyoka Sawa (JPN)- 2:11.49
- Lee Yunjung (KOR)- 2:11.72
- Hannah Colleen Pearse (RSA)- 2:11.80
- Adela Krystyna Piskorska (POL)- 2:11.92
- Delia Lloyd (CAN)- 2:11.94
- Han An-chi (TPE)- 2:11.96
- Gerda Szilagyi (HUN)- 2:12.65
- Cheung Sum Yuet Cindy (HKG)- 2:12.69
- Lou-anne Guiton (FRA)- 2:12.71
- Nanami Ito (JPN)- 2:12.72
- Francesca Pasquino (ITA)- 2:14.80
- Frencesca Romana Furfaro (ITA)- 2:14.84
The women’s 200 backstroke only had four heats. Trinidad Ardiles from Chile won heat one in 2:24.05 which was about a second faster than her seed time of 2:25.02
Portugal’s Camila Rodrigues Rebelo won heat two in 2:11.42, coming in about half-a-second ahead of Canada’s Delia Lloyd, from Ohio State, touching in 2:11.94.
The last two heats were all about the Americans. Kennedy Noble took the lead from the beginning in heat 3, touching first in 2:11.09, four tenths ahead of Japan’s Kyoka Sawa, who swam 2:11.49.
Leah Shackley had a similar strategy, getting out to the early lead in heat four and coming home strong to lock up the top seed in 2;09.64, the only swimmer to break 2:10 in the morning. Lee Eunji from Korea finished 2nd, earning the 2nd qualifying spot in 2:10.51.
Men’s 100 Breaststroke– Prelims
- World Record: 56.88- Adam Peaty (GBR), 2019
- World Junior Record: 59.01- Nicolo Marinenghi (ITA), 2017
- World University Games Record: 58.42- Qin Haiyang (CHN), 2023
Top 16 Qualifiers:
- Alessandro Fusco (ITA)- 59.96
- Nate Germonprez (USA)- 1:00.45
- Denis Petrashov (KGZ)- 1:00.63
- Dawid Wiekiera (POL)- 1:00.65
- Ben Delmar (USA)- 1:00.72
- Mak Sai Ting Adam (HKG)-1:00.80
- Archie Goodburn (GBR)- 1:01.01
- Carl Ait Kaci (FRA)- 1:01.10
- Ivo Rick Kroes (NED)- 1:01.13
- Reo Okura (JPN)- 1:01.15
- Flavio Mangiamele (ITA)/Jeremias Pock (GER)- 1:01.20
- —
- Aibat Myrzamuratov (KAZ)- 1:01.22
- Cheung Chi Kit Nicholas (HKG)- 1:01.29
- Matej Zabojnik (CZE)- 1:01.49
- Christopher Palvadre (EST)- 1:01.50
Estonia’s Christopher Palvadre had the fastest non-circle seeded swim of the morning, touching in 1:01.50 out of heat four to qualify 16th overall.
Nate Germonprez, from the United States, took heat six in 1:00.45, more than half-a-second ahead of the rest of the field. Archie Goodburn from Great Britain finished 2nd in 1:01.01, and Ivo Kroes finished 3rd for the Netherlands in 1:01.13
American Ben Delmar was the only sub-1:01 swimmer in heat seven, touching gin 1:00.72 to take the win there. He was followed by France’s Carl Ait Kaci (1:01.10), and Japan’s Reo Okura (1:01.15).
Heat eight saw the only sub minute swim of the morning in Italy’s Alessandro Fusco who touched in 59.95. Top seed Denis Petrashov of Kyrgyzstan was 2nd in 1:00.63, and Poland’s Dawid Wiekiera was 3rd in 1:00.65.
Women’s 400 Freestyle Relay– Prelims
- World Record: 3:27.96- Australia, 2023
- World Junior Record: 3:36.19- Canada, 2017
- World University Games Record: 3:37.51- China, 2023
Top 8 Teams:
- United States- 3:37.70
- Italy- 3:41.18
- China- 3:41.40
- Japan- 3:43.20
- South Africa- 3:43.65
- Canada- 3;45.24
- Spain- 3:45.51
- Chinese Taipei-3:47.07
The United States women ran away with this relay, earning the top qualifying spot by almost four seconds, touching in 3:37.70 to Italy’s 3:41.18.
With this time, they are less than two tenths away from the WUGs record of 3:37.51 set by China in 2023, and they did not have their fastest swimmers on the relay.
The relay led off with Caroline Larsen splitting 54.49. She handed it off to Julia Dennis who came in at 54.61. Then it was Leah Hayes in 54.80, and finally Isabel Ivey swam 53.80 on the anchor leg. Maxine Parker did not swim the relay this morning, but will likely be on it tonight in place of Leah Hayes.
Men’s 400 Freestyle Relay– Prelims
- World Record: 3:08.24- United States, 2008
- World Junior Record: 3:15.49- United States, 2023
- World University Games Record: 3:10.88- Russia, 2013
Top 8 Teams:
- United States- 3:14.77
- Japan- 3:15.12
- South Africa- 3:17.61
- Germany- 3;17.76
- Italy- 3:17.81
- Australia- 3:17.94
- Brazil- 3:18.85
- Sweden- 3:19.22
The men’s relays were closer than the women’s with the United States men securing lane four for tonight’s final by just under four tenths of a second over Japan.
They were missing some of their star power on the relay with Matt King not swimming it, so they should be at least a little faster tonight.
Camden Taylor led off the relay in 49.31, which actually had the team in 3rd overall. Mitchell Schott went 2nd, splitting 48.35. Owen McDonald was 3rd in 48.67, and David King brought them home in 48.44.
Tonight’s finals session will start at 7 p.m. local time, 1 p.m. EST.
Except for the first leg, which is also okay..all other 3 relay legs are pretty decent for USA 48.3, 48.6, 48.4…those are faster than Held z and Kings 48 mid lead off/splits from olympic prelims. MATT KING should anchor the final relay.
When the roster was announced I was very confused on how Jack Dahlgren was eligible and it seems on his athlete bio he is listed as a humanities first-year for Mizzou, despite already having graduated with a master’s degree
Do we know who will be on the finals relays?
before the finale
Marchand
4:39.80 in the first heat of the Men’s 400
No one:
Absolutely no one:
Ryan Erisman: one of the best swimmers in the country and still not the top recruit in his family,
Dude was 3 tenths off making the Worlds team in high school I think he’ll be ok regardless of who his sister is
47.99 split from da Silva. Looks like the fastest split in the 4×1 heats.
Even tho I’ve read it on here for years now ‘circle-seeded’ is such a strange US phrase. If you’d written it a newspaper report (even American) 20 years ago, nobody would have understood what it meant to say.
What do other countries call it?
In England its called cyclically seeded, I imagine Americans didn’t fancy pronouncing that word too much and went with an easier version
As a purist I do prefer cyclically seeded, but it means the same thing in the end
I swam 40 years ago and it was circle seeding
in the 90, so likem7 years ago… we called it “circle swimming”
Yes we are
Circle swimming is when you swim on the right side of the lane when there are multiple people in the lane regardless of the direction you’re going. Basically making a circle. You do it so much in practice that a lot of age group swimmers have a tough time breaking the habit because in a race it’s optimal to swim right down the center.
I blows me away that Olympic and NCAA athletes reveal this “mouse on the wheel” habit during finals.
What else would it be called?
Just a seeded heat.
They are all seeded heats.
It’s short for top seeded heats. So the top seeds swim in the first 3 heats. Or the last 3 heats in some places.
Long time ago it was called “championship seeded” heats.
I’m Canadian, swam since the 90s, and it was called circle-seeding for us back then too
A newspaper report for non-swimmers (either now or then): sure others wouldn’t know that swimming-specific jargon. A newspaper report for U.S. swimmers: this terminology has been used at least since I was swimming in the 1980s and it would be understood.
When I swam in 2014 we called them humpty dumpty quackerino heats, and you would actually progress in reverse order to the finals – so 17-24 from H.D.Q. heats would be A final. It showed which swimmers had the most control over how fast they could go, rather than just rewarding the “fastest” swimmers. Good system IMO
In Italian we don’t really have a short, fixed term like “circle‑seeded.” We just describe it: le ultime batterie con le migliori iscrizioni — literally, “the last heats with the fastest entries.”
If I need to highlight the distribution piece, I might say le ultime batterie con i migliori tempi (the last heats with the top times), but that’s descriptive, not a standard label 🙂
We called it “pyramid seeding” back in the day