World Champs Profile: Josh Liendo Again Flying Toward Podium in Singapore
Leading into the start of the World Championships later this month, Swimming World will publish a handful of short profiles on top contenders for the podium in Singapore. Our next entry in this series features Canadian and University of Florida star Josh Liendo, who will try to follow up on a stellar effort at last summer’s Olympic Games.
Josh Liendo
Canada
Events: 50 Freestyle/100 Butterfly
The Road to Singapore
Following another sensational college season at Florida, Liendo qualified for the World Championships in a pair of events – the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. While Liendo sits 24th in the world rankings in the 50 free (21.88), he owns a personal best of 21.48 from last year. In the 100 fly, where he’s fourth in the world at 50.46, Liendo owns a career best of 49.99.
There was a hiccup at the Canadian Trials, as Liendo did not qualify for Singapore in the 100 freestyle. The 22-year-old was a surprise third place in the event, going 48.62 to place behind Ruslan Gaziev (48.37) and Antoine Sauve (48.42). Liendo’s personal best is 47.55.
Top Career Achievement
Liendo put together the finest performance of his career in the final of the 100 butterfly at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Clocking 49.99, Liendo earned the silver medal and pushed gold medalist Kristof Milak of Hungary to the wall, with Milak prevailing in 49.90. Liendo was joined on the podium by countryman Ilya Kharun, who was the bronze medalist.
Previous World Champs Hardware
Liendo has collected four career medals at the World Championships, including three for his individual work. He was the silver medalist in the 100 butterfly at the 2023 Worlds, and won bronze in the same event a year earlier. In the 100 freestyle, Liendo was the bronze medalist in the 100 freestyle.
Stat Fact
When Liendo captured the silver medal in the 100 fly at last summer’s Olympics, he joined an exclusive club. Behind a swim of 49.99, Liendo became one of just five men in history to crack the 50-second barrier in the event, joining Caeleb Dressel, Kristof Milak, Michael Phelps and Milorad Cavic.
World Champs Profile
