**Budapest, Hungary** – The much-anticipated Day 5 Finals of the 2024 Short Course World Championships turned out to be nothing short of spectacular. With the event taking place at the majestic Duna Arena, expectations ran high as athletes prepared to face off in various thrilling matches.

Record Breaking Achievements

In a scene reminiscent of Olympic glory, athletes were on fire tonight. Just last night, seven new World Records were broken, leading to an electrifying atmosphere that carried over into today. Notably, talented swimmer Jordan Crooks established a new World Record during the morning prelims of the 50 freestyle, setting the stage for a thrilling evening ahead.

As the session unfolded, record-breaking performances were the highlight of the night. Gretchen Walsh further solidified her status as a swimming sensation by breaking her own World Record in the Women’s 100 Butterfly, clocking an astonishing time of **52.71**, shattering the previous mark of 52.87.

Women's 100 Butterfly Final

**Top Finishers:** 1. **Gretchen Walsh (USA)** - 52.71 (New World Record) 2. **Tessa Giele (NED)** - 54.66 3. **Alexandria Perkins (AUS)** - 55.10 (Oceania Record) Walsh's performance was nothing short of a masterclass; she was under 54 seconds, an unprecedented feat for any female swimmer. With this accomplishment, she continues to dominate in the pool, thrilling fans and setting herself apart from the competition.

Men's 100 Butterfly Final

**Top Finishers:** 1. **Noe Ponti (SUI)** - 47.71 (New World Record) 2. **Maxime Grousset (FRA)** - 48.57 3. **Matthew Temple (AUS)** - 48.71 Adding to the record-breaking frenzy, Switzerland’s Noe Ponti dazzled the crowd by breaking Caeleb Dressel's long-standing World Record, finishing with a time of **47.71**. Delivering his third gold medal of the meet, Ponti left competitors trailing in his wake.

Women’s 50 Breaststroke Semifinals

**Top Qualifiers:** 1. **Ruta Meilutyte (LTU)** - 28.39 2. **Qianting Tang (CHN)** - 28.86 3. **Lilly King (USA)** - 28.99 The semi-finals saw Ruta Meilutyte, continuing her impressive run, secure the top seed, narrowly missing her World Record time.

Men's 50 Breaststroke Semifinals

**Top Qualifiers:** 1. **Kirill Prigoda (NAB)** - 25.48 2. **Chris Smith (RSA)** - 25.66 (New World Junior Record) 3. **Haiyang Qin (CHN)** - 25.60 Kirill Prigoda sped through to the final, while Chris Smith highlighted his talent by breaking the World Junior Record.

Women's 50 Freestyle Semifinals

**Top Qualifiers:** 1. **Gretchen Walsh (USA)** - 22.87 (New World Record) 2. **Kate Douglass (USA)** - 23.35 3. **Katarzyna Wasick (POL)** - 23.46 In a whirlwind of speed, Walsh set her second World Record of the night in the Women’s 50 Freestyle, officially dethroning Ranomi Kromowidjojo’s previous record of 22.93.

Men's 50 Freestyle Semifinals

**Top Qualifiers:** 1. **Jordan Crooks (CAY)** - 19.90 (New World Record) 2. **Jack Alexy (USA)** - 20.51 3. **Guilherme Santos (BRA)** - 20.59 Crooks not only defended his title but also made history as the first swimmer to touch the wall under 20 seconds, finishing at **19.90** and breaking his own record set earlier this day.

Women’s 400 IM Final

**Top Finishers:** 1. **Summer McIntosh (CAN)** - 4:15.48 (New World Record) 2. **Katie Grimes (USA)** - 4:20.14 3. **Abbie Wood (GBR)** - 4:24.34 McIntosh continued her streak, smashing the World Record in the Women’s 400 IM by over three seconds, displaying an extraordinary lead through each leg of the race.

Men’s 400 IM Final

**Top Finishers:** 1. **Ilia Borodin (NAB)** - 3:56.83 2. **Carson Foster (USA)** - 3:57.45 3. **Alberto Razzetti (ITA)** - 3:58.83 With an impressive breaststroke leg, Borodin secured the title and emerged as the new Men’s 400 IM World Champion, marking a significant achievement.

Men's 800 Freestyle Fastest Heat

**Top Finishers:** 1. **Zalan Sarkany (HUN)** - 7:30.56 2. **Florian Wellbrock (GER)** - 7:31.90 3. **Ahmed Jaouadi (TUN)** - 7:31.93 (New African Record) In an emotionally charged event, Sarkany claimed victory on home turf amidst roaring support, despite narrowly missing the Championship Record.

Mixed 4x100 Medley Relay Final

**Top Finishers:** 1. **Neutral Athletes B** - 3:30.47 2. **United States** - 3:30.55 3. **Canada** - 3:31.97 This groundbreaking relay concluded the night with a nail-biting finish as the Neutral Athletes captured the gold in a thrilling final stretch.

**Conclusion: A Night to Remember** Day 5 of the 2024 Short Course World Championships not only showcased remarkable athleticism and fierce competition but also marked history with multiple World Records and incredible personal bests. As we look forward to the final sessions, the anticipation builds for more unforgettable moments in the pool! Stay tuned for more drama and excitement as we wrap up this thrilling championship!