2021 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Thursday, December 16th – Tuesday, December 21st
- Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- SCM (25m)
- Prize Money
- Meet Site
- Psych Sheet
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- FINA Live Results
- Omega Live Results
Canadian teenager Joshua Liendo has continued his stellar breakout meet, re-breaking his own Canadian Record in the 50 free to snag the bronze medal in 20.76. Coming into the meet, the 19 year-old’s lifetime best stood at 21.45 from 2019, but he has now undercut that mark, and Brent Hayden‘s former national record of 21.34, four times this week.
Liendo’s first hint at record-breaking speed came from his lead off split of 20.88 Canada’s 4×50 mixed free relay on Friday, though leadoff splits in mixed relays do not officially count for records or personal bests. He came back in yesterday’s 50 free prelims to officially break the record in 21.01, then lowered it to 20.88 in last night’s semis, before blasting the 20.76 in tonight’s final, his last 50 free of the meet.
The swim also signifies a breakthrough for the Canadians, with Liendo winning the first men’s major individual international medal for the country since distance swimmer Ryan Cochrane won silver in the 1500 and Brent Hayden won bronze in the 100 free at the 2012 London Olympic Games. While the country has been one of the top nations in the world for women’s swimming the last several years, the Canadian men have comparatively lagged behind.
Below is the men’s 50 free final race video, with Liendo swimming in Lane 5, the bottom “gold” lane.
Correction , 1st individual pool medal at a world champs or Olympics games since 2015 , in a pool event 🙏🏾💥🇨🇦🇨🇦, WAY TO GO JOSHUA LIENDO!! @JohnAtkinSwim @SwimmingCanada @SwimOntario @swimswamnews #whatarace pic.twitter.com/VgtnYnf71Q
— Greg Arkhurst (@Greg76kk) December 19, 2021
Perhaps most impressive about Liendo’s swim is his prowess in the event at such a young age. In an event historically dominated by swimmers in their mid 20s, Liendo now sits fourth in the world this year and was the youngest swimmer in the final by over three years.
While there are no complete or good records of “under 20” lists, as far as we can tell Liendo is the fastest teenager of all time in the event, with his swim surpassing names like Dressel, Cielo, Manaudou, Morozov, McEvoy and Chalmers. The current World Junior Record (18 and Under) stands at 20.98, set by the Netherlands’ Kenzo Simons in 2019.
Kyle’s pb is 20.68!
Not sure about his 17yrs best, The young Canadian swim well to grab bronze!
title added 1 to his time lol
his underwaters seem a bit weaker than the rest of the field, which should make him even more lethal in lcm
And in the years to come as they can only improve…?
Amazing for Joshua. What a sprint talent. Would have challenged for a 50 fly final if the 2 events were not so close.
3 young Canadian males on the upswing with Knox and Pratt as well. Kisil and Acevedo (🇨🇦 record 200 fly yesterday in a local Ontario meet!) providing a bit of depth. Haven’t heard much about Thormeyer this fall but he is training at UBC.
Looking FWD to Trials, worlds and Commonwealth’s this spring, summer!
Italy and Canada are having their golden generation, just like france did in 2004-2016
The HPC in Toronto seems to be doing great things these days developing young swimmers.Congrats to Josh.
unfortunately, though, almost only girls are training there 🙁 Ratio is about 1:4. I wonder why?
Hockey…🤷
There are plenty of boys in Canadian swimming, not everyone plays hockey to say the least. And btw, my two daughters are playing hockey indeed, unlike my son 🙂
I’m partly joking, old cliche. Wonderful your girls play, and hopefully all 3 are doing something they enjoy.
However facts are that swimming, especially on the male side, loses out to many other sports either for cost, less demanding commitments, their ‘cache’ (ie hockey) and simply because swimming is ‘hard’. It teaches great values and is the sport I am involved in career-wise, but it is not always 1st or 2nd choice amongst young talented athletes, especially during the HS years.
Swim canada doesn’t care about men
Ben Titley’s focus is primarily on the females. Swim Canada should start developing more on the men’s side… Last month they added 2 more females to the program and zero men. Hard to believe Canada doesn’t have any men who have potential. Very unfortunate.