American athletes continue breaking records and claiming medals at the 2024 World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25-meter). On day three, USA Swimming captured two world records, three American records, four championship records, and eight medals. America is dominating the medal table with eighteen total medals, twice as many as any other country.

Gretchen Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./University of Virginia) went 50.31 in the women’s 100m freestyle to kickstart the evening, earning gold and claiming American and championship records. Teammate Kate Douglass (Pelham, N.Y./University of Virginia) joined her on the podium, finishing third. Later in the evening, both G. Walsh and Douglass swam the women’s 100m individual medley semifinal, where G. Walsh broke the world record with a time of 55.71.

World records continued to fall as the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay finished with a time of 7:30.13. Teammates Alex Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./University of Virginia), Paige Madden (Mobile, Ala./Sun Devil Swimming), Katie Grimes (Las Vegas, Nev./Sandpipers of Nevada), and Claire Weinstein (White Plains, N.Y./Sandpipers of Nevada) won the event by more than three seconds. The record performance was the first world record for every member of the relay. 

Jack Alexy (Mendham, N.J./University of California – Berkley), who made his senior-level international debut last year at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, claimed a gold medal in his signature event – the men’s 100m freestyle. After securing the third seed in tomorrow’s 50m backstroke final, Regan Smith (Lakeville, Minn./Longhorn Aquatics) had roughly 10 minutes before swimming the 200m butterfly final, where she secured a silver medal and American record with a time of 2:01.00.  

In the next women's event, R. Smith's co-captain Lilly King (Evansville, Ind./Indiana Swim Club) claimed her own silver medal in the women's 100m breaststroke. The medal is the 11th of King's Short Course World Championships career. Closing out the night for the men were co-captains Carson Foster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Longhorn Aquatics) and Kieran Smith (Ridgefield, Conn./Gator Swim Club), who tied for silver in the men's 400m freestyle.   

USA Swimming Meet Notes:

• Eighteen total medals (9g,6s,3b)
• Seven world records, 12 American records, and 13 championship records
• Two 1-2 finishes (women’s 200m individual medley and women’s 100m backstroke)
  

The full medal table is available here.

Women’s 100m Freestyle – FINAL

GOLD – Gretchen Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./University of Virginia), 50.31*

BRONZE – Kate Douglass (Pelham, N.Y./University of Virginia), 50.73

*American record and championship record

Walsh on advice for other swimmers: “The biggest thing for me has been finding my love for the sport again and remembering why I do it in the first place. I would suggest just having fun and finding your groove for things. I’ve realized underwaters are kind of my specialty, so using that for my advantage has been able to help me become the swimmer I am today.”

Men’s 100m Freestyle – FINAL

GOLD – Jack Alexy (Mendham, N.J./University of California – Berkley), 45.38

4 – Chris Guiliano (Douglassville, Pa./University of Notre Dame), 45.51

Alexy on his swim: “I’m just super proud. I think the U.S. team, especially, has a lot of practice in short course, with college swimming short course yards. I didn’t really have any expectations for this meet, just wanting to do the best I could to represent my country. I’m super happy with the outcome so far this week and am looking forward to more racing.”

Women’s 50m Backstroke – Semifinal

1 – Katharine Berkoff (Missoula, Mont./Wolfpack Elite), 25.89

3– Regan Smith (Lakeville, Minn./Longhorn Aquatics), 26.08

Women’s 200m Butterfly – FINAL

SILVER – Regan Smith (Lakeville, Minn./Longhorn Aquatics), 2:01.00*

4 – Alex Shackell (Carmel, Ind./Carmel Swim Club), 2:03.23

*American record

Smith on her double: “I had a tight double because I had the 50 backstroke and about 10 minutes later the 200 fly. It was about taking it one at a time, but also trying to plan for the 200 fly during the 50 backstroke, since the back event was just a semi. I was very pleased with my swims. I think I executed it really well and stayed in my own lane. It was a best time and an American record during a phase of training I haven’t been taking super seriously. I’m very happy with that, all things considered.”

Men’s 200m Butterfly – FINAL

5 – Trenton Julian (Glendale, Calif./Mission Viejo Nadadores), 1:50.51

Women’s 100m Breaststroke – FINAL

SILVER – Lilly King (Evansville, Ind./Indiana Swim Club), 1:02.80

King on her swim: “The race was a lot closer than I think a lot of people thought it would be, so I’m glad I was able to give it my all. This is only my third time under 1:03 (seconds) so I’ll take that as a win.”

King on the improvement of breaststroke: “It’s awesome to see the event really evolving (over the years). I feel it is a lot faster than it was four or five years ago, so that’s really cool to see for the sport. I always want to be on top, but it’s nice to see new faces.”

King on the women’s team: “As dominant as the women’s team is in long course, I think they are even better short course. It’s a really tight-knit group we’ve had here this week, and we’ve been having a lot of fun.”

Women’s 100m Individual Medley– Semifinal  

1 – Gretchen Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./University of Virginia), 55.71*

2 – Kate Douglass (Pelham, N.Y./University of Virginia), 56.88 

*world record

Race Note: G. Walsh earned a championship record in prelims for her 56.06 swim.

Men’s 100m Individual Medley– Semifinal 

7 – Michael Andrew (Encinitas, Calif./MA Swim Academy), 51.91

Men’s 400m Freestyle – FINAL

T-SILVER – Carson Foster (Cincinnati, Ohio/Longhorn Aquatics), 3:36.31

T-SILVER – Kieran Smith (Ridgefield, Conn./Gator Swim Club), 3:36.31

Smith on tying teammate Foster: “I’m very happy, it’s another season best coming off from the World Cup. It was a really cool moment to share the podium with Carson (Foster), my fellow captain-mate and teammate. The only thing better would have been to tie for gold with Carson, but we were right there. The time was good. It wasn’t my best but coming off of the Paris (Olympic Games) I took a big break.”

Foster on tying teammate K. Smith: “It was so cool (standing on the podium with Kieran Smith). That was my first time swimming that race internationally, so I think I’m still learning how to do it….what a way to end it, what a way to end the night. I’m proud of that swim.”

Women’s 4x200m Freestyle Relay – FINAL

GOLD – USA, 7:30.13*

Alex Walsh (Nashville, Tenn./University of Virginia)

Paige Madden (Mobile, Ala./Sun Devil Swimming)

Katie Grimes (Las Vegas, Nev./Sandpipers of Nevada)

Claire Weinstein (White Plains, N.Y./Sandpipers of Nevada)

*world record

A. Walsh on the world record: “I think this is so special for all four of us, this is all of our first world record. No matter if it’s short course, long course, relay, or individual, it’s still such a surreal feeling. We were just saying we don’t think any of us had that on our radar, but when we saw Claire (Weinstein) flip, and she was half a second under (world record pace), we just went crazy. It is such an honor to be able to this for Team USA and close out the Olympic year here.”

Madden on her teammates: “I think it was really special being here with Alex (Walsh), my college teammate, Claire (Weinstein), and Katie (Grimes), just swimming against them over the years and seeing them grow up a little bit. It’s been really special, and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of Team USA.”

Grimes on the relay: “It was a lot of fun, it’s definitely a lot more pressure than an individual event. Doing a relay on the international stage is crazy, but so much fun. This is the best group of girls to do it with.”

Weinstein on swimming the final leg: “I just wanted to do my best, honestly. The rest of the relay gave me a lead, so I just wanted to finish the job. It was a really good time for me, so I am happy about that. I’m happy that we brought home another gold for Team USA.”

Men’s 50m Backstroke – Prelim

DNS – Michael Andrew (Encinitas, Calif./MA Swim Academy)

Men’s 200m Butterfly – Prelim

14 – Dare Rose (Jersey City, N.J./California Aquatics), 1:52.78

Competition continues through Sunday, December 15. Tomorrow’s action includes the mixed 4x50m freestyle relay, women and men’s 200m breaststroke final, 50m backstroke finale, 100m butterfly semifinal, 100m individual medley final, women’s 1500m freestyle, and men’s 4x200m freestyle relay. Meet information and the complete competition schedule are available here.