Canadian swimmer Ilya Kharun secured his second consecutive gold medal at the World Cup finale in Toronto by winning the men’s 50-meter butterfly final on Saturday. Kharun, hailing from Montreal, had previously claimed victory in the 200m butterfly event the day before. He clocked an impressive time of 21.80 seconds, narrowly defeating Switzerland’s Noe Ponti, the current short-course world record holder, by a mere one one-hundredth of a second. Toronto’s Josh Liendo finished closely behind to clinch the bronze medal in a personal best time of 21.91.
Expressing his elation, Kharun stated, “It means a lot to me. I anticipated a close race, and I am thrilled to have emerged victorious. I am at a loss for words. I noticed Ponti’s movements during the latter half of the race, realizing it would be a tight finish between us. Fortunately, I managed to secure the win.”
The 20-year-old swimmer earned $10,000 US for dominating the 50m butterfly event at all three World Cup stops, a feat he also accomplished in the 200m butterfly discipline. Kharun contributed significantly to Canada’s success, claiming 12 podium finishes out of the country’s 25 total podium placements, along with seven victories out of Canada’s 10 wins during the World Cup tour, which included previous stops in Carmel, Ind., and Westmont, Ill., earlier in the month. His remarkable performances secured him fifth place in the Toronto men’s standings and fourth place in the overall men’s rankings, resulting in total earnings of $54,500.
Kharun commenced the Toronto competition by securing the bronze in the 50m freestyle event on Thursday before achieving a silver medal in the 100m butterfly later the same day. The swimmer cherished the opportunity to compete against Liendo in front of their home supporters at the Pan Am Sports Centre, renowned as “Canada’s fastest pool.”
Liendo, who garnered three gold medals in Toronto, finished ninth in the overall standings and received a total prize amount of $25,000. The 23-year-old athlete broke Ponti’s world record in the 100m butterfly, registering a time of 47.68 seconds.
Reflecting on his performance, Liendo stated, “It has been an incredible experience. I had to push myself to rest well after the first night, but overall, it has been rewarding. This week exceeded my expectations, and I am content with my progress. I am looking forward to continuing strong for the rest of the season.”
Additionally, Liendo, who placed the crown on Kharun’s head during the post-race ceremony, appreciated the friendly competition with his national team colleague, emphasizing the camaraderie between them.
