Canadian swimmer Ilya Kharun captured his second gold medal in as many days at the World Cup finale in Toronto with a thrilling win in the men’s 50-metre butterfly final on Saturday.
Montreal’s Kharun, who also won Friday’s 200m butterfly, clocked a time of 21.80 seconds to narrowly beat Switzerland’s Noe Ponti by one one-hundredth of a second. Toronto’s Josh Liendo finished just behind them for bronze in 21.91.
The 20-year-old Kharun earned $10,000 US for winning the 50m butterfly at all three stops of the World Cup tour, something he also accomplished in the 200m fly.
Montreal’s Ilya Kharun finishes first in the men’s 50-metre butterfly final at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2025 stop in Toronto with a time of 21.80. Toronto’s Josh Liendo places third to capture the bronze medal.
He took silver behind Liendo in the 100m butterfly on Thursday, which saw Liendo break Ponti’s short-course world record in 47.68.
Kharun, whose parents spent most of their lives performing with Cirque du Soleil, racked up a total of eight medals, including five golds, at the first two meets in Indianapolis and Chicago.
Montreal’s Ilya Kharun discusses finishing first in the men’s 50-metre butterfly final at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2025 stop in Toronto.
Pallister breaks Ledecky’s short-course WR
Australia’s Lani Pallister opened the final night of racing with a bang, smashing Katie Ledecky’s short-course world record in the women’s 800m freestyle.
Pallister, the reigning world champion in the distance, clocked a time of 7:54 — over three seconds faster than Ledecky’s mark of 7:57.42 from the 2022 World Cup in Indianapolis.
The 23-year-old was well ahead of world-record pace throughout the race, finishing ahead of New Zealanders Erika Fairweather (8:09.69) and Caitlin Deans (8:11.76).
Mary-Sophie Harvey of Trois-Rivières, Que., finished fourth in 8:15.52.
Australia’s Lani Pallister wins the women’s 800m freestyle event with a short-course world record of 7:54.00 at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2025 stop in Toronto. Mary-Sophie Harvey of Trois-Rivieres, Que., just misses the podium with a fourth-place result.
Four other world records fell during Saturday’s finals, with Australia’s Kaylee McKeown in the women’s 200m backstroke (1:57.33), American Kate Douglass in the women’s 100m freestyle (49.93), Hungary’s Hubert Kos in the men’s 100m backstroke (48.16) and the Netherlands’ Caspar Corbeau in the men’s 200m breaststroke (1:59.52).
Along with Harvey, four other Canadians finished one spot off the podium.
Calgary’s Ingrid Wilm placed fourth in the women’s 200m backstroke before Finlay Knox of Okotoks, Alta., achieved the same result in the men’s 100m backstroke.
Alexanne Lepage of Vernon, B.C., and Taylor Ruck of Kelowna, B.C., added fourth-place finishes in the women’s 50m breaststroke and women’s 100m freestyle, respectively.
Toronto’s Josh Liendo looks back on his record-breaking performances at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2025 stop in Toronto.
