By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2025 GOTHEAR & FRIENDS SWIM MEET (GER)

• Friday, April 25th – Sunday, April 27th
• Magdeburg, Germany
• LCM (50m)
• Live Results
• Livestream

Olympic champion Florian Wellbrock was in the pool tonight to kick off the three-day Gothear & Friends Swim Meet in Magdeburg.

The 27-year-old freestyle ace took on the 800m distance, putting up a time of 7:49.79 to get to the wall first and grab the gold.

Wellbrock’s time was enough to top the podium but well off his season-best of 7:41.10 logged at last month’s Swim Open Stockholm, which ranks him #2 in the world on the season. Only countryman and newly minted 400m free World Record holder Lukas Märtens has been faster, with a season-best of 7:39.10 from the same Swedish meet.

Of note, runner-up in tonight’s race, Johannes Liebmann, produced a new German Age Record en route to silver.

Liebemann, who is 17 years of age, logged a mark of 7:50.86, well ahead of Arne Schubert who collected bronze in 7:59.06.

The 1500m freestyle highlighted the women’s events on day one, with host city’s Leonie Märtens punching a result of 16:27.29 to get the job done for gold.

The sister of Märtens mentioned above beat the field by over 15 seconds as she touched first, although her performance was well off her lifetime best of 16:02.99 from last year’s edition of this competition. We’ll keep an eye on what she has up her sleeve for the World Championships-qualifying meet of the German Championships, which begin on May 1st.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2025 Gothear & Friends: Wellbrock Claims 800 Free Victory

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2025 WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Saturday, July 26th – Sunday, August 3rd (pool swimming)
• Singapore
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central

With the conclusion of the 2025 Aquatics GB Championships, the nation’s squad for this summer’s World Championships has been revealed.

A plethora of seasoned talent convenes with rising stars to give Great Britain a solid set of swimmers heading to Singapore to try to improve upon the 6th-place finish at the 2024 edition of the World Championships in Doha.

Multiple swimmers were pre-qualified as a result of their performances at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, including men’s 4x200m freestyle relay gold medalists Tom Dean, James Guy, Matt Richards and Duncan Scott.

Richards and Scott were also pre-qualified in their respective 200m free and 200m IM events, as was Ben Proud due to his silver medal-garnering performance in the men’s 50m free.

Of note, Adam Peaty was pre-qualified for the men’s 100m breast, but the 30-year-old world record holder is bypassing this summer’s World Championships.

An additional eight swimmers qualified by way of achieving the strict Aquatics GB-qualifying standards en route to gold in their respective events at the Aquatics GB Championships.

• Freya Colbert– women’s 200m free, 400m IM
• Angharad Evans– women’s 200m breast
• Max Litchfield– men’s 400m IM
• Keanna MacInnes– women’s 200m fly
• Oliver Morgan– men’s 100m back
• Eva Okaro– women’s 50m free
• Katie Shanahan– women’s 200m back, 200m IM
• Abbie Wood– women’s 200m/400m IM

Luke Greenbank, Holly McGill and Jacob Mills also qualified after placing second in their individual events in a time which beat the Aquatics GB standard:

• Luke Greenbank– men’s 200m back
• Holly McGill– women’s 200m back
• Jacob Mills– men’s 50m/100m free

On another note, Matt Richards‘ wife Emily Richards of Manchester Performance Centre earned a discretionary pick. That means the newlyweds will appear on their first official Aquatics GB roster since tying the knot, making them the first-ever British husband and wife duo to represent the nation at a major international aquatics competition.

On the British roster for Singapore, Performance Director Chris Spice said, “We were treated to a week of top-quality racing at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, with so many Worlds selection times met and countless finals going down to the very last strokes. It is always a pleasure to see events being moved on as well, so a special mention to Angharad Evans and Oliver Morgan for their respective British records, which bode really well for the season ahead.

“This is an exciting team that genuinely combines world-class experience in the sport’s biggest arenas with a host of up-and-coming talents who we hope can gain invaluable insight in the summer, both in terms of competition but also being around our athletes and staff in a World Championship environment. As always, the focus for everyone involved is on delivering a season’s best performance in the summer, and everything we do between now and late July will be working towards that.

“Seeing how swimmers like Jacob Mills, Max Morgan and Holly McGill delivered in front of packed crowds and a TV audience at the London Aquatics Centre last week means they are already on the right track to do that. Equally, it is always promising to see the way our experienced big hitters, including Duncan Scott, Matt Richards and Abbie Wood, were able to show their class and perform strongly after some well-deserved breaks post-Paris, and that is encouraging in terms this summer, our ongoing relay prospects and the longer-term picture over the next Olympic cycle.”

The Aquatics GB swimming team for the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore:

* Titles of Aquatics GB Performance Centres are shortened to ‘Performance Centre’ in this list

• Tom Dean, Bath Performance Centre
• James Guy, Manchester Performance Centre
• Ben Proud, Chelsea & Westminster Swimming Club
• Matt Richards, Manchester Performance Centre
• Duncan Scott, University of Stirling

The above athletes were pre-selected as per clauses 4.2 and 4.3 of the relevant selection policy, after confirmation from the GB Head Coach.

• Freya Colbert, Loughborough Performance Centre
• Angharad Evans, University of Stirling
• Max Litchfield, Loughborough Performance Centre
• Keanna MacInnes, University of Stirling
• Oliver Morgan, University of Birmingham
• Eva Okaro, Repton
• Katie Shanahan, University of Stirling
• Abbie Wood, Loughborough Performance Centre

The above athletes are selected after winning an individual event at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships and recording a time that equals or betters the required qualifying times, as per clause 4.4 of the selection policy.

• Luke Greenbank, Loughborough Performance Centre
• Holly McGill, University of Stirling
• Jacob Mills, Repton

The above athletes are selected after placing second in an individual event at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships and recording a time that equals or betters the required qualifying times, as per clause 4.5 of the selection policy.

• Freya Anderson, University of Stirling
• Greg Butler, Loughborough Performance Centre
• Lucy Hope, University of Stirling
• Edward Mildred, Manchester Performance Centre
• Leah Schlosshan, Manchester Performance Centre
• Jacob Whittle, Bath Performance Centre

The above athletes are selected as part of relay combinations that equalled or bettered the required qualifying times, as per clause 4.6 of the selection policy.

• Lauren Cox, Loughborough Performance Centre
• Evan Jones, Manchester Performance Centre
• Jonathon Marshall, Carnegie Swimming Club
• Jack McMillan, University of Stirling
• Max Morgan, Reeds Swimming Club
• Emily Richards, Manchester Performance Centre

The above athletes are selected at the discretion of the Performance Director and GB Head Coach. These selections are based on performances at the 2025 Aquatics GB Swimming Championships; providing relay alternates for athletes with busy schedules; medal opportunities in new 50m Olympic events; and athletes that are on a trajectory to podium success at the LA 2028 Olympic Games), as per clause 4.7 of the selection policy.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Aquatics GB Squad Is Stacked For 2025 World Championships

By Coleman Hodges on SwimSwam

SwimSwam sat down with the coaches behind the upcoming Dual Meet Tournament that will take place at Georgia Tech on October 17-18, 2025. Chico Rego of George Washington, Iago Moussalem of Georgia Tech, Cauli Bedran of Wisconsin (who is not participating in the tournament), and Steve Barnes of Florida State all contributed to this discussion and laid out how this event came together, what it will look like, and how they hope it will impact college swimming moving forward.

The format of the Tournament is as follows:

*All Duals will be 90 minutes with a 10-minute “halftime” break*

• On Friday Morning (Oct 17), there will be four duals (Quarter finals): Two run simultaneously at 7:30am, then two more at 10am
• On Friday Afternoon, there will be another four duals (Semi Finals + Losers Bracket): Two run at 3pm (Winners and Losers from 7:30am Matchups), then two more at 6pm (Winners and Losers from 10am Matchups)
• On Saturday Morning (Oct 18), there will be three duals for the six teams that aren’t in the final
• On Saturday Afternoon at 2pm, there will be the Dual Meet Final

Diving will take place intermittently and will be more of a team event (more to come on that in the future). Roster limits per meet will be 15 swimmers and 2 divers per gender. Each swimmer can only swim 3 times per meet. Each team will have 4 athletes per individual swimming event and 2 relay teams per relay event.

Event Lineups for each meet are as follows:

• First half: Relay #1, (100 Free/Back & 200 Fly/Breast) OR (100 Fly/Breast & 200 Free/Back)
• Second half: 500 Free, 200 IM, 50 Free, Relay #2

The event lineup for each dual will be decided before the dual.

Scoring will be combined for genders. Each dual will have a total of 790 points (meaning the first team to reach 396 wins). Scoring is as follows:

• For diving/relays, 1st place is 22, 2nd place is 8, 3rd place is 4, and 4th place is 0.
• For Individual Swimming events, 1st place is 16, 2nd place is 6, 3rd place is 5, 4th place is 4, 5th place is 3, 6th place is 2, 7th place is 1, and 8th place is 0.

In the SwimSwam Podcast dive deeper into the sport you love with insider conversations about swimming. Hosted by Coleman Hodges and Gold Medal Mel Stewart, SwimSwam welcomes both the biggest names in swimming that you already know, and rising stars that you need to get to know, as we break down the past, present, and future of aquatic sports.

• Click here to listen and subscribe on Spotify
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Music: Otis McDonald
www.otismacmusic.com

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Dual Meet Tournament Format REVEALED Featuring 90-Minute Duals, Revamped Scoring, Fewer Events

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2025 MARIA LENK TROPHY/BRAZILIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• • Monday, April 21st – Sunday, April 26th
  • Flamengo Pool, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • LCM (25m)
  • Meet Central
  • Entries
  • Day 1 Recap/Day 2 Recap/Day 3 Recap/Day 4 Recap
  • Live Results

We entered the penultimate night of racing at the 2025 Maria Lenk Trophy/Brazilian Swimming Championships, the sole qualifying opportunity for the nation’s swimmers to add their names to the 2025 World Championships roster.

The men’s 50m free saw a standout performance by University of Tennessee swimmer Gui Caribe, with the 22-year-old firing off a time of 21.46 to win the men’s 50m free with ease.

After producing a time of 21.93 to reap the top seed, Caribe unleashed the 21.46 to become Brazil’s 3rd-quickest male of all time.

Top 5 Brazilian Men LCM 50 Freestyle Performers

1. Cesar Cielo – 20.91, 2009
2. Bruno Fratus – 21.27, 2017
3. Gui Caribe– 21.46, 2025
4. Nicholas Santos – 21.69, 2009
5. Pedro Spajari – 21.82, 2018

Additionally, the Brazilian now checks in as the #2 performer in the world on the season, overtaking Olympic champion Cameron McEvoy of Australia (21.48) to rank #2 in the world. Only Russian swimmer Egor Kornev has been swifter, courtesy of the 21.43 he put on the books at the Russian National Championship just days ago.

Behind Caribe was Victor Alcara who unleashed a time of 21.82 to reap silver. That outing marked his first-ever performance under the 22-second threshold, surpassing the 22.04 personal best he produced during the 50m free heats at the 2021 Brazilian Olympic Championshps.

Luca Peixoto snagged the bronze in tonight’s final, producing an effort of 22.02, also under the World Aquatics ‘A’ cut of 22.05.

Caribe already made his mark in a huge way by winning the men’s 100m freestyle in a head-turning outing of 47.10. That rendered the first time two Brazilians have been in the top 10 performers of all time in the event since 1988.

• Gui Caribe’s 47.10 Puts Two Brazilians in 100 Free All-Time Top 10 for Firt Time Since 1988

Additional Notes

• Lorrane Cristina Ferreira captured the women’s 50m free gold in 24.78 as the sole competitor under the 25-second threshold. That dipped under the World Aquatics ‘A’ mark of 24.86 needed to qualify for this summer’s World Championships.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2025 Brazilian Championships: Gui Caribe Rips 21.46 50 Free Personal Best

By Sam Blacker on SwimSwam

2025 Berlin Swim Open

• Friday, April 25th – Sunday, April 27th
• Prelims at 9:30am local (3:30am ET)/Finals at 4pm local (10am ET)
• Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europasportpark, Berlin, Germany
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central

Anna Elendt headlined Day 1 of the Berlin Swimming Open, as she cracked the 1:06 barrier in the 100 breaststroke to rank #4 in the world this year. You can read more about that swim here.

The Texas-based swimmer dominated tonight’s final to win by over five and a half seconds, as she backed up her season-best 1:07.01 from this morning with her fastest swim since 2022. With splits of 31.15-34.82, she was a hundredth faster than the time she went to win silver in Budapest that summer

Rafael Miroslaw out-touched 2005-born Philipp Peschke in the men’s 200 freestyle 1:47.48 to 1:47.69, as the two were the only swimmers under the 1:50 mark. Miroslaw was up by half a second at the 50, 24.55 to 25.06, and was outsplit by Peschke on each of the next three 50s as he just managed to hold on at the end.

This was an impressive swim by Peschke, taking half a second off his entry time of 1:48.24 and keeping all four 50s under 28 seconds. He’s put himself squarely in the running to be on the men’s 4×200 free relay this summer with that, ranking as the fourth-fastest German this year. His time tonight was faster than two of the splits Germany had in the Paris final where they finished eighth.

For Miroslaw, this appears to be the first long course race of the season in this event, and is slightly slower than the 1:46.11 he went in April last year. He shaved three-hundredths off his time from prelims.

His best time stands at the 1:45.83 he went in April 2023, and after being over a second off his best time in yards at NCAAs he will need to take some time off to hit the World Aquatics ‘A’ cut. Lukas Martens is likely to swim the event after going 1:45.55 in Stockholm two weeks ago, so an ‘A’ cut would be necessary for Miroslaw to join him.

Cedric Buessing was the runaway winner in the men’s 400 IM, winning by over ten seconds in a time under the World Aquatics ‘A’ cut for the event. After throwing down a time of 4:20.18 to lead prelims by 14 seconds, he knocked four seconds off this evening to go 4:16.11. That included a very solid 1:11.91 breaststroke split, a good sign at this point in the season for the Olympic finalist.

A nailbiting finish in the men’s 50 backstroke went to National Record holder Ole Braunschweig, as he untouched Vincent Passek 24.89 to 24.91. That marked Passek’s second time under 24 seconds after his 24.87 this morning, slicing nearly a quarter of a second off his previous best of 25.11.

The two remain as the top-two Germans this season, and both got under the ‘A’ cut of 25.11 for Singapore this summer. Braunschweig holds the German record with the 24.57 he swam in Fukuoka in 2023.

Melvin Imodou, the fourth-place finisher in the 100 breaststroke in Paris, took first in the event today as the only man under 1:02. He was just over the minute mark, swimming a time of 1:00.32 to take a dominant win.

Other Winners

• Selina Muller won the women’s 200 free in a time of 2:03.96, outpacing what was a youth-oriented final in which she was the only swimmer over the age of 18. That was just off her best time of 2:03.55 from 2024. The top seed from prelims, Lisa Seidel, scratched the final after going 2:01.44 to take top spot this morning.
• Laura Sophie Kohlmann broke 4:50 for the first time to win the 400 IM, as the 2009-born swimmer won the event by over ten seconds in 4:48.50. She stormed home in 1:05.53 to smash through the barrier after coming in with an entry time of 4:50.01.
• Angelina Kohler was the top seed for the women’s 50 backstroke after the morning heats with a time of 29.24, but scratched the final. That opened up an opportunity for Maria Smilbach to take the win in 30.62, 0.13 ahead of second.
• Lena Von Bonin won the women’s 200 fly in 2:14.08 as one of two women under the 2:20 barrier. Yaya Fay Riefenstahl was the fastest out of the heats in 2:13.12, but couldn’t match the early speed she’d had there in the final and was run down by the Dresden swimmer
• On the men’s side Louis Schubert and Turkey’s Arda Akkoyun were separated by less than a tenth, with Akkoyun nearly running the leader Schubert down with a 31.30 final 50. Schubert just held on in 1:58.94 to Akkoyun’s 1:59.03, although that was a 6.5 second PB for the 2007-born Turkish swimmer.
• Melina Nitchke won the women’s 1500 freestyle in 17:07.88, whilst Jonas Kuschke did so for the men in 15:53.28

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Berlin Swim Open Day 1 Finals: Elendt Cracks 1:06 Barrier In 100 Breast

By Sam Blacker on SwimSwam

2025 Berlin Swim Open

• Friday, April 25th – Sunday, April 27th
• Prelims at 9:30am local (3:30am ET)/Finals at 4pm local (10am ET)
• Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europasportpark, Berlin, Germany
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central

Swimming in the finals of the Berlin Open tonight, German Record holder Anna Elendt announced herself as a contender for the 100 breaststroke in Singapore this summer. The Texas swimmer powered to a time of 1:05.97, clipping her previous season best from this morning by over a second

These swims come hot on the heels of a 1:07.31 at the TXLA last chance meet, which previously stood as her season best. It appears that the heats there were swum mixed, with Elendt taking second overall behind 18-year-old Daniel King.

That followed on from a pair of 1:07s at the TYR Pro Swim Series in early March, as the German swimmer looks to be gearing up for some fast swims this summer. In previous years she was only at the 1:06-high mark in April, and has not tended to drop much if at all at major meets.

That seems to indicate she should be no worse than a mid-1:06 this summer, plenty fast enough to make the semi-finals. She also appears to be back in the same form as 2022, splitting similarly here to her times from spring and summer three years ago.

Notably, this was the first time since the 2022 World Championships that her second 50 was under 35 seconds. She did so in all four of her previous times under 1:06.

Elendt burst onto the scene in 2021, breaking the German Record in the 100 breaststroke in the heats at the Tokyo Olympics with a time of 1:06.96, the first ever under 1:07. She added slightly to finish 13th in the semifinals there in 1:07.31, 1 position below her placing at that year’s NCAAs.

It was in 2022 that she truly established herself on the world stage. Having taken 5th at NCAAs in the 100 after leading prelims, she went on to smash her PB in the long course version just two weeks later at the San Antonio Pro Swim Series.

She swam 1:05.96 in prelims to take exactly a second off, before dropping another four-tenths in the final to go 1:05.58, which still stands as the German Record.

She finished second behind Lilly King at that meet, and would take the silver again at that summer’s World Championships in Budapest in a time of 1:05.98, just 0.05 away from gold. Her time from the semi-finals, 1:05.62, would have won the event.

Elendt then went on to take the bronze at the Short Course World Championships in Doha, again in a German Record of 1:04.05.

Since the summer of 2022, Elendt had not broken 1:06 again until today. She had also not made another world-level semi-final, finishing 19th in Fukuoka and 20th in Paris, despite multiple top-5 NCAA finishes.

Her time today bodes well for her swims in Singapore this summer, where she will enter as the German Record holder in all three distances. With a time of 1:05.59 making the podium in Paris an on-form Elendt is a threat to medal this year, although she will need to be at her best in all three rounds.

Tang Qiangting and Angharad Evans are the frontrunners in the event so far this year. Tang comes off a dominant short course season where she was within 0.02 of the world record on two occasions, whereas Evans recently broke her own British record with a world-leading 1:05.37.

Elendt’s last big year internationally came just after the Tokyo Olympics; we could be about to see a repeat of that in 2025.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Anna Elendt Swims #4 100 Breaststroke (1:05.97) In The World This Year In Berlin

By Olivier Poirier-Leroy on SwimSwam

Learning from your swim workouts—good or bad—is jet fuel for faster swimming. Here’s how to do it.

How many meters are you swimming this week?

If you’re like most (or all) competitive swimmers, the answer goes something like this: Many, many meters and yards.

From warm-up, pre-sets, Godfather trilogy-level main sets to warming down, the volume stacks up fast.

But how many of those Y/M are you actively learning from?

Are you going through the motions, logging mindless yardage (#garbageyardage), or are you turning every practice into a learning opportunity?

Here’s the truth: it’s not just the mileage you put on the odometer, or the tint or that sweet vintage tape deck.

It’s how much you are learning each time you hit the pool.

And that’s where this simple little feedback loop can help propel you towards more improvement in the pool.

The Elite Swimmer’s Feedback Loop

This wee little feedback loop takes all of two minutes to go through… okay, maybe like 5-10 minutes… but it will pay massive dividends.

Here goes:

What’s the goal?

Before you dive into the water, let’s get clearer than a freshly chlorinated hot tub about what we are going to achieve today.

Is it…

• Hitting a target race pace?
• Giving a specific effort level during the main set?
• Mastering an “impossible” interval that has haunted your dreams for weeks?
• Clocking some near-PBs via off-the-blocks race simulations?

Going into practice without a goal means you come out of the workout without a result.

By defining a purpose/goal, you sharpen your focus and set the stage for the rest of the feedback loop.

How did it go?

Alright, the workout is over. You’ve peeled yourself off the pool deck, caught your breath, showered off, and collected your life and dignity to the point you can reflect honestly.

How did the workout go?

And let’s be honest. Not the vague “honest” stuff like, “Pew, stinky.”

Instead, look at:

• How fast did you swim?
• How did your mindset hold up?
• If you fell off pace, when and why?
• Where did you shine?
• Where did things fall apart?

Pick the metric that lines up with your goal/purpose and assess how it went.

This step isn’t about labeling or judgment, even though that tends to be our first instinct. It’s about awareness.

Because we are about to mine some chlorinated gold.

What did I learn?

Get your shovel and best coal miner outfit cause we’re prospecting for some gold in these here hills!

Whether swim practice was a stage-five disaster or a win, there’s always something to be learned.

• If you crushed the main set—why? Was it your pacing? The warm-up? The self-talk you used when things got hard?
• If you struggled—again, why? Did you fall apart mentally? Stroke was off? Not fueled up properly?

The key is to ignore the emotional judgments that will fog up your analytical goggles.

Look at the session like an outsider would—objectively and with curiosity.

What will I do next time?

And now, the launch pad.

You’ve done the thing. Learned from the thing. Now it’s time to put that knowledge and accelerate into improvement.

• What’s the adjustment going into tomorrow?
• The things we did well—how do we build on them?
• The things we didn’t do well—how do we learn and build on them?

This is where we close the gap between yesterday’s workout and tomorrow’s improvement.

• “I try to make the good days great and take something positive from the days I’m not feeling good—work on technique or something like that.” – Katie Ledecky

Wrapping Things Up

This feedback loop takes around… two minutes. Maybe five.

Less if you are wearing a tech suit and a racing cap. Ha.

Done objectively—it’s best done after you’ve “cooled down” emotionally from the workout, good or bad—it will yield an absolute treasure chest of actionable intel.

Because fast swimmers learn faster.

What works. What doesn’t. And they apply those lessons ASAP to accelerate improvement.

Replicate this feedback loop enough times over the course of a season and you will give yourself countless opportunities to get better.

Happy swimming!

ABOUT OLIVIER POIRIER-LEROY

Olivier Poirier-Leroy is a former national-level swimmer, author, swim coach, and certified personal trainer. He’s the author of YourSwimBook, a ten-month logbook for competitive swimmers.

He’s also the author of the best-selling mental training workbook for competitive swimmers, Conquer the Pool: The Swimmer’s Ultimate Guide to a High-Performance Mindset.

It combines sport psychology research, worksheets, anecdotes, and examples of Olympians past and present to give swimmers everything they need to conquer the mental side of the sport.

Ready to take your mindset to the next level in the pool?

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

2025 Men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships

• March 26-29, 2025
• Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center, Federal Way, Washington
• Short Course Yards (25 yards)
• Live Results
• Final Results
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

See the women’s returning points breakdown.

While ‘returning points’ are just one piece of the NCAA puzzle, that one piece points strongly in favor of the defending champion Texas Longhorns.

The Texas men scored 332 individual points at last year’s NCAA Championship meet, and will return more than three-quarters of those, with 254.5

By comparison, the runner-up Cal men, who finished just 19 points behind Texas at NCAAs (and had more individual scoring swims), return only 43 individual points. That’s only around 14% of their individual points.

That 63.1% return rate is very high on the men’s side, where the scoring tends to be dominated by more veteran swimmers. About 48.7% of this year’s NCAA Championship individual points were scored by seniors or 5th years. That’s much higher than the 43.1% of women’s points that are graduating.

Points Scored By Class:

• Freshman – 191
• Sophomore – 407.5
• Junior – 581
• Senior – 860
• 5th Year – 428.5

A note about the class data: the math is calculated based on what classes athletes were listed in on the official NCAA results file, and for returning points were adjusted where we were able to identify swimmers who will be returning.

Most notably, that includes returning Georgia Bulldog Luca Urlando, who scored 45 NCAA Championship points. While he was listed as a 5th year in the official results, because of redshirts from injuries, he has a year of eligibility remaining and is planning to use it next season. We have moved him to the junior class for the purposes of this analysis.

That also includes Texas’ Luke Hobson, who was listed as as senior at NCAAs but who plans to return next season after taking an Olympic redshirt ahead of NCAAs. Hobson won the 200 free and set an NCAA Record in Federal Way.

This was the last season for swimmers to use a 5th year of eligibility unless they were granted a redshirt season in one of the last four and competed in the 2020-2021 collegiate season, like Urlando.

They’ve both been listed as seniors in the data above and juniors in the data below.

Texas A&M’s Baylor Nelson is transferring to Texas, costing them 14.5 individual returning points.

The Florida men return the next-most individual points after Texas with 150, and Indiana returns 121 – though the Hoosiers have picked up Olympian Luke Whitlock as a transfers from Florida and Olympian Aaron Shackell from Texas, so there’s a lot of upward momentum to close that gap.

Arizona State also returns most of their individual points (76 points, 76%), and have likewise picked up a pair of All-American transfer from Florida (Adam Chaney and Andrew Taylor).

The Georgia Bulldogs are an intriguing team: they finished 7th at last year’s NCAA Championships with a 12 individual scoring swim count, but thanks to Urlando’s loophole, they return 71.33% of their individual points.

They do graduate a big name in 5th year Jake Magahey, who swam a good 800 free relay leg and scored 42 individual points, and senior relay contributor Reese Branzell, but they bring in Sean Green, a very similar swimmer, as a replacement.

The Cal men, meanwhile, rank only 7th in returning points. The Golden Bears have finished in the top 2 in the last 15 consecutive NCAA Championship meets, but they’ll have to pull a few rabbits out of their hat next season to keep that streak alive.

Their cross-Bay rivals from Stanford also got hit hard by graduation, losing about 77% of their individual points.

Don’t look now but the LSU Tigers return 100% of their NCAA Championship points, which is the 8th-most points of any team in the country.

Returning Points

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Texas Men Return the Most NCAA Points, While Cal’s Streak Goes Into Serious Rebuild Mode

By SwimSwam on SwimSwam

When it comes to tech suits, every swimmer knows the reality—premium suits can cost $500 or more. But what if you don’t have that kind of cash lying around? Fortunately, there’s a range of more budget-friendly tech suits that perform just as well, giving you the competitive edge you need without draining your wallet.

As we head into the summer of 2025, there are a number of solid, performance-oriented tech suits available that bring compression, speed, and durability to the table—all for a more budget-friendly price. Whether you’re gearing up for your first big meet or need something for regular training and local competitions, these suits offer everything you need to go fast, with no gimmicks.

Before we start, you might be asking yourself: How should I choose the right budget-friendly tech suit?

When picking a budget-friendly tech suit, consider the following:

• Compression: Look for suits that provide compression to support muscles and reduce fatigue.
• Hydrodynamics: Choose a suit designed to minimize drag and improve speed.
• Fit: Ensure a snug fit that provides support without restricting movement.
• Durability: Consider how frequently you’ll use the suit. Look for materials resistant to chlorine wear if you train often.

Note: SwimSwam is independently owned and operated. We are not owned by a nonprofit, governing body, or a retail company. If you order via these affiliate links in this post, you help support our mission of unbiased, athlete-first journalistic swim coverage. 

Here’s a rundown of the best budget-friendly tech suits for 2025. Let’s dive in!

Speedo LZR Pure Intent (Men’s & Women’s)

Price: Approx. $360

Overview: The Speedo LZR Pure Intent Tech Suit brings advanced technology and high-performance features to swimmers looking for a competitive edge. As part of Speedo‘s top-tier LZR range, it balances innovation with comfort, offering an impressive option for athletes who want to perform at their best during competitions, all without reaching the premium price of the brand’s flagship models.

What Makes It Great:

• LZR Pulse+ Fabric: The LZR Pure Intent is crafted with Speedo’s LZR Pulse+ fabric, offering a superior combination of compression and flexibility. This fabric provides muscle support while also ensuring maximum mobility, so swimmers can maintain their optimal stroke mechanics throughout their race.
• Targeted Compression: This suit features strategically placed compression to support key muscle groups, reducing fatigue and improving overall endurance. This targeted compression also helps enhance posture and streamline in the water, boosting both speed and efficiency.
• Hydrodynamic Design: The LZR Pure Intent is built with water-repellent technology and a high-performance design that minimizes drag. Its sleek, smooth surface allows swimmers to glide effortlessly through the water, reducing resistance and improving race times.
• Bonded Seams: The suit’s seams are bonded, not stitched, to minimize resistance and ensure a seamless fit. This creates a smooth exterior that is less likely to cause drag while maximizing comfort.

Ideal For: Competitive swimmers looking for a reliable tech suit that delivers performance for both sprints and distance events. The LZR Pure Intent offers a great balance of advanced technology and affordability, making it a solid option for athletes who want a competitive edge without opting for the highest-end tech suits.

Women’s LZR Pro 2.0 Solid Open Back Tech Suit

Price: Approx. $340

Overview: The Women’s LZR Pro 2.0 Solid Open Back Tech Suit Swimsuit is a top-tier performance suit designed for elite-level swimmers who are looking for the ultimate in speed, compression, and muscle support. With its cutting-edge fabric technology and ultra-streamlined design, the LZR Pro 2.0 is built to provide maximum efficiency in the water. It’s a favorite among competitive swimmers looking to break personal records and achieve podium finishes.

What Makes It Great:

• LZR Pulse+ Fabric: The LZR Pro 2.0 utilizes Speedo’s advanced LZR Pulse+ fabric, which is lightweight, durable, and designed to deliver powerful compression while maintaining flexibility. The fabric’s unique construction helps reduce drag and increase body position stability in the water, enhancing overall swim performance.
• Hydrodynamic Fit: With its high-tech, form-fitting design, the LZR Pro 2.0 fits like a second skin, offering a sleek and hydrodynamic silhouette. This design minimizes water resistance, allowing swimmers to cut through the water more efficiently and gain valuable speed without sacrificing comfort.
• Targeted Compression: The LZR Pro 2.0 provides targeted compression to key muscle groups, helping to reduce muscle fatigue and improve endurance. The compression technology supports faster recovery and helps swimmers maintain optimal performance throughout long races, making it ideal for both sprints and distance events.
• Open Back Design: The open back design offers enhanced freedom of movement, especially around the shoulders, making it perfect for strokes that require full mobility, like freestyle and backstroke. It also adds a modern, sleek look to the suit, ensuring that swimmers not only perform their best but also look great doing it.
• Durable & Long-Lasting: The LZR Pro 2.0 is built to last, thanks to its high-quality, chlorine-resistant fabric. The suit maintains its shape and compression properties over time, making it a reliable investment for competitive swimmers who frequently race and train in it.

Ideal For: Elite swimmers who demand the best in performance. The LZR Pro 2.0 is perfect for athletes looking for a high-performance suit to optimize their race-day performance and boost their chances of achieving their personal best. Whether you’re competing at the national level or aiming for an international podium, this suit delivers superior speed, support, and comfort.

Arena Powerskin Impulso Open Back Tech Suit (Men’s & Women’s)

Price: Approx. $240

Overview: The Arena Powerskin Impulso Tech Suit is a solid mid-range option for competitive swimmers who are looking for high performance without breaking the bank. Offering advanced technology at a more accessible price point, it’s a great choice for swimmers who want to compete at a high level without spending on the premium end of tech suits.

What Makes It Great:

• Powerskin Fabric: The Impulso is constructed with Arena’s signature Powerskin fabric, designed to provide excellent compression and support without sacrificing flexibility. This allows swimmers to feel secure and powerful without feeling restricted.
• Hydrodynamic Fit: The suit is designed to fit like a second skin, minimizing drag and enhancing your streamline in the water. Its sleek design reduces resistance, helping you glide through the water with increased speed.
• Targeted Compression: The Impulso provides muscle support through targeted compression that enhances performance while reducing fatigue, making it suitable for both sprint and endurance events.
• Durable & Lightweight: While delivering all the performance benefits of a top-tier tech suit, the Impulso remains lightweight and comfortable, allowing for a great range of motion in all strokes. The durable fabric is built to withstand the rigors of frequent competition and training.

Ideal For: Swimmers who want a reliable, high-performance suit that strikes a great balance between cost and quality. It’s perfect for those looking to improve their race times in sprint and distance events without going for a top-tier price tag.

A3 Performance Women’s VICI Open Back Tech Suit

Price: Approx. $299

Overview: The A3 Performance Women’s VICI Open Back Tech Suit offers an impressive balance of performance, comfort, and affordability. This suit is designed for competitive swimmers looking for a high-quality tech suit that delivers speed and support without the hefty price tag of some other premium brands. Whether you’re racing in sprints or endurance events, the VICI Tech Suit is a solid choice to elevate your performance.

What Makes It Great:

• VICI Compression Technology: The suit is built with A3’s signature VICI compression fabric, which provides strategic muscle compression to enhance circulation and reduce fatigue during intense races.
• Hydrodynamic Design: The open-back design helps maximize flexibility and freedom of movement, which is essential for swimmers who require a full range of motion in their strokes. Its streamlined, smooth finish minimizes drag, allowing swimmers to cut through the water with reduced resistance.
• Durability & Comfort: Despite being built for performance, the VICI Tech Suit is comfortable to wear. The fabric is soft to the touch yet durable, designed to withstand the rigors of frequent competition and training. It also maintains its shape and elasticity over time.
• Stylish & Functional: The VICI suit features a sleek and modern design, with a unique open-back cut that not only looks great but offers increased comfort and mobility, especially for backstroke and butterfly swimmers.

Ideal For: Competitive swimmers seeking a high-performing tech suit that provides excellent support, compression, and durability for both sprints and longer events. It’s a great option for those looking for a budget-friendly yet reliable tech suit without compromising on speed and comfort.

FINIS Rival Open Back Tech Suit

Price: Approx. $250

Overview: The FINIS Rival Open Back Tech Suit is a performance-oriented suit that offers top-tier compression, durability, and a comfortable fit for competitive swimmers. Designed with advanced fabric technology and an open-back design, it provides the flexibility and muscle support needed for optimal performance in both sprints and distance events. Ideal for swimmers looking for high quality at an accessible price point.

What Makes It Great:

• Hydrodynamic Fabric: The Rival Tech Suit features a high-quality, water-repellent fabric designed to minimize drag in the water. This material ensures a smooth, streamlined fit that reduces resistance, helping swimmers glide faster and more efficiently through the water.
• Targeted Compression: The suit provides targeted compression to key muscle groups, improving blood flow, reducing fatigue, and enhancing overall performance. This compression technology allows swimmers to maintain energy and form, even in longer races.
• Open-Back Design: The open-back cut offers increased flexibility, particularly for swimmers who rely on their range of motion in strokes like backstroke and butterfly. This design promotes greater freedom in the shoulders and upper body, making it ideal for athletes who need unrestricted movement.
• Durability & Comfort: The fabric is designed for durability, standing up to frequent use in both training and competitions. Despite its compression properties, the suit remains comfortable throughout long race sessions, allowing swimmers to perform without distraction.

Ideal For: Competitive swimmers who are looking for an affordable tech suit that doesn’t compromise on performance. The FINIS Rival Open Back Tech Suit is perfect for athletes who want a reliable, comfortable suit with great compression and flexibility for both sprint and endurance events.

Women’s Mizuno MX-Sonic Tech Suit 

Price: Approx. $350

Overview: The Women’s MX-Sonic Tech Suit Swimsuit is a high-performance option designed for competitive swimmers who want to achieve maximum speed without the premium price tag of top-tier suits. Combining innovative fabric technology with a sleek, streamlined design, the MX-Sonic is a solid choice for athletes looking to improve their race times in both sprints and endurance events.

What Makes It Great:

• MX-Sonic Fabric Technology: The MX-Sonic is made from a unique, high-tech fabric that offers excellent compression to reduce muscle fatigue while increasing power output. The fabric helps to minimize drag and maximize propulsion, allowing swimmers to move faster through the water with less resistance.
• Hydrodynamic Fit: This suit is engineered with a hydrodynamic fit that molds to the body like a second skin, ensuring that swimmers can move freely while maintaining an optimal body position in the water. The design reduces drag and provides a streamlined shape that enhances speed, especially during races.
• Targeted Compression: The MX-Sonic features strategic compression zones that provide muscle support in the right areas. This targeted compression helps reduce muscle oscillation and supports better muscle recovery during long training sessions or intense competition, making it ideal for both sprints and longer races.
• Durable & Comfortable: The MX-Sonic is designed for durability, offering resistance to chlorine and maintaining its compression and fit over time. The suit is lightweight and breathable, making it comfortable to wear for extended periods without sacrificing performance. The soft material also helps to reduce chafing, which is important for long-duration wear.
• Stylish Design: The sleek, modern design of the MX-Sonic adds a stylish edge to performance. Available in various colors and patterns, it offers athletes a combination of function and fashion, making swimmers feel confident and ready to compete.

Ideal For: Swimmers who want a reliable tech suit that delivers solid performance at a more accessible price point. The MX-Sonic is great for athletes looking to enhance their race-day performance in both sprint and distance events without breaking the bank on a high-end tech suit.

Conclusion

For swimmers on a budget, there’s no reason you should have to sacrifice performance. The tech swimsuits in this guide prove that you can still get the compression, speed, and durability needed to compete at a high level—without spending a small fortune. Whether you’re aiming for your best times at the local meet or prepping for a big competition, these tech suits deliver results without breaking your budget. Happy swimming, and good luck in 2025!

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

Brought to you by Spectrum Aquatics, a SwimSwam partner, our Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming series celebrates swimmers of every age and experience level with age group profiles of some recent results.

Alex Kirsling, 12, Nitro Swimming (ST): Kirsling set best times in all seven events he contested at the Longhorn Aquatics 11 & Over Long Course Kick Off meet two weeks ago in Austin, moving into the top five of the boys’ 11-12 age group in six of them. Kirsling clocked 4:40.30 in the 400 free and 1:07.46 in the 100 back to rank 2nd in the age group this season, while he moves to 3rd in the 200 back (2:26.58), 4th in both the 200 free (2:10.67) and 400 IM (5:21.32), and 5th in the 200 IM (2:31.44). He added a seventh PB in the 100 fly, touching in 1:08.88 to rank 9th this season.

Abi Cowart, 12, Alamo Area Aquatic Association (ST): Cowart, representing the Alamo Area Aquatic Association at the TXLA Long Course Kick Off, swept her events in the girls’ 11-12 age group, setting new best times in the 50 back, 200 back, 50 breast, 100 breast and 200 IM. In the 50 back, Cowart clocked 33.07 to rank her 1st this season in the 11-12 age group, while in the 200 back, she went 2:29.44 to rank 2nd, and she also ranks 9th in the 200 IM (2:36.62). The 12-year-old also swam to times that rank her 10th this season in the 50 breast (38.03) and 14th in the 100 breast (1:23.93), while in the 200 free, her time of 2:15.91 ranks 2nd, though it’s just shy of her PB set last summer (2:15.40).

Derek Hernandez-Ojeda, 14, Nitro Swimming (ST): Also racing at the TXLA Long Course Kick Off, Hernandez-Ojeda set five lifetime bests, including cracking the top 100 list in the boys’ 13-14 200 back. Hernandez-Ojeda shattered his previous best time of 2:17.42 in 2:08.72, ranking him 89th all-time in the 13-14 age group and 1st this season. He also set best times to rank 3rd this season in the 200 fly (2:09.36), 5th in the 100 fly (59.19), 8th in the 400 IM (4:43.89), and 15th in the 100 back (1:02.77).

Adalyn Lee, 14, Brea Aquatics (CA): Lee set four best times at the Fran Crippen Swim Meet of Champions two weeks ago, highlighted by what she did in the 400 IM. The 14-year-old knocked more than two seconds off her personal best in 4:54.95, ranking her 1st this season in the girls’ 13-14 age group and falling just shy of cracking the top 100 all-time. She also clocked 4:23.95 in the 400 free to rank 3rd this season, 58.99 in the 100 free to rank 9th, and 1:06.41 in the 100 fly to tie for 11th.

Miles Lee, 10, CAC Boulder Riptide (CO): Lee set best times across the board at the GCST Spring Invite in Fort Myers, Florida, putting himself near the top of the boys’ 10 & under long course rankings this season. Lee now ranks 1st this season in the age group in the 50 back (34.17), 100 back (1:13.61) and 50 breast (39.90), 2nd in the 50 free (29.58) and 100 breast (1:28.02), 3rd in the 100 free (1:05.95) and 50 fly (32.49), and 4th in the 100 fly (1:18.30).

Brookyln Cross, 10, Paseo Aquatics Swim Team (CA): Cross won five events in the girls’ 10 & under age group at the Buenaventura LCM Opener in Ventura, California, setting notable best times in the free and fly events. The 10-year-old clocked 33.94 in the 50 fly to rank 3rd this season in the age group, while in the 100 fly, her time of 1:18.66 ranks 5th. She also ranks 4th in the 400 free (5:19.14), 12th in the 50 free (32.38) and 13th in the 100 free (1:12.28) after her swims two weeks ago.

About Spectrum

Since 1972, Spectrum Aquatics has been setting the standard for excellence in competition. Backed by a team of driven professionals, we proudly design and manufacture high-quality, custom products in our Missoula, Montana facility. With unmatched expertise and an unrelenting commitment to innovation, we don’t just meet expectations—we exceed them, delivering superior solutions tailored to your specific needs and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in competitive swimming.

Follow Spectrum Aquatics 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpectrumAquatics

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spectrum-products

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Spectrum is a SwimSwam partner. 

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Weekly Wonders of Age Group Swimming: 4/26/2025

By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam

2025 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships

• Thursday, April 24 – Sunday, April 27, 2025
• Northside ISD Swim Center, San Antonio, TX
• SCY (25 yards)
• Meet Central
• Psych Sheets / Heat Sheets
• Live Stream
• Day 1 Recap

Northside ISD Swim Center (Photo Credit: PBK Architects)

The 2025 U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships continued on Friday at the Northside ISD Swim Center in San Antonio, Texas, with 1,741 swimmers converging for day two.

Seven USMS records were posted during Friday’s action—three in relays and four in individual events.

In the mixed 200 freestyle relay, two records were shattered. The Olympic Club dominated the 25+ age group, as Mark Andrew (20.29), Julian Mackrel (19.92),Lauren Green (23.57), and Virginia Burns (23.00) combined for a time of 1:26.78, nearly a full second faster than New York Athletic Club’s 2023 mark of 1:27.54.

Just one day prior, the same trio—this time with Marie Ballenger stepping in for Green—clocked a time of 3:11.10 in the mixed 400 free relay, slicing over five seconds off the previous record.

In the 75+ mixed 200 free relay, Swim Fort Lauderdale made a statement. Steven Heck (27.78), Glenn Gruber (28.34), Linda Webb (38.11), and Cecilia McCloskey (31.11) teamed up for a 2:05.34, taking down Oregon Masters’ 2024 USMS record of 2:11.44.

The same quartet notched the 75+ mixed 400 free relay record on Thursday by a staggering 35.81 seconds—with Hubie Kerns subbing in for Gruber.

In the 75+ men’s 200 medley relay, Fort Lauderdale once again impressed. Heck (backstroke, 33.09), Kerns (breaststroke, 35.95), Gruber (butterfly, 32.71), and Bruce Rollins (freestyle, 29.56) recorded a time of 2:11.31, eclipsing San Diego Masters’ 2019 standard of 2:15.38.

Now for the individual records. In the men’s 70-74 100 back, Tom Wolf of Lone Star Masters improved upon his own national record with a time 1:00.62, lowering his previous best of 1:01.09 set earlier this month.

The aforementioned Cecilia McCloskey wasn’t done making history—she added the women’s 75-79 100 back mark to her meet resume with a 1:13.34, clipping her 1:13.95 from March.

Menlo Masters’Daniela Barnea crushed her own women’s 80-84 100 fly record, posting 1:39.43 to better the 1:41.55 she set last June.

Additionally, Swim Kentucky Masters’ Avraham Solano logged a time of 4:27.10 in the men’s 55-59 400 IM, undercutting Jim Sauer’s 2014 record of 4:28.66.

Anton Ipsen at the 2018 NCAA Championships (Photo Credit: Tim Binning)

Another standout swim, though not a record, came in the men’s 30-34 200 free, where Lucas Bureau of 1693 Club outpaced NYAC’s Anton Ipsen, winning 1:38.30 to 1:39.82. Ipsen bounced back later in the session to win the 400 IM in 4:02.19, ahead of teammate Austin Quinn’s 4:10.42.

As SwimSwam reported on Thursday, Ipsen also shattered the men’s 30-34 USMS record in the 1000 free with a 9:17.76, chopping 7.25 seconds off the prior mark of 9:25.01. Both the 1000 and 1650 free took place yesterday, but the former NC State standout—and 2018 NCAA mile champion—chose to contest the shorter distance. Despite representing Denmark internationally, his USMS membership allows him to set American masters records.

Former backstroke NCAA record holder and Stanford alum Ally Howe, representing NYAC, was in action twice during the session. Competing in the 25-29 age group, she opened her day with a 2nd-place showing in the 100 fly (54.31), finishing behind Dakota Luther of Texas Longhorn Aquatics, who won in 53.68. Luther, a 2017 U.S. World Championships team member in the 200 fly (LCM), also placed 5th in that event at last June’s U.S. Olympic Trials. Howe later returned to win the 100 back in 54.29. She currently holds the U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) records for the 50 back (24.70), 100 back (52.69), and 200 back (1:55.90) in this age bracket.

If you missed the live action, replays are available through “U.S. Masters Swimming Events Live Streaming” on YouTube. Due to the large number of competitors, there are separate livestreams for odd- and even-numbered heats, with the races being conducted in two different pools. Be sure to check the heat sheets to find a specific race.

Odd Heats:

Even Heats:

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Seven More USMS Records Go Down On Second Day Of Spring National Championships

By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam

The World Para Swimming Series stop in Indianapolis continued Friday evening, with the second of the three-day long course meet unfolding.

Para swimming athletes are classified into categories based on the nature and severity of their impairments: physical (S1-S10), visual (S11-S13), and intellectual (S14). This classification system ensures a level playing field by grouping athletes with similar impairments, allowing for fair competition.

At these World Series events, swimmers from different classifications compete in the same races, such as S6-14 in one race and S1-5 or S11-14 in others. However, the swimmer who finishes first is not always the official winner. Instead, the winner is determined by which swimmer comes closest to their own world record within their specific classification, with points awarded using the World Para Swimming Points System.

Morgan Stickney (S7) returned to action for her marquee race—the women’s 400 freestyle (S6-14)—following a bronze-medal effort in the 100 free on Thursday. The reigning Paralympic champion in the S7 category posted a winning mark of 4:55.58 to top the podium, earning 1,043 points. Australia’s Lakeisha Patterson (S9), who swam a faster time of 4:45.01 but earned 961 points, took 2nd. U.S. teammate Ahalya Lettenberger (S7) finished 3rd with a time of 5:20.81, earning 901 points.

For Stickney, the key to success was reconnecting with the joy of competition. After a taxing Paralympic cycle that included significant health challenges, simply being back in the pool was a victory in itself.

“It’s so great to be here and to be representing Team USA,” Stickney told U.S. Paralympics. “It’s been a really hard fall, so just to be here, I’m in my happy place. There’s nowhere else I would rather be. I put no pressure on myself, I had no idea where my times would be. I just came into this wanting to have fun, and that’s exactly what I did.”

On the men’s side, Morgan Ray (S6) captured gold in the 100 breaststroke (SB4-9, 11-14), an event where he had placed 4th at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Ray clocked a time of 1:22.15 (919 points), ahead of Indiana native Aiden Stivers (S9, 867 points), who posted a silver-worthy performance with a time of 1:11.71.

Ray’s perspective has shifted post-Paris. While many of his peers took extended breaks, he chose a six-week mental reset before diving back in.

“Especially with [Paris] being my first Games, it was very mentally taxing,” Ray told U.S. Paralympics. “I’ve re-found my love for the water and am just having so much fun here. I’m keeping a more holistic approach to the sport – and I’m glad I’m realizing this now at only 22 [years old] – but there’s so much more to the sport than just swimming. It’s the impact you can make on other lives too.”

Brazil’s Gabriel dos Santos Araujo, a five-time Paralympic champion who competes in the S2 classification, impressed in the men’s 50 back (S1-5), clocking a winning time of 55.27 (935 points). He has been in top form since returning to competition earlier this year and arrived in Indianapolis after posting a six-medal haul in Barcelona, including four golds. In 2024, Araujo won the men’s overall title for the Para World Swimming series for the second-straight season.

Alberto Caroly Abarza Diaz of Chile was the only other competitor in that 50 back, and the S2-classified athlete clocked a time of 1:00.04 to earn 807 points.

In a nail-biting men’s 400 free (S6-14) battle, Italy’s Simone Barlaam (S9) touched 1st with a time of 4:18.35, earning 941 points. Brazil’s Talisson Glock (S6) finished 2nd, clocking 5:07.46 for 939 points, while Koehn Boyd (S10) of the USA also scored 939 points but took 3rd with a time of 4:07.66.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Paralympic Champions Leanne Smith & Morgan Stickney Shine On Day 2 Of Indianapolis Para Series

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2025 Berlin Swim Open

• Friday, April 25th – Sunday, April 27th
• Prelims at 9:30am local (3:30am ET)/Finals at 4pm local (10am ET)
• Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europasportpark, Berlin, Germany
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Live Results
• Livestream

The 2025 Berlin Swim Open continued today with our first national record of the competition being broken.

Racing in the final of the women’s 50m butterfly event, Angelina Köhler produced a new German standard of 25.62 en route to taking the gold.

Köhler represented the sole finalist to dip under the 26-second barrier. Anna Dowgiert clocked 26.45 to snag the silver while Klara Sophie Beierling rounded out the podium in 27.47.

The former Grerman record stood at the 25.68 Aliena Schmidtke put on the books at the 2017 World Championships so Köhler managed to shave .06 off that mark tonight.

Entering this competition, Köhler’s fastest 50m fly rested at the 25.71 established at the 2024 World Championships to become just the 2nd German woman to clear the 26-second barrier.

It was there in Doha that Köhler became world champion in the 100m fly, notching a gold medal-worthy result of 56.28 after turning in a new German record of 56.11 in the semi-final.

Köhler’s 25.62 50m fly outing clears the World Aquatics ‘A’ standard of 26.23 needed for Singapore and also now checks her in as the #2 performer in the world this season. Only Japan’s Rikako Ikee has been swifter, wearing the world rankings crown courtesy of the 25.41 logged at Japan’s World Championship Trials.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Angelina Köhler Notches New German Record In 50 Fly At Berlin Swim Open

By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam

The College Sports Communicators (CSC) have announced their 2025 Academic All-American Teams for women’s college swimming. The Academic All-American Teams include all three NCAA divisions, as well as the NAIA.

To qualify for the team, student athletes must maintain a 3.50 GPA and be among the elite in their respective sport as well. Communications directors name student-athletes to the All-District Teams, then, CSC members vote on the All-American Teams. Once the All-American Teams have been named for every sport, the CSC members will also vote to name a singular overall Academic All-America of the Year recipient for each NCAA division and the NAIA.

The CSC also names a Member of the Year for each division, highlighting standouts in the pool and the classroom for DI, DII, DII, and NAIA. The women’s Member of the Year honorees were Gretchen Walsh from Virginia (DI), Luna Mertins from Lynn (DII), Abigail Wilkov from Case Western Reserve (DIII), and Aubrey Bach from Keiser (NAIA).

Walsh, a commerce major with a 3.85 GPA, concluded her collegiate career with a dominant performance at the 2025 National Championships. The senior secured three individual titles and contributed to four relay wins. She claimed her fourth consecutive NCAA 100 free title, breaking her own NCAA and American records with a time of 44.71. She also won NCAA titles and broke records in the 50 free and 100 butterfly events, leading the University of Virginia to its fifth consecutive team championship. Her legacy includes 25 NCAA titles, with nine coming in individual events, and 27 All-America honors.

Wilkov, a neuroscience major with a 4.00 GPA, concluded the most successful women’s diving career in Case Western Reserve University history with two runner-up finishes at the 2025 NCAA Championships, marking the best results in school history. She made history in 2023 as the first diver in school history to earn All-America honors on the 1m board.

A graduate student in Financial Technology at Keiser University with a 4.0 GPA, Bach previously competed at Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2020-21 before transferring to Keiser. She has collected 11 All-America honors, including four at the 2025 NAIA Championships, where she helped Keiser secure its fourth consecutive NAIA title. Bach swam on the victorious 400 and 800 free relay teams and earned All-America recognition in the 100 and 200 free.

Among Division I swimmers and divers, 10 members of the Academic All-American Team achieved a 4.0 GPA. Here is that list of student-athletes:

• Ching Hwee Gan– Indiana University, Senior, Nutrition Science
• Hedda Grelz– University of Houston, Graduate Student, Mechanical Engineering
• Emily Lundgren– Washington State University, Junior, Digital Technology & Culture
• Abby McCulloh– University of Georgia, Senior, Journalism
• Malia Rausch– University of Arizona, Junior, Neuroscience & Cognitive Science
• Aurora Roghair– Stanford University, Senior, Human Biology
• Arianna Sakellaris– University of Hawaii at Manoa, Graduate Student, Clinical Research
• Chloe Stepanek– Texas A&M, Graduate Student, Biomedical Sciences
• Emma Sticklen– University of Texas, Senior, Sports Communication (Graduate)
• Alex Walsh– University of Virginia, Graduate Student, Computer Science

Below are the full Academic All-American Teams for each division.

Division I

Division II

Division III

NAIA

Read the full story on SwimSwam: CSC Names Women’s Swimming and Diving Academic All-American Teams for 2024-25 Season

By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam

2025 Mare Nostrum Tour – Monaco

• May 17th-18th, 2025
• Monte Carlo, Monaco
• Meet Central

Earlier in the month, SwimSwam reported on the release of a preliminary list of names that have committed to swim at the first stop of the Mare Nostrum Tour, which will take place in Monaco from the 17th to the 18th of May. Since then, more names have been added to the ever-changing commitment list, which can be viewed at the bottom of this article.

We originally wrote that top-end talents Ilya Shymanovich, Kirill Prigoda, and Sam Williamson would go head-to-head in the sprint breaststroke events — and now that showdown is even more stacked. 2024 Olympic 100 breast champion Nicolo Martinenghi has also committed, joining the battle alongside Italian teammate Simone Cerasuolo.

They’ll all likely clash in both the 50 and 100 breast, but on paper, the 50 appears to be the more exciting race. Shymanovich, who just clocked a world-leading 26.37 earlier this month, headlines the field that features four of the five fastest swimmers in the world this season:

1. Ilya Shymanovich (BLR) – 26.37
2. Ivan Kozhakin (RUS) – 26.49 (Not Attending)
3. Simone Cerasuolo (ITA) – 26.59
4. Sam Williamson (AUS) – 26.66
5. Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) – 26.78

2024 World Champion Williamson, who clocked a time of 26.66 in February, ranking 3rd worldwide, recently posted a 27.10 to win the Australian Open title. Martinenghi placed 2nd (26.78) behind countryman Cerasuolo (26.59) at the recent Italian Nationals, which slots them at 3rd and 5th so far this season.

Prigoda sits 8th in the world rankings, thanks to his 26.98 winning time from the Russian World Trials last week.

2024 Olympian Benedetta Pilato will make a return to the tour after having won both the 50 and 100 breast at the Barcelona stop last year. Pilato had a strong showing in Paris, tying for 4th in the 100 breast in a new PB of 1:05.60, just .01 out of the medals.

Maxime Grousset, the 2023 100 butterfly World Champion, will make the trip to Monaco. In Paris, the Frenchman failed to reach the podium individually despite three solid chances. He placed 5th in both the 100 free (47.71) and 100 fly (50.65), and scratched out of the 50 free final after initially qualifying 6th from the semis. His fastest times in 2024 ranked him 11th globally in the 50 free (21.60), 5th in the 100 free (47.33), and 5th in the 100 fly (50.41). The 100 free time is his quickest-ever, while he has swum faster in the 50 free (21.57) and 100 fly (50.14).

Polish rising star Ksawery Masiuk is also among the commitments. He recently represented Poland at his first Olympic Games in Paris, placing 12th in the men’s 100 back (53.44) and 17th in the 200 back (1:58.01). The University of Texas commit owns elite lifetime bests of 24.44 in the 50 back, 52.58 in the 100 back, and 1:56.48 in the 200 back.

After breaking the Mare Nostrum record twice last season in the 200 free, Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey returns to the field. In 2024, she earned gold in the 200 free at all three stops, a feat she matched in the 100 free. Using the tour as a launchpad, she went on to claim Olympic bronze medals in both the 100 and 200 free events in Paris. Since then, she has continued her dominance in the 200 free, winning all three stops of the World Cup and capping it off with a gold at the Short Course Worlds.

Haughey will have some competition in the 100 free, with the Netherlands’Milou van Wijk coming in with the third-fastest 100 free time (53.18) in the world this year, notched at the Antwerp Diamond Speedo Meet in late March. France’s Beryl Gastaldello will also be in the mix with her personal best of 53.40.

Updated Commitments:

Note: Neutral Athletes ‘A’ are competitors from Belarus, and Neutral Athletes ‘B’ are from Russia. They are required to compete as neutrals due to their nations’ suspensions, resulting from the ongoing war in Ukraine as well as Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian sporting organizations.

• Sam Williamson (Australia)
• Bernhard Reitshammer (Austria)
• Lana Pudar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Ingrid Wilm (Canada)
• Sydney Pickrem (Canada)
• Melanie Henique (France)
• Maxime Grousset (France)
• Beryl Gastaldello (France)
• Siobhan Haughey (Hong Kong)
• Petra Senanszky (Hungary)
• Nandor Nemeth (Hungary)
• Eszter Szabo-Feltothy (Hungary)
• Szebasztian Szabo (Hungary)
• Panna Ugrai (Hungary)
• Balazs Hollo (Hungary)
• Lora Komoroczy (Hungary)
• Attila Kovacs (Hungary)
• Anastasia Gorbenko (Israel)
• Benedetta Pilato (Italy)
• Alberto Razzetti (Italy)
• Sara Franceschi (Italy)
• Alessandro Miressi (Italy)
• Ludovico Viberti (Italy)
• Nicolo Martinenghi (Italy)
• Giacomo Carini (Italy)
• Simone Cerasuolo (Italy)
• Manuel Frigo (Italy)
• Leonardo Deplano (Italy)
• Lisa Angiolini (Italy)
• Milou Van Wijk (Netherlands)
• Tessa Giele (Netherlands)
• Ilya Shymanovich (Neutral Athletes A)
• Anastasiya Shkurdai (Neutral Athletes A)
• Grigori Pekarski (Neutral Athletes A)
• Arina Surkova (Neutral Athletes B)
• Roman Shevliakov (Neutral Athletes B)
• Kirill Prigoda (Neutral Athletes B)
• Lewis Clareburt (New Zealand)
• Adela Piskorska (Poland)
• Dominika Sztandera (Poland)
• Ksawery Masiuk (Poland)
• Jakub Majerski (Poland)
• Louise Hansson (Sweden)
• Sophie Hansson (Sweden)
• Sara Junevik (Sweden)

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Nicolo Martinenghi, Maxime Grousset Highlight Updated Monaco Mare Nostrum Commitments

By Braden Keith on SwimSwam

2025 Men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships

• March 26-29, 2025
• Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center, Federal Way, Washington
• Short Course Yards (25 yards)
• Live Results
• Final Results
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

See the women’s returning points breakdown.

While ‘returning points’ are just one piece of the NCAA puzzle, that one piece points strongly in favor of the defending champion Texas Longhorns.

The Texas men scored 332 individual points at last year’s NCAA Championship meet, and will return nearly three-quarters of those, with 254.5

By comparison, the runner-up Cal men, who finished just 19 points behind Texas at NCAAs (and had more individual scoring swims), return only 43 individual points. That’s only around 14% of their individual points.

That 63.1% return rate is very high on the men’s side, where the scoring tends to be dominated by more veteran swimmers. About 48.7% of this year’s NCAA Championship individual points were scored by seniors or 5th years. That’s much higher than the 43.1% of women’s points that are graduating.

Points Scored By Class:

• Freshman – 191
• Sophomore – 407.5
• Junior – 581
• Senior – 860
• 5th Year – 428.5

A note about the class data: the math is calculated based on what classes athletes were listed in on the official NCAA results file, and for returning points were adjusted where we were able to identify swimmers who will be returning.

Most notably, that includes returning Georgia Bulldog Luca Urlando, who scored 45 NCAA Championship points. While he was listed as a 5th year in the official results, because of redshirts from injuries, he has a year of eligibility remaining and is planning to use it next season. We have moved him to the junior class for the purposes of this analysis.

That also includes Texas’ David Johnston, who was listed as as senior at NCAAs but who plans to return next season after taking an Olympic redshirt ahead of NCAAs. He scored 30 points at NCAAs.

This was the last season for swimmers to use a 5th year of eligibility unless they were granted a redshirt season in one of the last four and competed in the 2020-2021 collegiate season, like Urlando.

They’ve both been listed as seniors in the data above and juniors in the data below.

Texas A&M’s Baylor Nelson is transferring to Texas, costing them 14.5 individual returning points.

The Florida men return the next-most individual points after Texas with 150, and Indiana returns 121 – though there are rumors of some high profile transfers for the Hoosiers next season that would help close that gap.

Arizona State also returns most of their individual points (76 points, 76%), and have likewise picked up a pair of All-American transfer from Florida (Adam Chaney and Andrew Taylor).

The Georgia Bulldogs are an intriguing team: they finished 7th at last year’s NCAA Championships with a 12 individual scoring swim count, but thanks to Urlando’s loophole, they return 71.33% of their individual points.

They do graduate a big name in 5th year Jake Magahey, who swam a good 800 free relay leg and scored 42 individual points, and senior relay contributor Reese Branzell, but they bring in Sean Green, a very similar swimmer, as a replacement.

The Cal men, meanwhile, rank only 7th in returning points. The Golden Bears have finished in the top 2 in the last 15 consecutive NCAA Championship meets, but they’ll have to pull a few rabbits out of their hat next season to keep that streak alive.

Their cross-Bay rivals from Stanford also got hit hard by graduation, losing about 77% of their individual points.

Don’t look now but the LSU Tigers return 100% of their NCAA Championship points, which is the 8th-most points of any team in the country.

Returning Points

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Texas Men Return the Most NCAA Points, While Cal’s Streak Goes Into Serious Rebuild Mode

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2025 Berlin Swim Open

• Friday, April 25th – Sunday, April 27th
• Prelims at 9:30am local (3:30am ET)/Finals at 4pm local (10am ET)
• Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europasportpark, Berlin, Germany
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Live Results
• Livestream

Day two of the 2025 Berlin Swim Open unfolded today with two national records going down, both on the women’s side.

We reported how Angelina Köhler busted out a new lifetime best of 25.62 to take gold in the women’s 50m fly. That was enough to slice .06 off the previous German standard of 25.68 Aliena Schmidtke put on the books at the 2017 World Championships.

Köhler’s 25.62 50m fly outing cleared the World Aquatics ‘A’ standard of 26.23 needed for Singapore and also now checked her in as the #2 performer in the world this season. Only Japan’s Rikako Ikee has been swifter, wearing the world rankings crown courtesy of the 25.41 logged at Japan’s World Championship Trials.

The other national record came in the women’s 200m breaststroke, where Anna Elendt crushed a new PB of 2:23.93 to get to the wall nearly 10 seconds ahead of the competition.

The performance represented Elendt’s first-ever foray under the 2:24 barrier, erasing her former German benchmark of 2:24.63 logged at the 2022 Pro Swim Series in San Antonio.

Elendt, too, earned a World Championships bid, with her swim dipping under the World Aquatics ‘A’ cut of 2:25.91. Her race result ranks her just outside the list of top 5 performers in the world on the season. Look for a follow-up post highlighting this new record.

The remainder of today’s events were on the subdued side, save for Rafael Miroslaw‘s victory in the men’s 100m free.

24-year-old Miroslaw stopped the clock at a time of 48.36, falling painstakingly shy of the 48.34 needed for this summer’s World Championships.

Miroslaw opened in 23.16 and closed in 25.20 to register the 3rd-swiftesrt time of his young career. His personal best remains at the 47.92 and the next-quickest result checks in at 48.16, with both marks occurring at the 2022 edition of this competition.

He’ll have additional chances to make the grade for Singapore, including at next month’s German Championships.

Additional Notes

• Nele Schulze reaped gold in the women’s 100m free, beating the pack by over a second en route to touching in 55.57. She’s been as fast as 54.60 in this event from last year.
• Kenneth Bock topped the men’s 200m breast podium in 2:14.71, well off the ‘A’ cut of 2:10.32 needed for Singapore.
• The men’s 50m fly saw Mikkel Lee of Singapore get it done for gold, scoring the sole time of the field under 24 seconds. He hit 23.57 to beat Arda Akkoyun‘s time of 24.00 and Julian Henx‘s result of 24.41.
• Laura Kohlman turned in a time of 2:16.27 to win the women’s 200m backstroke by nearly 8 seconds.
• Cedric Büssing, formerly of the IU Indy NCAA swim team, notched a winning result of 2:01.11 in the men’s 200m back, defeating his competitors by over 2 seconds. His personal best is represented by the 1:59.02 put up this same time last year.
• Kridtin Bergmann posted a time of 4:23.48 to win a tightly contested women’s 400m free. Next to the wall was Melina Nitschke who was only .09 behind in 4:23.57 while Lou Jominet was also in the mix at 4:23.77 for bronze.
• Jonas Kusche posted 4:00.30 to win the men’s 400m freestyle.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Rafael Miroslaw Hits 48.36 100 Free On Day Two Of Berlin Swim Open

By Sam Blacker on SwimSwam

2025 Berlin Swim Open

• Friday, April 25th – Sunday, April 27th
• Prelims at 9:30am local (3:30am ET)/Finals at 4pm local (10am ET)
• Schwimm- und Sprunghalle im Europasportpark, Berlin, Germany
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Live Results
• Livestream

Anna Elendt broke her own German Record in the 200 breaststroke on Day 2 of the Berlin Swim Open, the second National Record set in less than an hour after Angelina Kohler kicked off tonight’s finals session with one in the 50 fly. She won the event tonight by nearly ten seconds, a dominant performance on the same scale as her triumph in the 100 breaststroke yesterday.

She powered to a time of 2:23.93, her first time under 2:24 and the only German to break both that mark and the 2:25 barrier. She also now ranks eighth in the world this season, giving her a pair of top-eight rankings as she currently ranks fourth in the 100.

Elendt’s prior best time stood at 2:24.63, so she chopped off seven-tenths of a second tonight. She swum that back in 2022, her most successful season internationally so far, and made up most of her ground here on the second 100.

This swim sliced over 1.5 seconds off her previous season best, a 2:25.51 from the Westmont Pro Swim Series at the start of March. That was almost exactly the same amount of time that she took off her 100 performance from that meet with her swim of 1:05.97 yesterday.  Her previous 200m breast was also set at the Westmont Pro Swim Series, back in 2022, where she set her best time in the 100 of 1:05.58.

That could indicate that there is some more early speed to be had for Elendt in the event later this summer. She cleared the World Aquatics ‘A’ cut of 2:25.91, and likely adds this to her slate for Singapore. She’ll swim in the 50 tomorrow, where her season best of 30.95 lies two-tenths outside of the 30.75 required for the ‘A’ cut.

Elendt set her fastest time since 2022 in the 100 breaststroke yesterday, which was also her first time under 1:06 since taking silver at the Budapest World Championships in 2022. She flexed some impressive back-half speed there as well, which looks to already be serving her well in this longer event.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Anna Elendt breaks Own German Record in 200 Breaststroke At Berlin Swim Open

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2025 GOTHEAR & FRIENDS SWIM MEET (GER)

• Friday, April 25th – Sunday, April 27th
• Magdeburg, Germany
• LCM (50m)
• Day 1 Recap
• Live Results
• Livestream

The 2025 Gothear & Friends Swim Meet saw day two unravel from Magdeburg with newly-minted 400m free world record holder Lukas Märtens contesting two events.

The 23-year-old first tried the men’s 100m free on for size, where he notched a gold medal-worthy swim of 49.52 to score the sole result of the pack under the 50-second barrier.

That checked in as the 5th-best 1free outing of his career, one which boasts a lifetime best of 48.86 from last year’s German Championships.

Versatile Märtens next took on the 100m back where he struck gold in an outing of 55.09. That beat the field by over 6 seconds and represented the 4th-swiftest time of his career. His PB remains at the 54.18 posted at this year’s Swim Open Stockholm last month.

Fellow Olympian Florian Wellbrock followed up his 800m free victory from night one with a top finish in the men’s 400m free tonight.

Open water and pool ace Wellbrock stopped the clock at 3:48.13 to score the sole result of the pack under the 3:50 threshold.

Arne Schubert was next to the wall in 3:51.64 followed by Ivan Korolev‘s time of 4:05.26.

Wellbrock’s season-best checks in at the 3:45.29 he produced at the aforementioned Swim Open Stockholm to rank 4th in the world on the season.

Two women turned in times worthy of a World Championships bid, as Nina Holt won the 100m free and Maya Werner grabbed gold in the 400m free.

As for the former, Holt registered a speedy mark of 53.81 to handily defeat the field. The next-closest competitor was Leni Labarre who settled for silver over 2 seconds behind in 56.29.

Holt’s time cleared the World Aquatics ‘A’ standard of 54.25 needed for Singapore and it also represented her first-ever foray under the 54-second barrier.

Entering this competition, 22-year-old Holt’s lifetime best rested at the 54.22 logged at last year’s edition of this competition. With tonight’s effort, Holt has now become Germany’s 3rd-speediest woman ever.

Top 5 German Women’s LCM 100 Free Performers All-Time

1. Britta Stefffen – 52.07, 2009
2. Daniela Schreiber – 53.76, 2009
3. Nina Holt– 53.81, 2025
4. Annika Bruhn – 53.96, 2021
5. Petra Dallmann – 54.35, 2008

Maya Werner busted out a winning effort of 4:06.43 to top the women’s 400m free podium by nearly 10 seconds.

Racing on her 19th birthday, Werner was in a one-woman race, ripping her previous lifetime best off 4:10.88 to shreds en route to gold.

She enters the national all-time best performers list in slot #4.

Top 5 German Women’s LCM 400 Free Performers All-Time

1. Isabel Gose – 4:02.14, 2024
2. Sarah Kohler – 4:03.96, 2017
3. Leonie Kullmann – 4:06.25, 2021
4. Maya Werner– 4:06.43, 2025
5. Hannah Stockbauer – 4:06.55, 2000

Read the full story on SwimSwam: 2025 Gothear & Friends Swim Meet Day 2: Lukas Märtens Takes 100 Free & 100 Back

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2025 OPEN BELGIAN SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Friday, April 25th – Sunday, April 27th
• Antwerp, Belgium
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• Live Results

The 2025 Open Belgian Swimming Championships got underway this weekend with swimmers vying for potential spots on the nation’s roster for this summer’s World Championships.

24-year-old Lucas Henveaux, the Cal Bear who was named the 2025 Atlantic Coast Conference’s (ACC) Male Swimmer of the Year, made his mark on two events thus far in Antwerp.

First in the men’s 400m free, Henveaux stopped the clock at a time of 3:46.76 to grab the gold.

He registered the sole time of the field under the 4:01 barrier, easily beating the World Aquatics ‘A’ cut of 3:48.15 needed for Singapore.

Henveaux is the reigning Belgian national record holder in this event, courtesy of the 3:44.61 lifetime best he put up for 5th place at the 2024 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

His effort at this competition rendered him just outside the list of top 10 performers in the world on the season.

Henveaux also led off his medley relay squad with a swift mark of 54.26 in the 100m backstroke.

That obliterated his previous personal best of 56.30 from last year and established a new Belgian Record.

The previous Belgian standard stood at the 55.01 Stan Franckx put on the books at the 2023 Flanders Swim Cup. As such, Henveaux is now Belgium’s first-ever man under the 55-second barrier in the event.

Note: Splits were not available at the time of publishing.

Additional Notes

• Sarah Dumont logged a time of 4:10.47 to win the women’s 400m free, coming painstakingly shy of the 4:10.23 World Aquatics ‘A’ standard needed for this summer’s World Championships. Dumont was also the women’s 400m IM victor in 4:48.37 as well as the gold medalist in the 200m free in 1:59.50, the sole sub-2:00 result of the field.
• National record holder Roos Vanotterdijk got the job done in the women’s 50m back, scoring 28.19 to clear the ‘A’ cut of 28.22. She also topped the women’s 100m back podium in 1:00.00 to dip under the ‘A’ standard of 1:00.46.
• Florine Gaspard, the reigning Belgian national record holder in the 50m free, punched an effort of 24.46 to come within .04 of hr national record notched just last month in Stockholm. Vanotterdijk was within striking distance, settling for silver in 24.83 to also clear the ‘A’ cut of 24.86 needed for Singapore.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Lucas Henveaux Clocks 100 Back Belgian Record And Takes 400 Free In Antwerp