Breaking News: Two Canadians, Josh Liendo and Ilya Kharun, storm into the men’s 100m butterfly final at the swimming world championships in Singapore, after strong semifinal swims. Liendo, from Toronto, finished second in his heat behind Switzerland’s Noe Ponti, while Kharun, from Montreal, claimed second in the first semifinal. Both swimmers set their sights on the final, scheduled for Saturday morning. Meanwhile, Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh continues her dominance, winning her 800m freestyle heat, setting up a much-anticipated showdown with American rival Katie Ledecky in the final.
Breaking: Canadians Shine in Singapore as Kharun and Liendo Advance to 100m Butterfly Final; McIntosh vs Ledecky in 800m Freestyle Showdown
Canadians Punch Tickets to 100m Butterfly Final
Montreal’s Ilya Kharun and Toronto’s Josh Liendo qualified for the men’s 100m butterfly final at the swimming world championships in Singapore. Liendo clocked the second-fastest time of 50.24, finishing behind Switzerland’s Noe Ponti (50.18), while Kharun finished the first semifinal in 50.39.
Did you know? Josh Liendo, at 22, has beenserialize-rially impressive, already earning a silver medal in the 100m butterfly at the Paris 2024 World Championships. Ilya Kharun, 20, is no stranger to the podium himself, having claimed Olympic bronze in both 100m and 200m butterfly events in Paris.
McIntosh Sets Up Epic Rematch Against Ledecky
Summer McIntosh, the 18-year-old phenom from Toronto, set up another thrilling showdown with American rival Katie Ledecky in the women’s 800m freestyle final. McIntosh posted the third-fastest time of 8:19.88 in her heat, while Ledecky qualified with the fastest time of 8:14.62.
Pro Tip: McIntosh and Ledecky have been engaged in a brilliant rivalry lately, with McIntosh already securing a victory over Ledecky in the 400m freestyle at these championships. Expect fireworks in their latest encounter!
Canadian Swimmers Aim to Shine in Other Events
Blake Tierney, a 23-year-old from Saskatoon, missed out on a podium finish in the men’s 200m backstroke final but impressed by lowering the Canadian record twice. He ultimately finished fourth with a time of 1:55.09. Meanwhile, Taylor Ruck and Ingrid Wilm failed to qualify for their respective finals but still have other events to compete in.
12-Year-Old Yu Makes History in Singapore
Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, just 12 years old, made history by becoming the youngest swimmer ever to win a medal at the world championships. Although she didn’t swim in the final of the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay, her participation in the prelims earned her a bronze medal.
FAQ:
Q: How old was the previous record-holder for youngest medalist?
A: Allison Higson of Canada earned bronze in the 200m breaststroke at the age of 13 in 1986.
What’s Trending in Aquatics?
Age Limits and Talent Development: The incredible performances of young swimmers like Yu Zidi have sparked discussions about age limits in competitive swimming. Brent Nowicki, executive director of World Aquatics, has hinted at reviewing the current rules.
Olympians to Watch: The swimming world championships have been packed with exciting matchups between Olympic medalists. With several events still to come, keep an eye on stars like Katie Ledecky, Leon Marchand, and Marrit Steenbergen.
Don’t Miss Out!
Tune in to CBS Sports and watch live coverage of every race at the swimming worlds, with finals starting at 7 a.m. ET each day. Follow 247Sports for the latest updates and analysis of the most thrilling stories in sports!