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
- Livestream
- Live Recaps
The 2025 World University Games have come to a close but not before the United States dominated the overall swimming medal table in fine fashion.
The U.S. is leaving Germany with a total of 50 pieces of hardware, more than three times the runners-up from Japan. While this is the 22nd time the U.S. has led the swimming medals table at the World University Games in 32 editions, this is by far their most dominating performance. The next-highest total medal count was 40 at the 2019 Universiade in Naples, Italy; followed by 39 won in 1995 in Fukuoka, Japan (where there was a much smaller event lineup of just 34 races).
The haul for the Stars and Stripes is comprised of a remarkable 27 gold 12 silver and 11 bronze. The gold count alone is nine times that of Japan, Italy and Individual Neutral Athletes.
The American females earned the most medals, collecting 28 to the men’s 20. The women also carried 16 golds to the men’s 9, while mixed events brought 2 golds for the nation.
Additionally, the United States was responsible for breaking nearly all of the new World University Games records we saw over the course of the competition, save the men’s 100m back and men’s 200m IM events.
New World University Games Records Set at the 2025 Edition
- Women’s 50m back – Leah Shackley (USA), 27.31
- Women’s 100m back – Kennedy Noble (USA), 58.78
- Women’s 200m back -Leah Shackley (USA), 2:05.99
- Women’s 200m fly – Tess Howley (USA), 2:05.20
- Women’s 200m IM – Leah Hayes (USA), 2:09.48
- Women’s 4x100m free relay – USA, 3:36.21
- Women’s 4x200m free relay – USA, 7:52.56
- Men’s 100m back – Pieter Coetze (RSA), 51.99
- Men’s 200m IM – Takumi Mori (JPN), 1:57.24
- Men’s 4x100m free relay – USA, 3:24.27
- Men’s 4x200m free relay – USA, 7:04.51
This year’s medal table looks drastically different from that of the 2021 World University Games, which took place in Chengdu, China.
At that meet, the host nation wreaked havoc on the medal table, earning an astounding 19 golds and 2 bronze to bring its total to 20 medals.
Italy was the runner-up while Poland rounded out the top 3 nations. The United States placed 6th with 1 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze.
Australia nowhere to be found, just the way it should be.
The 2021 World University Games were initially scheduled to take place in Chengdu, China, in 2023, but were delayed due to COVID-19.
https://swimswam.com/spots-open-for-college-swimmers-to-represent-the-u-s-at-2023-world-university-games/
USA Swimming has opted not to send a roster to the 2021 competition. The United States International University Sports Federation (US-IUSF) sent a delegation.
Swim Swam reported that “without the national governing body (USA Swimming) covering costs, the expenses will be borne by the participating swimmers”. Trips were entirely self-funded, though, with the trip costing each athlete several thousand dollars. Swim Swam reported that some swimmers had GoFundMe pages to pay the fees.
https://swimswam.com/how-to-donate-to-help-american-swimmers-compete-in-the-2023-world-university-games/
It appears that USA Swimming made a significant error by not sending a roster and paying athletes… Read more »
the team that would have gone went to pan ams. keep up!
You are correct that in 2023, USA Swimming’s priorities 3 and 4 were the Pan American Games and the LEN European U23 Championships, respectively.
https://swimswam.com/usa-swimming-unveils-selection-criteria-for-2023-pan-american-games/
This article compares the USA’s performance between the 2021 World University Games, which were held in 2023 because of COVID, and the 2025 games, without explaining USA Swimming’s decision to use other meets in 2023.
Sorry about the error and the accidental double post of this comment.
Same as the Aussie team this time. self funded team of eight swimmers. The Aussie A team was chosen to swim in LA in August.
The 2021 World University Games were initially scheduled to take place in Chengdu, China, in 2023, but were delayed due to COVID-19.
https://swimswam.com/spots-open-for-college-swimmers-to-represent-the-u-s-at-2023-world-university-games/
“USA Swimming has opted not to send a roster to the 2021 competition”. “The United States International University Sports Federation (US-IUSF) sent a delegation”.
Swim Swam reported that “without the national governing body (USA Swimming) covering costs, the expenses will be borne by the participating swimmers”. Trips were entirely self-funded, with the trip costing each athlete several thousand dollars. Swim Swam reported that some swimmers had GoFundMe pages to pay the fees.
https://swimswam.com/how-to-donate-to-help-american-swimmers-compete-in-the-2023-world-university-games/
It appears that USA Swimming made a significant error by not sending a roster and paying athletes to compete based on the 2025 results.
It really was a great day for TEAM USA over the course of the FISU competition. Both men and women did outstandingly well, esp. the women in breaking so many records. AND, the relays sweep was pretty sweet, too!
USA depth is extraordinary. Thank you NCAA.
Is US depth a function of NCAA or just the population of 350 million in a pretty rich society
As opposed to the 1.4 billion population of China.
Female MVP, Leah Shackley
Clear overall MVP.