Josh Liendo

View Current photo via courtesy of Scott Grant/Swimming Canada

Josh Liendo is a world champion, NCAA Champion and Olympic swimmer who represents Canada internationally.

International Career

2019 World Championships/World Jr Championships

Liendo competed in his first senior international meet at the 2019 World Champs in Gwangju. There, he swam on Canada’s 400 medley relay, which placed 10th overall.

Soon after that, Liendo competed at the World Jr Champs in Budapest, earning 3 medals. He placed 2nd in the 100 free (49.17), and helped Canada to 2 relays bronzes in the 400 medley relay (fly, 51.80) and the mixed 400 medley relay (fly, 52.33).

2021 Canadian Olympic Trials/2020 Olympic Games

In 2021, Liendo made his first Olympic team at the Olympic Trials, breaking the national record in the 100 fly at 51.40. He also qualified to swim the 50 and 100 free individually in Tokyo.

At the Games, Liendo was a part of Canada’s 400 free relay that unexpectedly made the final, then placed 4th out of lane 1, narrowly missing a podium finish. However, the team still broke the Canadian national record (3:10.82), with Liendo splitting 47.51 on the 2nd leg.

In his individuals, Liendo finished 18th in the 50 free (22.03), 14th in the 100 free (48.19), and 11th in the 100 fly (51.50). To Finish off the meet, he swam on Canada’s 400 medley relay, which placed 7th in the final.

2021 Short Course World Championships

In Abu Dhabi, Liendo became a world champion as well as earned his first individual medals at the senior international stage. Lane 1 seems to be a lucky one for Canadian relays with Josh Liendo on them as Canada’s mixed 4×50 free relay was seeded 7th in Lane 1 of the final. However, they came together and bested the field, touching first in a national record of 1:28.55, beating out the Netherlands for the world title by just .06.

Liendo went on to earn bronze medals in both the 50 free (20.76) and the 100 free (45.82), setting a national record in the 50. He also set Canadian records in the 50 fly (22.52) and 100 fly (50.00) in the prelims of both events. He scratched the 50 fly semi-final and placed 14th in the 100 fly semi-final.

2022 World Championships

Liendo won his first LCM world medal on day 5 after a strong showing on day 1 in the 400 free relay (47.87 lead-off leg). In the 100 free final, Liendo went out strong and held on for a medal, touching at 47.71 for bronze.

Liendo had a loaded session on night 7, starting with the 50 free, where he placed 5th at 21.61, just .04 outside of medalling. Minutes later, he was back in the pool in the 100 fly final, where he did win a medal, clocking 50.97 for bronze. To end the session, Liendo led off Canada’s mixed 400 free relay, splitting 48.02 to help Canada earn silver behind Australia, who broke the world record.

2023 Canadian Trials

Coming off his first NCAA Championships, Liendo flew directly from Minneapolis to Toronto to qualify for the 2023 World Champs. In his home pool, Liendo won 4 events, sweeping the sprint butterfly and freestyles. Liendo set new best times and Canadian records in the 50/100 fly (23.27/50.36) while nearing his PB’s in the 50/100 free (21.8/47.86).

2023 World Aquatics Championships (Fukuoka, Japan)

Liendo opened his meet with a 23.36 50 fly to just barley make semis as he tied for 15th. That same morning, he helped Canada qualify 4th for the 400 free final with a 47.60 anchor. Liendo stayed 15th in the 50 fly semis with a 23.33 to miss the final. Then, he led off the Canadian 400 free relay in 48.17, a bit of an off swim, as they placard 5th. 

Liendo was a little better in the 100 free, putting up a 48.03 in prelims for 7th but then missing another final with a 48.22 for 14th in semis. His prelims time would have qualified him 8th. In the hunt for a comeback swim, Liendo scorched a 50.98 in the 100 fly prelims for 3rd. In the same session, he was 21.97 in the 50 free to qualify 13th. Liendo was even better in the 100 fly semis with a 50.75 for 3rd. In the 50 free, he was 8th in 21.88 but dropped the final to focus on the 100 fly.  That decision paid off as Liendo put up a 50.34 PB for 2nd. On the 400 medley relay, Liendo was 50.02 to help canaday tie for 5th in prelims. They were 7th in finals as Liendo split 50.66.

NCAA Career (Florida)

On August 18, 2022, Liendo announced on his Instagram that he would be attending and competing for the University of Florida, starting in the 2022-23 season.

2022-2023

Throughout the season Liendo made strides in his first go with yards swimming, At the SEC Championships, he went personal bests of 18.35 in the 50 free (Prelims, 2nd in finals in 18.39), 44.11 in the 100 fly (1st), and 41.22 in the 100 free (prelims, 41.24 in finals for 2nd). He also contributed key legs in Florida’s winning 200 free and 400 medley relays as well as their 2nd place 200 medley and 400 free relays.

At his first NCAA championships, Liendo only got better. He won his first individual title in the 100 free, clocking a 40.28 on the final day of competition to become the 2nd fastest performer behind history behind fellow gator Caeleb Dressel. Liendo also placed 2nd in the 50 free (18.40) and 100 fly (43.40). He again swam key legs on Florida’s relays, contributing to 3 NCAA records in the 200 free relay (18.22 lead-off, 1:13.35), 400 medley relay (42.91 fly, fastest split in history, 2:58.32), and 400 free relay (40.66 lead-off, 2:44.07). He also swam on Florida’s 3rd place 200 medley relay (free, 18.03).

International Medals

Place Event Year Meet
Silver 400 Mixed Free Relay 2022 World Championships
Bronze 100 Free 2022 World Championships
Bronze 100 Fly 2022 World Championships
Silver 100 Fly 2023 World Championships
Gold 200 Mixed Free Relay 2021 Short Course World Championships
Bronze 50 Free 2021 Short Course World Championships
Bronze 100 Free 2021 Short Course World Championships
Silver 100 Free 2019 World Junior Championships
Bronze 400 Medley Relay 2019 World Junior Championships
Bronze 400 Mixed Medley Relay 2019 World Junior Championships

Best Times

Course Event Time Date Meet
lcm 50 Free 21.61 06/24/22 2022 World Championships
Budapest, Hungary
lcm 100 Free 47.71 06/22/22 2022 World Championships
Budapest, Hungary
lcm 50 Fly 23.27 04/02/23 2023 Canadian Trials
Toronto, Canada
lcm 100 Fly 50.34 07/29/23 2023 World Aquatics Championships
Fukuoka, Japan
scy 50 Free 18.22 03/23/23 2023 NCAA Championships
Minneapolis, Minnesota
scy 100 Free 40.28 03/25/23 2023 NCAA Championships
Minneapolis, Minnesota
scy 100 Fly 43.40 03/24/23 2023 NCAA Championships
Minneapolis, Minnesota
scm 50 Free 20.76 12/19/21 2021 Short Course World Championships
Abu Dhabi, UAE
scm 100 Free 45.82 12/21/21 2021 Short Course World Championships
Abu Dhabi, UAE
scm 50 Fly 22.52 12/19/21 2021 Short Course World Championships
Abu Dhabi, UAE
scm 100 Fly 50.00 12/17/21 2021 Short Course World Championships
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Josh Liendo Adam Chaney Julian Smith (photo: Jack Spitser) Josh Liendo (photo: Jack Spitser) Josh Liendo (photo: Jack Spitser) Josh Liendo (photo: Jack Spitser) Josh Liendo (photo: Jack Spitser) Josh Liendo (photo: Jack Spitser) Josh Liendo (photo: Jack Spitser)