At the recent World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Toronto, Canadians Josh Liendo and Ilya Kharun displayed exceptional talent and skill, winning gold medals in their respective events. Liendo shone in the men’s 100-metre freestyle, while Kharun excelled in the 200-metre butterfly.
Josh Liendo Shatters Canadian Record
Josh Liendo set a remarkable Canadian record during his race, finishing the 100-metre freestyle in 45.30 seconds. This time placed him ahead of American swimmers Jack Alexy and Chris Guiliano, who finished with times of 45.55 and 45.71 seconds, respectively.
Liendo’s achievement marked his third gold medal at the Toronto World Cup event. Earlier, he also captured the gold in both the 100-metre butterfly with a world record and the 50-metre butterfly.
Ilya Kharun Claims Victory
Ilya Kharun continued to impress with his victory in the 200-metre butterfly. He finished with a time of 1:49.71, significantly outpacing Alberto Razzetti of Italy and American Mitchell Schott, who ended with times of 1:51.63 and 1:52.10, respectively. This triumph awarded Kharun a prize of $10,000 for sweeping all three stops of the World Cup circuit.
Notable Performances at the World Cup
- Finlay Knox: The swimmer from Okotoks, Alta., secured third place in the men’s 200m individual medley with a time of 1:51.50.
- Mollie O’Callaghan: The Australian swimmer set a new short-course world record in the women’s 200m freestyle, finishing in 1:49.36.
- Mary-Sophie Harvey: The athlete from Trois-Rivières, Que., earned silver in the women’s 400m individual medley, clocking a personal-best time of 4:24.25.
The competition came to a thrilling close with these outstanding performances, showcasing the talent of both Canadian swimmers and their international counterparts. The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup continues to highlight the growing prowess of swimmers on the world stage.
