2025 WORLD AQUATICS SWIMMING WORLD CUP – Toronto
- October 23-25, 2025
- Toronto, Canada
- SCM (25 meters)
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- Live Results
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Women’s 50 Freestyle – Finals
- World Record: 22.83 – Gretchen Walsh, USA (2024)
- World Junior Record: 23.66 – Eva Okaro, GBR (2024)
- World Cup Record: 22.93 – Ranomi Kromowidjojo, NED (2017)
- Triple Crown Contender: Kasia Wasick (POL)
Top 8 Finishers
- Katarzyna Wasick (POL) – 23.21
- Taylor Ruck (CAN) – 23.49
- Marrit Steenbergen (NED) – 23.77
- Alexandria Perkins (AUS) – 23.92
- Kayla Sanchez (PHI) – 23.97
- Florine Gaspard (BEL) – 24.15
- Katharine Berkoff (USA) – 24.22
- Marie Wattel (FRA) – 24.44
Taylor Ruck returned to record-breaking form on the first day of the Toronto World Cup stop, lowering Kayla Sanchez‘s 2019 mark by 0.22 seconds with a swim of 23.49 seconds to take 2nd behind Kasia Wasick tonight.
Sanchez, who now represents the Philippines internationally, was also in the field tonight and clocked 23.97 for 5th.
This was Ruck’s first individual Canadian Record since the 2018 Pan Pacific Games, where she beat Katie Ledecky and Ariarne Titmus to take gold in the 200 free in a time of 1:54.44. She knocked nearly four tenths of a second off her previous best set just last week tonight, dropping from 23.87 to 23.49.
She now ranks as the joint-15th-fastest swimmer in history in this event, level with the Danish duo of Jeanette Ottesen and Pernille Blume.
Top 15 Women’s SCM 50 Freestyle Performers All-Time
- Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 22.83, 2024
- Ranomi Kromowidjojo (NED) – 22.93, 2017
- Sarah Sjoestroem (SWE) – 23.00, 2017
- Emma McKeon (AUS) – 23.04, 2022
- Kate Douglass (USA) – 23.05, 2024
- Kasia Wasick (POL) – 23.10, 2022
- Cate Campbell (AUS) – 23.19, 2017
- Marleen Veldhuis (NED) – 23.25, 2008
- Therese Alshammer (SWE) – 23.27, 2009
- Hinkelien Schreuder (NED) – 23.32, 2009
- Maria Kamaneva (RUS) – 23.35, 2022
- Abbey Weitzeil (USA) & Fran Halsall (GBR) – 23.44, 2021 & 2009
- –
- Alexandria Perkins (AUS) – 23.45, 2025
- Pernille Blume (DEN) & Jeanette Ottesen (DEN) & Taylor Ruck (CAN) – 23.49, 2017 & 2015 & 2025
She was however part of the National Record-setting 4×100 mixed medley team this summer in Singapore, anchoring a team also featuring Kylie Masse, Oliver Dawson and Josh Liendo to bronze in 52.94 as the finished just 0.07 seconds ahead of the Netherlands.
She was also an important part of the women’s 4×100 free, 4×200 free, and 4×100 medley relays at the 2022 Short Course World Championships in Melbourne, contributing splits of 51.49, 1:52.73, and 51.85 as Canada set National Records in all three events.
Ruck had considered stepping away from competition after the Paris Olympics, but ultimately decided not to. She has the LA Olympics on her mind, and during the World Championships this summer talked about the decision to continue through 2028, as reported by Bruce Arthur in the Toronto Star:
“It is a big decision, and I think that’s what I’m excited and nervous about in my late 20s: figuring out where life takes you, and having your priorities straight,” said Ruck. “So I’m excited to be learning about what that looks like, especially from teammates. Summer, Mary, they’re so cool to see, just their stories, their journeys. And honestly, it is inspiring for my own goals, looking forward like that.”
Tonight’s swim was a great sign for her, and she has had strong swims through the first two stops of the World Cup. She has entries in the 100 free, 100 back and 50 fly remaining in Toronto.
Great example of perseverance. It’s great to see her breakthrough again!
I really love seeing T-Ruck crushing it. Such an amazing and versatile athlete. Keep crushing it all the way to LA!!
Uhh that is T-Rex to competitors!
So exciting! Lots of love for Taylor!
Amazing swim Taylor! Not to change the subject, but her career has been one of the greatest mysteries in this sport. Such an elite level prospect at 18/19 years old 24.2/52.8/1:54.4 free times and 58.5/2:06.8 in back…. this was before the smith and mckeown battle in backstroke and before titmus/o’callaghan’s 1:52/1:53 200’s. Her promise seemed bright and then it was like boom. it felt like she disappeared (slight resurgence in 2022), but after that it was like she had never existed. I’m so glad she’s coming back, we saw a glimpse in 2024, and she’s still continuing to improve her speed! Great swim and great to see her:)
It isn’t a mystery at all. She has been quite open and quite brave about health issues. I imagine her that her story and struggles have helped other young swimmers dealing with similar issues. She’s a Canadian treasure. So happy for her. https://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/summer/aquatics/swimming/canada-swim-trials-taylor-ruck-eating-disorder-1.6415533
Yes, it’s pretty well documented. Also around 2018-22, most of Stanford’s ultra-elite swimmers left for other horizons. I have no inside info, but she wasn’t the only one struggling at Stanford.
Maybe she should go Sjostrom’s way:
Focusing on 50s, but still swimming 100.
Really great to see. Not everyone may remember but she used to be one of the biggest rising stars we had seen, beating Titmus / Ledecky with tons of potential. It takes a lot of grit to continue swimming, even after college, when she hasn’t necessarily seen the results she has wanted
Awesome, she seems now less of a tourist than Oleksiak for the Canadian team.
Way to go Taylor, phenomenal!!!