SwimSwam Katie Ledecky, Gretchen Walsh Electrify Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim With World Records

Ledecky, Walsh Flourish In Fort Lauderdale: Katie Ledecky and Gretchen Walsh highlighted an exciting weekend of racing at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim, both setting new world records and delivering some other performances that rank among the fastest in history.

Also: All of the highlights from Fort Lauderdale, Sven Schwarz sets a new European Record at the German Championships, and the University of Virginia women land another massive commitment.

Ledecky Turns Back The Clock, Walsh Flies In Fort Lauderdale

The final Pro Swim Series meet of the year in Fort Lauderdale exceeded its lofty expectations over the weekend, with world records and world-leading swims produced over an exciting four days of racing, with Katie Ledecky and Gretchen Walsh stealing the show.

Ledecky Sets 800 Free Record, Posts Second-Fastest 400/1500 Times of Career

The greatest female swimmer of all-time had a stunning performance in Fort Lauderdale.

On the opening night of racing, Katie Ledecky recorded the second-fastest swim in history in the women's 1500 freestyle, clocking 15:24.51 to rank #2 all-time behind her world record of 15:20.48 set back in 2018. The performance gave Ledecky the 22 fastest swims ever in the event.

That was only an appetizer for what was to come from Ledecky. The 28-year-old followed up the next day by beating Summer McIntosh head-to-head in the 400 free, clocking 3:56.81 to mark the second-fastest swim of her career and her fastest since the 2016 Olympics in Rio when she won gold and broke the world record in 3:56.46. It was also the seventh-fastest performance ever.

McIntosh was the runner-up in 3:58.28, which also marked the second-fastest swim of her career, notably quicker than what she went to win silver at the Paris Olympics (3:58.37).

Ledecky put the finishing touches on the meet on Saturday, closing things out by breaking the world record in the 800 free, clocking 8:04.12 to erase her previous record of 8:04.79 set at the Rio Olympics in 2016.

The swim gives Ledecky the 10 fastest performances ever and 23 of the top 25.

• Listen to Ledecky speak after her world record here.

Ledecky also contested the 200 free, finishing as the runner-up to Claire Weinstein (1:54.93) in a season-best time of 1:55.51.

Walsh Breaks 100 Fly World Record Twice, Becomes Second Woman In Sub-25 Club In 50 Fly

Gretchen Walsh has been consistently raising the bar in the women's 100 butterfly over the last 12 months, and she continued to do so in Fort Lauderdale.

Walsh, already the fastest swimmer ever in the 100 fly in LCM, SCM and SCY, lowered her long course world record twice in what were her first two swims in the event since wrapping up her NCAA career in late March.

Walsh kicked things off in the prelims, producing a time of 55.09 to erase her world record of 55.18 set in the semi-finals of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials last June.

The 22-year-old took things to a new level in the final, clocking 54.60 to shatter her hours-old world record by 49 one-hundredths of a second and become the first woman in history under the 55-second barrier.

Walsh now owns the five fastest swims ever.

All-Time Performances, Women's 100 Butterfly (LCM)

1. Gretchen Walsh, 54.60 – 2025 Pro Swim Series - Fort Lauderdale (Final)
2. Gretchen Walsh, 55.09 – 2025 Pro Swim Series - Fort Lauderdale (Semis)
3. Gretchen Walsh, 55.18 – 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials (Semis)
4. Gretchen Walsh, 55.31 – 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials (Final)
5. Gretchen Walsh, 55.38 – 2024 Olympic Games (Semis)

In the 50 fly, Walsh put up a time of 24.93 to break her American Record of 25.11 and become the second woman ever under the 25-second threshold, joining world record holder Sarah Sjostrom (24.43).

Walsh also won the 100 free in a time of 52.90, marking her first time under 53 seconds and ranking her 5th all-time among Americans, and added a fourth win in the 50 free in 24.33.

Torri Huske was right on Walsh's heels throughout the meet, placing 2nd in the 50 free (24.47), 100 free (52.95) and 100 fly (56.59).

Other Pro Swim Series Highlights

• Regan Smith picked up three wins in Fort Lauderdale, highlighted by her 57.46 showing in the women's 100 back that broke the Pro Swim Series Record and ranks her #1 in the world this season. She also won the 200 back (2:06.32) and 200 fly (2:05.38) with season-best times, and added a runner-up finish in the 200 IM (2:10.25).
• Kylie Masse had an incredible start to the meet, breaking the Canadian and Pro Swim Series Record in the women's 50 back during the first prelim session in 27.13, ranking her #9 all-time. She went on to place 3rd in the final (27.53), and then matched that finish in the 100 back (58.90).
• Kate Douglass topped the women's 200 breast in a time of 2:20.78 to rank #2 in the world this season, while her training partner Alex Walsh won the 200 IM in 2:08.84 to rank 4th in the world.
• Ilya Kharun swept the men's 50 and 100 fly in record fashion, first topping the 50 fly in a time of 23.09 to break the Canadian and Pro Swim Series Record. He followed up by winning the 100 fly in 50.42, knocking off the PSS Record and lowering his best time of 50.45.
• Shaine Casas was on fire, winning the men's 100 free (48.47), 50 back (24.41) and 200 IM (1:56.52) while placing 3rd in the 50 fly (23.25) and topping the 'B' final of the 200 free in a personal best time of 1:46.49. That time in the 200 free also would've been 2nd in the 'A' final, which was won by Carson Foster in 1:46.46.
• French superstar Leon Marchand was in the field, racing for the first time in 2025, coming off his extended training trip in Australia. Marchand was 2nd to Casas in the 200 IM (1:57.27), the runner-up to Bobby Finke in the 400 IM (4:13.86), and also placed 3rd in the 400 free (3:48.97) and 8th in the 200 free (1:49.66 - 1:48.05 in prelims).
• In addition to winning the 400 IM in 4:13.67, Finke claimed the 800 free (7:50.79) and 1500 free (14:54.49) while placing 4th in the 400 free (3:49.01).
• Hungarian Hubert Kos won the men's 100 back (53.14) and 200 back (1:56.45) and added a 3rd-place finish in the 50 back (24.81) and a 5th-place showing in the 200 IM (1:59.35).

Find full PSS coverage here.

Schwarz Sets Euro Record As Distance Freestylers Show Out At German Championships

Sven Schwarz set a new European Record and three men went sub-14:40 in the 1500 free to highlight action at the German Championships over the weekend in Berlin.

Schwarz put up a time of 7:38.12 in the men's 800 free to break Daniel Wiffen's European Record of 7:38.19 and move into #5 all-time in the event. The 23-year-old Schwarz also lowered the German Record of 7:39.48 previously held by Lukas Märtens, and erased his previous best time of 7:41.77, both set in 2023.

All-Time Performers, Men's 800 Freestyle (LCM)

1. Zhang Lin (CHN) – 7:32.12, 2009
2. Ous Mellouli (TUN) – 7:35.27, 2009
3. Ahmed Hafnaoui (TUN) – 7:37.00, 2023
4. Sam Short (AUS) – 7:37.76, 2023
5. Sven Schwarz (GER) – 7:38.12, 2025

Schwarz was later involved in an incredible race in the 1500 free, with Florian Wellbrock (14:36.25) claiming the win, Schwarz finishing 2nd (14:36.82) and Oliver Klemet (14:39.03) rounding out the top three. The trio become the only swimmers under 14:40 this season, with Schwarz's personal best ranking him #9 all-time.

Another highlight from the competition came in the 400 free, where Märtens, the newly minted world record holder, clocked 3:40.61 to mark the 10th-fastest performance ever and finish just 65 one-hundredths off his new WR of 3:39.96 set last month.

Worlds Medalist, European Champion Lana Pudar Commits To Virginia

There looks to be no end in sight to the University of Virginia women's dynasty as the Cavaliers picked up another significant recruit last week in the form of Lana Pudar.

Pudar, a native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has a decorated resume that includes winning bronze in the women's 200 butterfly at both the 2021 Short Course World Championships and the 2024 LC World Championships.

“I will do my best to justify this opportunity and to use it in the best possible way,” Pudar said during a press conference in her home country.

The 19-year-old, who will join UVA this coming fall, was also the 2022 European champion in the 200 fly, the 2023 World Junior champion in the 100 and 200 fly, and is a six-time European Junior champion.

She posted on social media:

“I’m beyond excited to announce that I will continue my swimming and academic career at the University of Virginia! Can’t wait to join the team this fall and see what the future holds for us!🧡💙
#gohoos⚔️“

Pudar's personal bests in the 100 and 200 fly in long course meters convert to times that would've qualified for the 'A' final at the 2025 Women's NCAA Championships.

Personal Best LCM times (converted to yards):

• 100 free – 55.91 (48.92)
• 200 free – 2:01.99 (1:47.01)
• 50 fly – 26.10 (22.88)
• 100 fly – 56.95 (50.04)
• 200 fly – 2:06.26 (1:51.22)

Pudar will join the Cavaliers with another recent European commit, Italian Sara Curtis, along with a loaded domestic class including Madi Mintenko, Raya Mellott, Lily Gormsen, Sylvia Roy, Sophia Umstead, Allison Bischoff, Bryn Greenwaldt, and Lawson Ficken.

Read more here.

QUICK HITS

• There remains some concern about the International Swimming Hall of Fame's construction following the release of redesign plans.
• Dive into the numbers of the women's NCAA transfer portal now that it's come to a close for the 2024-25 season.
• The Cal Poly swim & dive program has been given a June 4 deadline with a new $20 million target to reinstate the teams after they were cut earlier this year.
• Following two seasons at the University of Texas, Canadian breaststroker Brayden Taivassalo has transferred to Arizona State with two years of eligibility remaining.
• Jamie Shults has resigned from her position as head coach of the Keller High School swim & dive program.
• Southlake Carroll High School, which, like Keller, competes in the UIL 6A, has "reassigned" head swim coach Kevin Murphy amidst a bevy of personnel changes.
• UCSB head coach Jax Rosen is organizing a long course Summer Collegiate Championship meet in Chula Vista, California, with the goal of 400 registrants and target dates of July 27-30.
• Jon Rudd has stepped down as the National Performance Director for Swim Ireland, the organization announced Tuesday.

Katie Ledecky Throws Down 8:04.12 WORLD RECORD In The 800 Freestyle

Gretchen Walsh Drops Mind-Boggling 54.60 World Record In 100 Butterfly

Germany’s Sven Schwarz Overtakes Daniel Wiffen’s 800 Free European Record

UVA Scores World Junior Butterfly Champion Lana Pudar for 2025-26

Cal Poly Swimmers & Divers Given Until June 4 To Hit New $20 Million Goal To Save Program

Concern About International Swimming Hall Of Fame Development Remains After Redesign