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. Kharun, hailing from Montreal, secured the victory with a time of 21.80 seconds, narrowly edging out Switzerland’s Noe Ponti, the current short-course world record holder, by a mere one-hundredth of a second. Toronto’s Josh Liendo claimed the bronze medal with a personal best time of 21.91.
Expressing his joy, Kharun stated, “It means a great deal to me. I anticipated a close competition and I am overjoyed that I emerged victorious. I am at a loss for words.” Kharun, aged 20, earned $10,000 US for his first-place finish in the 50m butterfly at all three World Cup events, a feat he also accomplished in the 200m butterfly.
Throughout the World Cup tour, which included stops in Carmel, Ind., and Westmont, Ill., earlier in the month, Kharun contributed significantly to Canada’s success by collecting 12 podium finishes out of 25 and securing seven wins out of 10. His outstanding performances placed him fifth in the Toronto men’s standings and fourth in the overall men’s rankings, resulting in a total earnings amounting to $54,500.
Kharun’s rivalry with Liendo, his national team counterpart, was a highlight of the competition at the Pan Am Sports Centre, recognized as “Canada’s fastest pool.” Reflecting on their performances, Kharun, a bronze medallist in the 100m and 200m fly at the 2024 Olympics, remarked, “It holds great significance. He displayed exceptional swimming this week, and it was a very enjoyable and memorable moment.”
Liendo, who achieved three gold medals in Toronto, finished ninth in the overall standings and earned a total prize money of $25,000. Noteworthy was his breaking of Ponti’s world record in the 100m butterfly with a remarkable time of 47.68. Liendo expressed his satisfaction, saying, “It was a fantastic experience. After a challenging first night, I made efforts to rest well, and things have been going smoothly. This week exceeded my expectations, and I am content with my progress for the rest of the season.”
In a friendly gesture, Liendo placed the crown on Kharun’s head during the post-race ceremony, symbolizing their camaraderie and mutual respect. Liendo shared, “It was an amazing experience. Competing with him in the 50 was thrilling as he excels in this category. I am closing in on him, and it was rewarding to witness his victory.”
Moreover, the event witnessed five world records being shattered, with Australia’s Lani Pallister setting a new record in the women’s 800m freestyle. Pallister, the reigning world champion in the discipline, finished with an impressive time of 7:54, outperforming Katie Ledecky’s previous record of 7:57.42. Erika Fairweather and Caitlin Deans from New Zealand secured the second and third positions, respectively, while Canada’s Mary-Sophie Harvey achieved a personal best time to finish fourth.
