Leon Marchand reigns over Singapore! The French swimming star wrapped up his World Cup journey with yet another impressive win in the men’s 400m medley, finishing in 3:58.45—just 0.15 seconds shy of his own French record set in Incheon last week, securing him a spot in the all-time top 10.
After a world record in the 200m medley and a European record in the 100m medley earlier in the week, Marchand was back in action Saturday morning, dominating the field as he finished well ahead of Italy’s Alberto Razzetti (4:00.59) and the USA’s Trenton Julian (4:04.46). Though he fell just short of breaking his own French record, Marchand’s incredible performances across the World Cup stages have cemented his status as a powerhouse in the sport. But that’s not all!
Swiss sensation Noe Ponti added his own fireworks on the last day in the 50m butterfly. He blazed through the pool in 21.50 seconds! That time matched the legendary freestyle mark set by Alex Popov back in 1994, adding another layer to Ponti’s incredible feat.
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The 23-year-old, training with coaches Massimo Meloni and Andrea Mercuri at Nuoto Sport Locarno, now holds the four fastest butterfly times ever, truly setting the bar high for future sprinters. And let’s not forget about American swimmer Regan Smith; she also had her moments to shine during the competition!
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Regan Smith is the new world record holder in the 200m backstroke! In a two-day span, she wowed everyone by setting two new world records. First, she stunned fans with 54.27 in the 100m backstroke, and then she followed it up with an even more impressive 1:58.83 in the 200m. This time not only made her the fastest ever but also broke the previous record of 1:58.94, held by Kylie McKeown since November 2020. But the thrill didn’t end yet!
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Can Noe Ponti's blazing speed redefine the future of butterfly sprinting in competitive swimming?
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Yu Yiting and Kate Douglass shine in Singapore
Yu Yiting put on a performance to remember in the women’s 200-meter medley. She clinched first place with a time of 2:03.99; closely trailing behind was Mary-Sophie Harvey in second place, with a time of 2:04.82. Additionally, Kate Douglass made waves by achieving a record of 50.82 in the 100-meter freestyle event, marking her impressive tenth win of the season. Now that’s definitely ending on a high note!
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Katie Grimes showed her prowess in the women’s 800-meter freestyle event by securing her win in Singapore with a time of 8:14.36 after already clinching victories in the 400-meter freestyle and the 400-meter individual medley races. Meanwhile, Moesha Johnson put up an impressive performance; she held off a late charge from Claire Weinstein to finish first in 8:18.24, just a hair ahead of Weinstein’s 8:18.41.
Laura Lahtinen was eyeing a triple crown in the women’s 100m butterfly but found herself up against tough competition. Mizuki Hirai led at the start, but it was Sweden’s Louise Hansson who pulled away for the win in 55.46. Pieter Coetze gave an impressive performance in the men’s 100m backstroke, clocking in at 49.36, and Tang Qianting wrapped up her own amazing tour with a second triple crown in the women’s 50m breaststroke at 28.87. What a thrilling conclusion to the World Cup!
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Can Noe Ponti's blazing speed redefine the future of butterfly sprinting in competitive swimming?