Poland’s Wasick Earns 50 Free Bronze at 23.95, Now 7th Female Sub-24 Textile Suit Performer

2024 WORLD AQUATIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 8 Finals Recap

Kasia Wasick of Poland secured Worlds bronze in the women’s 50 free final, cracking 25 seconds for the first time at 23.95. The entire 2024 podium medals all swam under 24 seconds, with American Kate Douglass taking silver in an American record of 23.91, in addition to Swede Sarah Sjostrom claiming for a 3rd-straight 50 free title at 23.69. Wasick adds this 2024 bronze two years after earning 2022 silver. Kornelia Fiedkiewicz also represented Poland in the 50 free final, placing 7th at 24.79.

Wasick first cruised to 24.36 in prelims, qualifying fourth into semi-finals behind No. 3 seed Australia’s Shayna Jack (24.30). Wasick then dropped a tenth from her 2022 national record of 24.11 by a tenth of second in semi-finals at 24.01. This move bumped Wasick from No. 16 to No. 14 all-time in world history.

Since 2019, Wasick’s 50 free PB progression has been remarkable, having dropped a cumulative 0.78s off her career best 50 free times from ages 27 to 31.

Wasick’s 50 Free PB Progression

  • 24.73— 2019 Polish Nationals (5/15/19)
  • 24.58— 2020 Pro Swim Series Des Moines (3/7/20)
  • 24.34 —2021 European Prelims (5/17/21)
  • 24.17 —2021 European Final (5/18/21)
  • 24.11 —2022 Budapest Semi-Finals (6/24/22)
  • 24.01 —2024 Doha Semi-Finals (2/17/24)
  • 23.95 —2024 Doha Final (2/18/24) *Polish Record, #6 Euro, #9 All-Time

Now with her repeat national record performance, and breaking 24 seconds for the first time, rocketed Wasick to the No.9 all-time event performer, jumping Netherlands’ Marleen Veldhuis and Great Britain’s Francesca Halsall (23.96) and right behind Doha runner-up Douglass. Wasick is also now the No 6 European performer all-time.

Wasick is now one of 14 women in history to break 24 seconds in the LCM 50 free. Taking away the three 08/09 super-suited performers, Wasick is the 7th sub-24 female textile suit performer to break the elusive barrier.

ALL-TIME TOP Sub-24 WOMEN’S LCM 50 FREE PERFORMERS

  1. Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden— 23.61 (2023)
  2. Britta Steffen, Germany— 23.73 (2009)
  3. Pernille Blume, Denmark— 23.75 (2018)
  4. Cate Campbell, Australia— 23.78 (2018)
  5. Emma McKeon, Australia— 23.81 (2021)
  6. Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Netherlands— 23.85 (2017)
  7. Therese Alshammar, Sweden— 23.88 (2009)
  8. Kate Douglass, USA— 23.91 (2024)
  9. Kasia Wasick, Poland— 23.95 (2024)
  10. Marleen Veldhuis, Netherlands/Francesca Halsall, Great Britain— 23.96 (2009/2014)
  11. Libby Trickett, Australia/Simone Manuel, USA/Liu Xiang, China— 23.97 (2008/2017/2021)

ALL-TIME TOP Sub-24 WOMEN’S LCM 50 FREE PERFORMERS (Textile Suit)

  1. Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden— 23.61 (2023)
  2. Pernille Blume, Denmark— 23.75 (2018)
  3. Cate Campbell, Australia— 23.78 (2018)
  4. Emma McKeon, Australia— 23.81 (2021)
  5. Ranomi Kromowidjojo, Netherlands— 23.85 (2017)
  6. Kate Douglass, USA— 23.91 (2024)
  7. Kasia Wasick, Poland— 23.95 (2024)
  8. Francesca Halsall, Great Britain— 23.96 (2014)
  9. Simone Manuel, USA/Liu Xiang, China— 23.97 (2017/2021)

Wasick now adds this bronze medal to her 2022 Budapest silver medal following a disappointing 12th place semi-finals finish in 2023 Fukuoka. She first became one of two Polish woman to medal at LC Worlds, following seven-time medalist Otylia Jedrzejczak (2001-2007). Today, the 31-year-old joins Jedrzejczak as one of two Polish female individual multi-Worlds medalists.

Originally reported by Sophie Kaufman.

WOMEN’S 50 FREESTYLE — FINAL

  • World Record: 23.61 — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2023)
  • Championship Record: 23.61 — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden (2023)
  • World Junior Record: 24.17 — Claire Curzan, United States (2021)
  • 2023 World Champion: 23.62 — Sarah Sjostrom, Sweden
  • Olympic ‘A’ Qualifying Time: 24.70, Olympic ‘B’ Qualifying Time: 24.82

Final:

  1. Sarah Sjostrom (SWE) — 23.69
  2. Kate Douglass (USA) — 23.91
  3. Kasia Wasick (POL) — 23.95
  4. Shayna Jack (AUS) — 24.27
  5. Taylor Ruck (CAN) — 24.50
  6. Anna Hopkin (GBR) — 24.51
  7. Kornelia Fiedkiewicz (POL) — 24.69
  8. Michelle Coleman (SWE) — 24.79

Sarah Sjostrom got it done in the women’s 50 freestyle final, claiming her 4th world championship title in the event. It’s her third in a row in this event as she won in 2022 and 2023 as well. She posted 23.69 to claim gold, just .08 seconds off the world record she set in 2023 Worlds semifinals. She ties herself from 2017 Worlds for fourth-fastest performance in history and now owns the top five swims.

Kate Douglass charged home in this event, earning her third individual medal of these World Championships. She blazed a 23.91, breaking Simone Manuel‘s American record for her first career outing sub-24 seconds. She’s just the second American woman to break that barrier, dropping .28 seconds from her PB of 24.19 from prelims.

It took breaking 24 seconds to make the podium as Kasia Wasick also dipped under the barrier for the first time in her career. Wasick reset her Polish record with a 24.01 in the semifinals. Here in the final she dropped six-hundredths, earning bronze in 23.95.

Notably, Taylor Ruck touched 5th in 24.50, which is just three-hundredths from the 24.47 personal best she swam at 2018 Pan Pacs.

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About Nick Pecoraro

Nick Pecoraro

Nick has had the passion for swimming since his first dive in the water in middle school, immediately falling for breaststroke. Nick had expanded to IM events in his late teens, helping foster a short, but memorable NCAA Div III swim experience at Calvin University. While working on his B.A. …

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