Blake Tierney Smashes 200 Back Canadian Record In 1:55.17

2025 World Championships

• July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
• Singapore, Singapore
• World Aquatics Championships Arena
• LCM (50m)
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  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3| Day 4 | Day 5
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

Blake Tierney leveled up in the men’s 200 back this morning by grabbing the top time out of the heats and taking nearly a second and a half off Ethan Ekk’s 1:56.54 Canadian record.

Tierney produced a 1:55.17 out of lane 8 in the final heat to earn the #1 seed for the semifinal. Prior to today, his best time stood at 1:56.74 from the 2024 Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Trials. This stood as the Canadian record for a year until Ethan Ekk hit 1:56.54 at the 2025 Canadian Trials to beat Tierney for a title.

The record is back in Tierney’s possession, and he has another chance to break it this evening while gunning for a finals spot. Ekk logged a 1:57.20 this morning to place 18th.

Split Comparison

Tierney, now 23, improved on all four splits today compared to his previous time and Ekk’s record, but the biggest difference came from the final 50. In Singapore, he came home in 29.1, the 2nd fastest in the field, and .7 faster than his 3rd 50.

Tierney comes from Saskatoon, Saskatchawan. He trains with the HPC-Vancouver and represents the Saskatoon Goldfins. In addition to the 200 LCM back, Tierney also holds the 100 SCM back national record. He took part in Canada’s bronze medal-winning 4×100 mixed medley relay at the 2024 Short Course Worlds in Budapest. He also has five Pan American Games medals to his name, including an individual bronze in the 100 back.