Leon Marchand, Gretchen Walsh Produced Top Races of 2025

Leon Marchand and Gretchen Walsh Produced Top-Rated Races of the Season (Full Scoring Results)

The focus in swimming has largely turned to the short-course season, which means we can take a look at the long-course campaign and highlight the best swims that took place in 2025. It should be no surprise that the names of Leon Marchand and Gretchen Walsh stand out. During the long-course season, multiple world records were broken, so it’s not easy to determine which were the best. However, using World Aquatics’ ranking system, we know which performances ranked No. 1.

Marchand broke Ryan Lochte’s world record in the 200 individual medley in the semifinals of the World Championships in Singapore. The Frenchman stopped the clock in 1:52.69, which was good for 1,035 points. Marchand also occupied the No. 2 position, thanks to his 1:53.68 in the 200 IM, which earned him gold at the World Champs. That performance was good for 1,008 points. Lukas Martens’ world record race in 400 freestyle (3:39.96) followed in third place with 1,001 points.

On the women’s side, Walsh took the 100 butterfly to a different level when she brought the event into sub-55 territory. At the TYR Pro Series in Fort Lauderdale, Walsh went 54.60, which earned her 1,032 points, only three shy of Marchand’s world record in the 200 IM. In addition to this historic effort, she clocked 54.73 and 54.76 in the 100 fly, with those swims placing second and third for the 2025 season.

It would be unfair not to mention Summer McIntosh. The 18-year-old from Canada slotted fourth, fifth and sixth for her performances in the 400 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley – all world records. She earned the most points for her outing in the 400 freestyle, in which she shattered Ariarne Titmus’ world record with a time of 3:54.18.

The Top-10 Performances of 2025 (Based on the World Aquatics Scoring System)

Men

1. Leon Marchand (France) – 200 medley – 1:52.69 – 1035 points

2. Leon Marchand (France) – 200 medley – 1:53.68 – 1008

3. Lukas Martens (Germany) – 400 freestyle – 3:39.96 – 1001

4. David Popovici (Romania) – 100 freestyle – 46.51 – 992

5. Lukas Martens (Germany) – 400 freestyle – 3:40.61 – 992

6. Shaine Casas (USA) – 200 medley – 1:54.30 – 992

7. Maxime Grousset (France) – 100 butterfly – 49.62 – 989

8. Thomas Ceccon (Italy) – 100 backstroke – 51.80 – 988

9. Sam Short (Australia) – 400 freestyle – 3:41.03 – 987

10. Ahmed Jaouadi (Tunisia) – 1500 freestyle – 14:34.41 – 987

Women

1. Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 100 butterfly – 54.60 – 1032 points

2. Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 100 butterfly – 54.73 – 1024

3. Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 100 butterfly – 54.76 – 1023

4. Summer McIntosh (Canada) – 400 freestyle – 3:54.18 – 1015

5. Summer McIntosh (Canada) – 200 medley – 2:05.70 – 1010

6. Summer McIntosh (Canada) – 400 medley – 4:23.65 – 1008

7. Katie Ledecky (USA) – 800 freestyle – 8:04.12 – 1004

7. Gretchen Walsh (USA) – 100 butterfly – 55.09 – 1004

9. Summer McIntosh (Canada) – 800 freestyle – 8:05.07 – 998

9. Kaylee McKeown (Australia) – 100 backstroke – 57.16 – 998