The 2024 Short Course World Championships have come to a thrilling close in Budapest, where the final session erupted with record-breaking performances that will be remembered for years to come. As the competition came to a dramatic conclusion, it was the athletes that electrified the pool, including standout stars Gretchen Walsh, Summer McIntosh, Kate Douglass, and Jordan Crooks, who proved that the last day would be anything but a letdown.

Thrilling Highlights: Record-Breakers Galore!

The sixth day of competition showcased several finals, with swimmers vying for supremacy in their respective events. The standout performances began with the women’s 50 freestyle, where Gretchen Walsh broke her own world record by clocking an astonishing 22.83 seconds. This victory marked another highlight of her stellar week in the water, as she had already set multiple records leading up to this finale. Kate Douglass secured the silver medal with a personal best of 23.05, while Poland's Kasia Wasick took bronze with a time of 23.37.

Jordan Crooks, who had already made headlines by becoming the first man to break the 20-second barrier in the short-course meter pool, continued to impress by defending his title in the men's 50 freestyle. Crooks finished with a swift 20.19, triumphing over Brazil's Gui Santos, who earned silver in 20.57, and fellow American Jack Alexy, who took bronze with 20.61.

Women’s and Men’s Breaststroke Finals

In the women’s 50 breaststroke, it was the world record holder Ruta Meilutyte who claimed victory, finishing in 28.54 seconds. China's Tang Qianting, the reigning 100 breaststroke champion, captured silver with 28.86, while American Lilly King rounded out the podium with a bronze in 28.91.

The men’s 50 breaststroke saw a thrilling competition, with Qin Haiyang of China taking gold in a tightly contested race with a time of 25.42, just edging out world record holder Emre Sakci and Kirill Prigoda, who tied for silver with 25.56.

Backstroke Battles

The evening's competition heated up further in the women’s 200 backstroke as Regan Smith obliterated not just the championship record but shattered her own world record, finishing in 1:58.04. Summer McIntosh also made waves by breaking Missy Franklin's world junior record with a time of 1:59.96, grabbing silver. Anastasiya Shkurdai was not to be outdone, securing bronze with a time of 2:00.56.

In the men's 200 backstroke, Hubert Kos triumphed on home soil, clocking 1:45.65, which not only earned him gold but also established a new championship and European record. Following closely, Italy’s Lorenzo Mora and France's Mewen Tomac claimed silver and bronze, respectively.

Fierce Freestyle Finishes

The stage was set for more heart-stopping action in the women’s 200 freestyle, where Siobhan Haughey, the reigning champion, demonstrated her dominance by finishing in 1:50.62, just shy of her world record. Mary-Sophie Harvey impressively captured silver with an Americas record of 1:51.49, while Claire Weinstein secured bronze in 1:51.62.

The men's 200 freestyle featured Luke Hobson claiming victory in an exhilarating race with a new world record time of 1:38.61, surpassing his own record established earlier in the week. Australia's Max Giuliani earned the silver with an Oceanian record of 1:40.36.

The Grand Finale: Relay Races

The championships culminated in the highly anticipated relays. The U.S. women's team, featuring Smith, King, Walsh, and Douglass, set a new world record in the women’s 4x100 medley relay, finishing in 3:40.41, surpassing their own record by nearly four seconds. Great Britain and China followed suit to take silver and bronze, respectively.

In the men’s 4x100 medley relay, the Neutral Athletes 'B' team stunned the crowd with a world record of 3:18.68, breaking the previous record held by the Australia and U.S. teams. The U.S. squad, driven by Alexy's impressive anchor leg, captured silver in a strong time just outside the former record.

A Championship Worth Remembering

With a total of over 30 new world records broken throughout the week, the 2024 Short Course World Championships left an indelible mark on the swimming world. Athletes exhibited not just skill but also the spirit of competition against a backdrop of historic achievements. As the last whistle blew in Budapest, it was clear that this championships would not only be remembered for broken records but also for the extraordinary displays of sportsmanship and athletic prowess.

Stay tuned for more updates from the swimming world as we look ahead to future meets and Olympic preparations!