Canadian Josh Liendo Shatters 100m Butterfly World Record

UPDATE: Canadian swimmer Josh Liendo has just set a new short-course world record in the men’s 100-metre butterfly, clocking an astonishing 47.68 seconds during the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Toronto on October 23, 2025. This performance not only broke the previous record of 47.71 seconds, held by Switzerland’s Noe Ponti, but also showcased Liendo’s incredible talent on home soil.

Liendo, 23, expressed his shock and excitement following the race, stating, “I wasn’t expecting that at all… I’m super-happy. I just thought I’d come in, have fun and race.” His ecstatic reaction was evident as he celebrated by slapping the water in joy upon seeing his record-breaking time. The Canadian athlete earned US$12,500 for this achievement, which included a $10,000 bonus for setting the world record.

The crowd at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre played a pivotal role in Liendo’s performance, as he noted, “The crowd got me hyped up.” Later that evening, he further showcased his prowess by winning the 50-metre freestyle in a World Cup record time of 20.31 seconds.

Liendo’s recent success builds on his historic achievement at the Paris Olympics, where he became the first Black Canadian swimmer to win an Olympic medal, securing silver in the 100 butterfly. He was also named Swimming Canada’s Male Swimmer of the Year in 2024.

In the same event, fellow Canadian swimmer Ilya Kharun, 20, claimed the silver medal in the 100 butterfly with a time of 48.35 seconds, while Ponti settled for bronze at 48.38 seconds. Competing alongside them, Hungary’s Hubert Kos also made headlines by setting a world record in the men’s 200-metre backstroke, finishing in 1:45.12, surpassing the previous record of 1:45.63.

The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup continues through Saturday, offering a total purse of $1.2 million. Notably, Canadian star Summer McIntosh is absent from the series due to illness, which has left fans eager for her return. However, several elite swimmers made their mark, including American stars Regan Smith and Gretchen Walsh, and Australian Kaylee McKeown, each winning their respective events and collecting $10,000 in prize money.

One of the highlights came from Lani Pallister, who dominated the women’s 400 freestyle, winning in a new World Cup record of 3:51.87 and surpassing her own previous record of 3:52.42. Pallister expressed her satisfaction, saying, “I mean I’d like to be under 3:50 eventually, but we’ll see where that event takes me in the future.”

The atmosphere in Toronto is electric as swimmers continue to push the limits of their capabilities, making this World Cup a must-watch event. As the competition heats up, fans are eager to see what records may fall next.