Regan Smith sets another world record as Leon Marchand and Kate Douglass win overall World Cup titles
A day after lowering her own 100m backstroke short course world record, US swimmer Smith broke Kaylee McKeown's 200m mark in the series finale in Singapore, with Marchand taking gold and silver in the final meet.
Swimming
Regan Smith made it two world records in two days at the Swimming World Cup 2024 Singapore on Saturday (2 November).
Having lowered her own women's 100m backstroke short course mark on Friday, the US swimmer powered to victory in the 200m backstroke in 1:58.83. That was just over a tenth inside Kaylee McKeown's time set in November 2020.
It was Smith's third world record in the series, having broken the 100m backstroke record last week in Incheon, but it was not enough to deny teammate Kate Douglass the overall women's World Cup title.
“Kaylee comes home so strong, that’s what she’s amazing at,” Smith said of McKeown, who dropped out of this year's World Cup. “That’s why she’s the best of the best. I can feel it coming home, absolutely, and I was chasing it.”
Smith now holds the world records in the 100m back in both 25 and 50m pools in addition to the 200m back short course.
Douglass, who broke the 200m breaststroke world record earlier in the meet, beat Hong Kong, China's Siobhan Haughey in the 100m free to secure the World Cup title ahead of Smith.
Leon Marchand wins again to claim overall World Cup title
Leon Marchand continued his World Cup hot streak with a comfortable victory in the men's 400m medley.
The four-time Olympic champion, who broke the men's 200 IM short course world record on Friday, was the only athlete to finish under four minutes, stopping the clock at 3:58.45 to land his ninth World Cup title.
A few races later, the Frenchman, potentially over-exerted by his busy schedule, finished second to Great Britain's Duncan Scott in the men's 200m freestyle, while Olympic 100m freestyle champion Pan Zhanle took third.
That was enough to see him finish top of the men's overall World Cup standings, despite the best efforts of Noe Ponti.
The Swiss clocked 21.50 to improve his men's 50m butterfly world record in the morning heats, and won the final in a time of 21.64.
Elsewhere on the final evening of competition, People's Republic of China's Yang Junxuan won the women's 800m freestyle in 8:34.77, while Sweden's Louise Hansson sealed the women's 100m butterfly title in 55.46.
South Africa's Pieter Coetze caused an upset in the men's 100m backstroke, pipping Olympic 100m champ Thomas Ceccon to top spot in 49.36.
The final event of the meet saw China's Yu Yiting land the women's 200m medley in a time of 2:03.99.
World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024 Singapore results - 2 November
Men's 400m medley
- Leon Marchand (FRA) - 3:58.45
- Alberto Razzetti (ITA) - 4:00.59
- Trenton Julian (USA) - 4:04.46
Women's 800m freestyle
- Yang Junxuan (CHN) - 8:34.77
- Isabella Scopel Tramontana (BRA) - 9:05.32
- Jill Josephine Meines (GRE) - 9:16.39
Women’s 100m butterfly
- Louise Hansson (SWE) - 55.46
- Hirai Mizuki (JPN) - 55.81
- Laura Lathinen (FIN) - 55.96
Men’s 50m butterfly
- Noe Ponti (SUI) - 21.64
- Nyls Korstanje (NED) - 21.74
- Teong Tzen Wei (SGP) - 22.11
Women’s 200m backstroke
- Regan Smith (USA) – 1:58.83 (WR)
- Anastasiya Shkurdai (NIA) - 2:01.63
- Iona Anderson (AUS) - 2:01.98
Men’s 100m backstroke
- Pieter Coetze (RSA) - 49.36
- Thomas Ceccon (ITA) - 49.68
- Kacper Stokowski (POL) - 49.87
Women’s 50m breaststroke
- Tang Qianting (CHN) - 28.87
- Benedetta Pilato (ITA) - 29.42
- Alina Zmushca (NIA) - 29.79
Men’s 200m breaststroke
- Caspar Corbeau (NED) - 2:02.33
- Joshua Yong (AUS) - 2:02.85
- Ilya Shymanovich (NIA) - 2:03.90
Women’s 100m freestyle
- Kate Douglass (USA) - 50.82
- Siobhan Haughey (HKG) - 51.56
- Katarzyna Wasick (POL) - 52.04
Men’s 200m freestyle
- Duncan Scott (GBR) - 1:39.83
- Leon Marchand (FRA) - 1:40.91
- Pan Zhanle (CHN) - 1:41.59
Women's 200m medley
- Yu Yiting (CHN) - 2:03.99
- Mary-Sophie Harvey (CAN) - 2:04.82
- Beata Nelson (USA) - 2:05.00