Josh Liendo made a triumphant return to the Pan Am Sports Centre, a place filled with significant memories for the 23-year-old swimmer. It was here that he set an Ontario record in the 100m freestyle back in 2017, secured his spot on his first Olympic team, and achieved multiple Canadian records. Liendo added to his accolades by setting a short course world record in the men’s 100 butterfly with a remarkable time of 47.68 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 47.71 held by Switzerland’s Noe Ponti.
Expressing his astonishment at breaking the world record during the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, Liendo mentioned that he had not anticipated such a feat and was elated to see his time on the board. The enthusiastic crowd and the excellent pool environment played a role in his exceptional performance. Liendo clinched another gold medal in the men’s 50 freestyle later in the evening.
Byron MacDonald, the head coach at the University of Toronto and a CBC Sports swimming analyst, remarked on Liendo’s exceptional talent and predicted that breaking the world record was inevitable for the skilled athlete. Liendo displayed a strong start and maintained a record pace throughout the race, eventually finishing ahead of his competitors.
In a separate event, Liendo set a World Cup record in the 50 freestyle, securing another victory. Montreal’s Ilya Kharun, who had previously outperformed Liendo in the 100 fly, earned bronze in the event. Liendo and Kharun’s performances highlight the promising future of Canadian swimming as they continue to make strides in the sport.
The competition, which runs until Saturday, witnessed other outstanding achievements, including a world record set by Hungary’s Hubert Kos in the men’s 200 backstroke. Notably, Canadian star Summer McIntosh was absent due to illness. The event showcased exceptional performances by various international swimmers, each receiving accolades and prize money for their victories.
