Canadian swimmer Ilya Kharun clinched his second consecutive gold medal at the World Cup finale in Toronto by triumphing in the men’s 50-meter butterfly final on Saturday. Competing against Switzerland’s Noe Ponti, who holds the short-course world record, Kharun touched the wall just one one-hundredth of a second ahead to secure the victory. Toronto’s Josh Liendo also put up a strong performance, finishing third and setting a personal best time of 21.91.
Expressing his joy, Kharun stated, “It means a lot to me. I anticipated a close race, and I am thrilled that I managed to come out on top. I am at a loss for words.” The 20-year-old swimmer’s win in the 50m butterfly event in Toronto marked his third consecutive victory in the discipline across all three World Cup stops, mirroring his success in the 200m butterfly category.
Kharun dominated the Canadian team’s performance, contributing significantly to the country’s success with 12 podium finishes out of 25 and securing seven wins out of 10 on the World Cup tour, which included earlier stops in Carmel, Ind., and Westmont, Ill. His achievements positioned him fifth in the Toronto men’s standings and fourth overall among men, earning a total of $54,500.
The rivalry between Kharun and Liendo, both representing Canada, added an exciting dynamic to the competition at the Pan Am Sports Centre, renowned as “Canada’s fastest pool.” Reflecting on the contest, Kharun, a bronze medallist at the 2024 Olympics in the 100m and 200m fly events, emphasized the enjoyment of competing against his national teammate.
Liendo, who secured three gold medals in Toronto and set a new world record in the 100m butterfly, expressed his satisfaction with his performances, highlighting the unexpected success of the week. The 23-year-old swimmer, who placed ninth overall, earned a total prize money of $25,000.
In a spectacular display of athleticism at the event, Australia’s Lani Pallister shattered the world record set by Katie Ledecky in the women’s 800m freestyle. Pallister, the reigning world champion in the discipline, finished with a time of 7:54, more than three seconds faster than Ledecky’s previous record. The event witnessed several other world records being broken by top swimmers from different countries, adding to the excitement of the competition.