World Championships, Day 6 Prelims: Men’s 50 Free Sets Up As Intriguing Battle
David Popovici is the champion in the 100 free and 200 free at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. Jack Alexy has set the American record and nearly bested it. Cameron McEvoy could be hunting a world record.
The field in the men’s 50 freestyle is deep and intriguing. Between swimmers in good form and those waiting in dry dock for their chance in the splash and dash, it’s got the makings of a thrilling race.
Friday’s prelims session, the sixth of the meet in Singapore, includes the first swim for Claire Curzan at this meet, plus the appetizer between Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh in the 800 free.
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Men’s 100 butterfly
The United States’ Singapore nightmare continues apace.
Shaine Casas, out in 19th place, going 51.66. That’s a full second slower than he was at trials. Casas’ first 50 on Thursday (24.00) was nearly slower than his first 50 to start the 200 IM (24.16), in which he earned silver. That swim, he said, was “a long-time coming.” It’s been a short time in relishing.
Thomas Heilman, out in 26th place in 52.02. He had been 50.70 at trials, as he missed another international semifinal, to say nothing of the finals.
Casas put himself in a bad position by finishing fifth in Heat 7. Heilman was an obviously inadequate seventh in Heat 6. That left them on the chopping block thanks to a fast Heat 8.
Noe Ponti got the top seed, winning Heat 6 in 50.68. But five of the top nine came from the final heat, led by Ilya Kharun in 50.70 and Andrei Minakov in 50.93. Heat 7 winner Matthew Temple went 50.97.
Also through from the eighth heat are Josh Liendo (fifth in 51.04), Jesse Coleman of Australia (seventh in 51.20) and Diogo Ribeiro of Portugal (ninth in 51.34). Also in the final is Maxime Grousset, who tied with Thomas Ceccon for 11th in 51.36.
Women’s 200 backstroke
Kaylee McKeown, the world record holder and Olympic champion, was quickest in prelims with a time of 2:08.01. All the heads of state are present, with Claire Curzan, in her first swim of the meet, safely third in 2:08.58, and Regan Smith fifth in 2:08.65.
Hungary’s Dora Molnar is second, having been in the same heat as McKeown, with a 2:08.53. Peng Xuwei of China outtouched Smith in Hat 5 by .06. Anastasiya Shkurdai was sixth. Canada’ Ingrid Wilm was 14th, a spot behind Carmen Weiler Sastre of Spain. Katie Shanahan of Great Britain was 10th.
Men’s 50 freestyle
Women’s 50 butterfly
Men’s 800 free relay
Women’s 800 freestyle
