Stories
SwimmingDouglass Breaks 50m Freestyle World Record Twice
At the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, Douglass broke the women's 50m freestyle world record twice in one day — 23.49 in the prelims and 23.19 in the final, becoming the first woman under 23.2.
SwimmingPallister Ends Ledecky's 800m Freestyle Reign
At the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, Pallister handed Katie Ledecky her first international defeat in the 800m freestyle, winning in 8:06.10 and ending a streak that had stood since 2012.
SwimmingLiebmann Shatters 1500m Record, First Under 14:30
Liebmann became the first man under 14:30 in the 1500 m freestyle, clocking 14:26.79 to lower the world record by 3.88 seconds and complete the 800 m/1500 m distance double in Paris.
SwimmingMarchand Takes First European Gold in 200m Butterfly
Marchand claimed his first European title in the 200m butterfly, touching in 1:51.72 to post the world's fastest time of the year at the 2026 European Aquatics Championships in Paris.
SwimmingMilak Wins 100m Fly in European Record 49.48
Milak claimed 100m butterfly gold at the 2026 European Aquatics Championships in Paris, touching in a European record 49.48 ahead of Noe Ponti and Maxime Grousset in his comeback season.
SwimmingPopovici Takes Third Straight European 200m Free Title
Popovici won the 200m freestyle at the 2026 European Aquatics Championships in Paris in 1:44.15, claiming a third consecutive continental title in the event.
SwimmingKós Wins European 200m Backstroke in 1:53.08 Record
Kós took 200m backstroke gold at the 2026 European Aquatics Championships in Paris, touching in a championship-record 1:53.08 — the second-fastest performance in history.
SwimmingCurtis Sets 50m Backstroke World Record at 26.63
At 19, Curtis clocked 26.63 in the 50m backstroke semi-finals in Paris, breaking Kaylee McKeown's 2023 mark by 0.23 seconds and becoming the first Black swimmer to hold an individual long-course world record.
SwimmingAINowacki Wins Jersey's First Commonwealth Gold in 36 Years
At 18, Filip Nowacki won the men's 200m breaststroke at Glasgow 2026, claiming Jersey's first Commonwealth gold in 36 years and beating Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook. He touched the wall first, the young islander outreaching the favourite in the final metres.
SwimmingMcEvoy Wins 50m Free Gold in 20.97, Fourth-Fastest Ever
Cam McEvoy claimed Commonwealth 50m freestyle gold in 20.97, becoming the first man to break 21 seconds more than once and moving to fourth all-time. He touched the wall, glanced up, and read the number that no swimmer had reached twice before.
SwimmingToohey Breaks Jones' 17-Year Breaststroke Age Record
1:05.97 in the 100m breaststroke at the Australian Trials — first time under 1:06, breaking Leisel Jones' 17-year-old age record (1:06.37, 2003) and becoming the fastest Australian of the post-supersuit era; earned Commonwealth Games + Pan Pacs selection
SwimmingWalsh Lowers 100m Butterfly World Record to 54.33
4th 100m butterfly world record: 54.33s at Fort Lauderdale Open (May 3, 2026). Holds 13 fastest times ever. 1 full second ahead of 2nd-fastest (Sjöström 55.48s) — largest gap in any 100m swim event.
SwimmingMcIntosh Breaks 200m Butterfly World Record at 2:01.65
Broke the oldest individual world record in women's swimming: 2:01.65 in the 200m butterfly on 5 July 2026 (night 1 of the Canadian Swimming Trials, Montreal), erasing Liu Zige's super-suit-era 2:01.81 from 2009 — also setting Commonwealth and Americas records. Became the first woman since Sarah Sjöström to simultaneously hold four long-course world records (400 free, 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM). The next night (6 July) she won the 400m IM in 4:27.35, short of her own WR.