Josh Liendo made a remarkable entrance at the Pan Am Sports Centre on Thursday, reminiscing about his achievements at his hometown pool. This is where the 23-year-old swimmer broke an Ontario record in the 100-meter freestyle back in 2017 and secured his spot on the Olympic team a few years later. Additionally, it’s where he holds multiple Canadian records. On the same evening, Liendo set a new short course world record in the men’s 100 butterfly with a winning time of 47.68 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 47.71 held by Noe Ponti from Switzerland, who finished third in 48.38 seconds.
After his outstanding performance, Liendo expressed his surprise at setting a world record during the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup’s final leg. He mentioned that he would have been content with a time of 48 seconds, but seeing the world record on the board made him ecstatic. Liendo credited the incredible pool and crowd for helping him achieve this feat. He later clinched another gold medal in the men’s 50 freestyle event.
Byron MacDonald, the head coach at the University of Toronto and a swimming analyst for CBC Sports, noted Liendo’s improved performance compared to his earlier appearances in the World Cup. MacDonald highlighted Liendo’s exceptional skills and mentioned that breaking the world record was inevitable for such a talented athlete.
Liendo’s victory not only earned him a gold medal but also a cash prize of $12,500, including a $10,000 bonus for setting the world record. The presence of his family members in the audience added to the joy of his accomplishment. Liendo, who stands at six-foot-four, also set a World Cup record in the 50 freestyle event, outperforming his competitors.
In a historic moment, Liendo became the first Black Canadian swimmer to win an Olympic medal last year in Paris. He was recognized as Swimming Canada’s male swimmer of the year for his outstanding performance. The competition is ongoing, with live streaming coverage available for fans to follow the events. Other notable achievements from the day included world records set by various international swimmers and Canadian star Summer McIntosh opting out due to illness.