Noe Ponti, Gretchen Walsh Set World Records In Wild Weekend of Fast Swimming

swin @) swan World Cup Kicks Off In Shanghai: The opening leg of the World Cup series in Shanghai delivered with some blistering performances, highlighted by Noe Ponti's world record in the men's 50 fly. Also: Gretchen Walsh sets a world record and adds three American Records during Virginia's SCM dual with Florida, #1 recruit Alex Shackell decommits from Cal and defers her college enrollment, and the SEC finalizes new swim & dive roster limits for men. PONTI, MARCHAND HIGHLIGHT RECORD-SETTING WORLD CUP IN SHANGHAI Noe Ponti set a new world record, Leon Marchand took hold of a European Record and Kate Douglass and Regan Smith set new American Records in what was a blazing-fast opening stop of the 2024 Swimming World Cup in Shanghai (SCM). Ponti fired off a time of 21.67 in the prelims of the men's 50 fly, lowering the previous world record of 21.75 held jointly by Brazilian Nicholas Santos and Hungarian Szebasztian Szabo. Ponti, who became the first Swiss swimmer to set a world record in 39 years, followed up with the second-fastest swim in history in the final, touching first in 21.68. Ponti also set a new European Record with his win in the 100 fly, clocking 48.40 to down his previous mark of 48.47, and added Swiss Records in the 100 IM (50.66) and 200 IM (1:51.78) en route to respective 2nd and 3rd-place finishes. Winning all three men's medley events was Marchand, who set a new European Record in the 200 IM (1:50.30), moved to #4 all-time in the 100 IM (50.65), and clocked 4:00.03 for a new French Record in the 400 IM. On the women's side, Douglass was the top performer as she ran the table and won all four of her events, setting a new American Record in the 50 fly (24.54) and also breaking one in the 100 IM (56.99) that would be lowered later that same day (more on that later). Douglass also won the 200 breast (2:15.96) and 200 IM (2:04.09). Smith earned three wins, including tying the American Record in the 100 back (54.89) that was established by Gretchen Walsh one day earlier on U.S. soil. Smith also topped the 200 back (2:00.42) and 200 fly (2:01.85), both within striking distance of the American Records (2:00.03/2:01.73), and was the runner-up in the 50 back (25.70). Winning the 50 back was Australian superstar Kaylee McKeown, who set a new Oceanian Record in 25.36, the #2 swim of all-time. After one day of racing, McKeown announced she would be withdrawing from the series to prioritize her mental health. Racing on home soil, new Asian Records were set by four Chinese swimmers, interestingly enough doing so in the same three events, 50 breast, 100 breast and 100 IM, for men and women. In the breaststroke events, it was Qin Haiyang in the men's 50 (25.38) and 100 (55.73), while Tang Qianting did so in the women's 50 (28.76) and 100 (1:02.53). In the 100 IM, Wang Shun established a new men's mark (51.24) and Yu Yiting (57.51) established a new women's standard. Heading into the second stop of the circuit in Incheon, . GRETCHEN WALSH SETS WORLD RECORD, THREE ARS AT VIRGINIA'S DUAL WITH FLORIDA While some of the world's best came together to race at the World Cup in Shanghai, Gretchen Walsh did some damage on the record books during the University of Virginia's dual meet with Florida in Charlottesville. With the dual being contested in short course meters, Walsh, racing in SCM for the first time in her career, took full advantage by throwing down three American Records within the first hour of racing, and then followed it up by breaking the world record in the 100 IM. In the 100 IM, racing in a time trial with only teammate Zoe Skirboll competing alongside her, Walsh ripped a time of 55.98 to knock more than half a second off the previous world record of 56.51 held by Katinka Hosszu. It also took a full second off the American Record of 56.99 set by Kate Douglass earlier that day in Shanghai. That swim came after Walsh set new American Records in the 50 back (25.37), 100 back (54.89) and 50 free (23.10), with those performances ranking her 3rd, tied for 2nd, and tied for 4th all-time, respectively. There were also new U.S. Open Records set by a pair of medley relays, and Virginia's Aimee Canny set a new African Record in the women's 200 free (1:54.13). The Florida men and Virginia women walked with decisive victories in the dual meet, with Josh Liendo leading the Gators with wins in the men's 50 free (20.88) and 100 fly (49.37), and Claire Curzan putting on an impressive display for the Cavaliers with victories in the women's 200 back (2:01.02) and 100 fly (55.68). You can find the full dual meet recap here. ALEX SHACKELL DECOMMITS FROM CAL, DEFERS COLLEGE ENROLLMENT U.S. Olympian Alex Shackell, the top-ranked recruit in the girls' high school class of 2025, has decommitted from Cal and opted to defer her college enrollment for one year. Instead of joining the NCAA in the fall of 2025, Shackell will stay home with coach Chris Plumb at the Carmel Swim Club, and indications are she'll choose a new school for her college career beginning in 2026. "After much thought and discussion with my family and coaches, I have made the decision to defer my college enrollment for one year," Shackell said. "This choice will allow me to continue my training at Carmel, where I have grown so much as an athlete and person. I believe that dedicating this next year to training at Carmel is the best decision for my continued growth and development in the sport. "I want to emphasize that this decision is not a reflection on the college program I verbally committed to. My choice to defer is solely about my personal goals as an athlete at this stage in my career. When the time is right, I remain fully committed to pursuing my academic goals." Shackell is the fastest swimmer in the girls' high school class of 2025 in five events, and was the headliner in what was projected to be a stacked recruiting class for Cal, with #2 Teagan O'Dell and #3 Claire Weinstein also committed to the Bears. Shackell is coming off representing the U.S. at her first Olympics in Paris, placing 6th in the women's 200 fly and winning one gold (4x100 medley) and one silver medal (4x200 free) as a prelim swimmer on the American women's relays. Shackell's older brother, Aaron Shackell, notably left Cal after one semester last season and transferred to Texas, while her twin brother Andrew Shackell originally committed to Cal before flipping to Texas. SEC REPORTEDLY SET TO FINALIZE MEN'S SWIM & DIVE ROSTER LIMIT AT 22 The SEC has reportedly finalized its roster limit for men's swimming & diving in the wake of the NCAA v. House settlement. Sources told SwimSwam the SEC will have a men's roster limit of 22 athletes, the same number proposed in May. Current NCAA rules limit women’s swimming and diving teams to 14 scholarships and men’s programs to 9.9. While there are roster limits for conference and NCAA Championships, there is no cap on overall roster size. However, part of the House v. NCAA settlement eliminated caps on scholarships and replaced them with roster limits. Last season, the average SEC men’s roster was approximately 26 swimmers. The Florida Gators had the biggest roster with 41 athletes. The ACC and Big Ten will not follow the SEC in drawing the line for men's rosters at 22 athletes, sources added. Read more here. QUICK HITS * Former college athletes can now file claims for part of the $2.8 billion backpay the NCAA is slated to pay in damages as part of the House v. NCAA settlement agreement. * The University of Tennessee picked up some of the top recruits in the girls' high school class of 2026 over the last week, with #1 Charlotte Crush, #3 Molly Sweeney and #13 Eliza Wallace all sending their verbals to the Volunteers. * Other recent top-ranked commitments in the girls' class of 2026 include #4 Ava DeAnda and #5 Kelsey Zhang to Cal, #6 Mena Boardman and #7 Avery Klamfoth to Texas, and #12 Caden Martin to Virginia. * On the boys' side, #6 Tim Wu committed to Cal, #16 Liam Smith committed to Florida, and Ethan Ekk, #16 in the class of 2025, committed to Stanford. * The International Swimming Hall of Fame has broken ground on a $218 million development project that includes plans to build two buildings on either side of the aquatic center and dive tower. * NBAC's Jude Burkhart took 12 seconds off the boys' 11-12 National Age Group Record in the 1650 free, clocking 16:05.52 to annihilate the previous record of 16:17.80 set by Nicholas Caldwell in 2006. * Former British Olympian Antony James was found guilty of raping two teenage girls who were under 18 at the time. The 2012 Olympian committed the offenses between 2012 and 2022. * In a dual meet with UC San Diego one week ago, Cal freshman Yamamoto Okadome produced a noteworthy time of 1:52.85 in the men's 200 breast. Okadome had previously said he opted to come to the NCAA due to push Japanese swimming forward, saying it's in a "slump." * World Aquatics and Swimming Australia (SA) reached an agreement on Monday after the global governing body threatened SA with a suspension after it violated multiple points within the World Aquatics Constitution. The agreement addressed issues such as the lack of athlete voting power on the Board and the implementation of a Stabilization Committee. * Luca Urlando continued to show good form early in the NCAA season, posting back-to-back 1:39s in the men's 200 back and 200 fly as Georgia swept Florida State to remain undefeated. NOE PONTI BREAKS 50 FLY WORLD RECORD IN SHANGHAI; FIRST SWISS WORLD RECORD IN ALMOST 40 YEARS By Braden Keith on SwimSwam Noe Ponti broke the World Record in the 50 short course meters fly on Sunday in Shanghai, China at the first stop of the 2024 Swimming World Cup Series. Read the full story on SwimSwam: Noe Ponti Breaks 50 Fly World Record in Shanghai; First Swiss World Record in Almost 40 Years Read More → - GRETCHEN WALSH SHATTERS 100 IM WORLD RECORD IN 55.98, FIRST SWIMMER SUB-56 By James Sutherland on SwimSwam Competing in a 100 IM time trial, Walsh rocketed to a time of 55.98, demolishing the world record of 56.51 set by Katinka Hosszu back in 2017. Read the full story on SwimSwam: Gretchen Walsh Shatters 100 IM World Record In 55.98, First Swimmer Sub-56 Read More → - FORMER NCAA STUDENT-ATHLETES CAN NOW FILE CLAIMS FOR BACKPAY AS PART OF HOUSE V. NCAA By Sophie Kaufman on SwimSwam Eligible former NCAA athletes can now submit claims for their part of the $2.8 billion in back pay the league will pay out in the wake of House v. NCAA. Read the full story on SwimSwam: Former NCAA Student-Athletes Can Now File Claims For Backpay As Part of House v. NCAA Read More → - SOURCES: SEC WILL SET MEN’S SWIM & DIVE ROSTER LIMITS AT 22 ATHLETES IN WAKE OF HOUSE V. NCAA By Sophie Kaufman on SwimSwam Sources tell SwimSwam that the SEC has finalized plans to set men's swimming and diving roster limits at 22 athletes, the same number proposed in May 2024. Read the full story on SwimSwam: Sources: SEC Will Set Men’s Swim & Dive Roster Limits At 22 Athletes In Wake Of House v. NCAA Read More → - ALEX SHACKELL DECOMMITS FROM CAL, WILL DEFER COLLEGE ENROLLMENT FOR A YEAR By Braden Keith on SwimSwam Alex Shackell, a two-time Olympic medalist in Paris, has announced that she will defer her college enrollment for a year. Read the full story on SwimSwam: Alex Shackell Decommits from Cal, Will Defer College Enrollment for a Year Read More → - CHARLOTTE CRUSH, #1 RECRUIT IN THE CLASS OF 2026, ANNOUNCES VERBAL COMMITMENT TO TENNESSEE By Anne Lepesant on SwimSwam With Charlotte Crush's verbal commitment, Tennessee now has the fastest 100 free, 100 back, 100 breast, and 100 fly performers in the class of 2026. Read the full story on SwimSwam: Charlotte Crush, #1 Recruit in the Class of 2026, Announces Verbal Commitment to Tennessee Read More → - JUDE BURKHART ANNIHILATES 11-12 NATIONAL AGE GROUP RECORD BY 12 SECONDS By Braden Keith on SwimSwam Jude Burkhart took over 1.2% off the old 11-12 National Age Group Record in the 1650 yard free this weekend in Baltimore. Read the full story on SwimSwam: Jude Burkhart Annihilates 11-12 National Age Group Record By 12 Seconds Read More → - Twitter Facebook Instagram Website