23 Crowns to Only 3 Busts in the 2025 Swimming World Cup Series

2025 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP – Toronto

• October 23-25, 2025
• Toronto, Canada
• SCM (25 meters)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets
• Live Results
• Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

A $2,500-per-event incentive to ‘bust crowns’ in Toronto did little to stem the flow of bonus checks from World Aquatics’ pockets in the final stop of the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup.

In total, nine more Crowns awards went out on the final day on Saturday, making 23 triple crown winners to only three triple crown busters in this year’s series. That is compared to 18 Crowns winners in 2024, where there was no “buster” option.

Swimmers who won the same race (or the equivalent event in the case of the 800 and 1500 meter frees) at all three stops of the 2025 World Cup Series received a $10,000 bonus.

• Women’s 800/1500 free – Lani Pallister (Australia)
• Women’s 100 fly – Gretchen Walsh (USA)
• Men’s 50 fly – Ilya Kharun (Canada)
• Women’s 200 back – Kaylee McKeown (Australia)
• Men’s 100 back – Hubert Kos (Hungary)
• Men’s 200 breaststroke – Caspar Corbeau (Netherlands)
• Women’s 100 free – Kate Douglass (USA)
• Men’s 200 free – Luke Hobson (USA)
• Women’s 200 IM – Alex Walsh (USA)

Australian Lani Pallister finished her meet with a pair of crowns by winning the 800 free in Toronto in a World Record-breaking swim of 7:54.00. She won the 800 free in Carmel and Toronto and the alternate 1500 in Westmont for a unique Crown.

American Gretchen Walsh won the women’s 100 fly in 53.10, a new World Cup Record, in Toronto on Saturday, making her third crown of the meet (along with the 50 fly and 100 IM). She finished 2nd in the overall standings behind her training partner Kate Douglass, who wrapped a Crown of her own on Saturday in the 100 free.

That swim of 49.93 was a new World Record for her as well, her second in as many weeks in that event, and along with a sweep of the 100 and 200 breaststrokes was also her third Crown win.

Australian Kaylee McKeown replicated that feat, winning the 200 back at all three stops, including World Records in both Westmont and Toronto.

The overall men’s winner Hubi Kos also grabbed a third Crown on Saturday, also in a World Record. He won every men’s backstroke event during the 2025 series. As an NCAA athlete, he is limited in how much money he can accept, though.

Among the closest (but not quite) Crowns busts on Saturday was Ilya Kharun in the men’s 50 fly. He won by .01 seconds ahead of the World Record holder Noe Ponti of Switzerland.

• See Also: All Prize Money Won at the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup.

Day 3 Crowns Progressions

From Thursday (8)

• Women’s 400 freestyle- Lani Pallister (Australia)
• Women’s 50 backstroke- Kaylee McKeown (Australia)
• Men’s 200 backstroke- Hubert Kos (Hungary)
• Women’s 200 butterfly- Regan Smith (USA)
• Men’s 100 butterfly- Noe Ponti (SUI) – BUSTED BY JOSH LIENDO
• Women’s 200 breaststroke- Kate Douglass (USA)
• Women’s 50 freestyle- Kasia Wasick (Poland)
• Women’s 100 IM- Gretchen Walsh (USA)
• Men’s 100 IM- Shaine Casas (USA)

From Friday (6)

• Men’s 50 back – Hubert Kos (Hungary)
• Women’s 200 free – Mollie O’Callaghan (Australia)
• Men’s 200 IM – Shaine Casas (USA)
• Women’s 50 fly – Gretchen Walsh (USA)
• Women’s 100 breast – Kate Douglass (USA)
• Men’s 200 fly – Ilya Kharun (Canada)
• Women’s 100 back – Regan Smith (USA) – BUSTED BY KAYLEE MCKEOWN
• Men’s 100 free – Jack Alexy (USA) – BUSTED BY JACK ALEXY

From Saturday

• Women’s 800/1500 free – Lani Pallister (Australia)
• Women’s 100 fly – Gretchen Walsh (USA)
• Men’s 50 fly – Ilya Kharun (Canada)
• Women’s 200 back – Kaylee McKeown (Australia)
• Men’s 100 back – Hubert Kos (Hungary)
• Men’s 200 breaststroke – Caspar Corbeau (Netherlands)
• Women’s 100 free – Kate Douglass (USA)
• Men’s 200 free – Luke Hobson (USA)
• Women’s 200 IM – Alex Walsh (USA)