By Michael Hamann on SwimSwam
2021 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Thursday, December 16th – Tuesday, December 21st
- Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- SCM (25m)
- Prize Money
- Meet Site
- Psych Sheet
- SwimSwam Preview Index
- FINA Live Results
- Omega Live Results
Canadian teenager Joshua Liendo has continued his stellar breakout meet, re-breaking his own Canadian Record in the 50 free to snag the bronze medal in 20.76. Coming into the meet, the 19 year-old’s lifetime best stood at 21.45 from 2019, but he has now undercut that mark, and Brent Hayden‘s former national record of 21.34, four times this week.
Liendo’s first hint at record-breaking speed came from his lead off split of 20.88 Canada’s 4×50 mixed free relay on Friday, though leadoff splits in mixed relays do not officially count for records or personal bests. He came back in yesterday’s 50 free prelims to officially break the record in 21.01, then lowered it to 20.88 in last night’s semis, before blasting the 20.76 in tonight’s final, his last 50 free of the meet.
The swim also signifies a breakthrough for the Canadians, with Liendo winning the first men’s major individual international medal for the country since distance swimmer Ryan Cochrane won silver in the 1500 and Brent Hayden won bronze in the 100 free at the 2012 London Olympic Games. While the country has been one of the top nations in the world for women’s swimming the last several years, the Canadian men have comparatively lagged behind.
Below is the men’s 50 free final race video, with Liendo swimming in Lane 5, the bottom “gold” lane.
Correction , 1st individual pool medal at a world champs or Olympics games since 2015 , in a pool event
