World champion Maxime Grousset shaved 0.01sec off the US all-comers record for a 22.80 victory in the 50m butterfly on the final day of the Austin round of the Pro Swim series in Texas.

The 50-100 'fly World champion, who contributed to Europeans dominating the men's medals table at World titles in Singapore last July and August, had shaved 0.03sec off the American open standard in semis yesterday, Caeleb Dressel's 22.84 having stood as the mark to beat since April 2022.

Closest to the visiting Frenchman coached in Paris by Michel Chrétien were Americans Van Mathias, 23.06, and the star turn among men of the Tokyo2020ne Olympics, Dressel, 23.29.

• RESULTS IN FULL

Grousset was back to face more American opponents later in the session, finishing second to Longhorns' Chris Guiliano, 48.14 to 48.36 in the curtain-closing 100m freestyle. Patrick Sammon (NYAC), 48.51, Jack Alexy (CAL), 48.53, Brooks Curry(CAL) 48.69, and Matt King (ISC), 48.89, completed the home sub-49 tight-finish club, with 200m man Luke Hobson (Longhorns), 49.41, and his training partner and medley ace Shaine Casas sending the result to the printer in 49.70.

Casas had been in her sprint action earlier the race before the 100 free: the 50m back went to Yohann Ndoye Brouard, of France, in 24.94. That granted the visitor a backstroke sweep, after strong wins in the 100 and 200m, and left Casas second, just 0.06 away, on 25.00.

More Speedy Practice From Ledecky & Smith 

The last session of finals witnessed another fabulous distance swim from Katie Ledecky, her 8:10.16 leaving the pioneering quadruple Olympic champion and World record holder in a league of her own, yet again. Following her home were seven swimmers for whom a sub-8:35 was no possible this January day: 8:35.78, Brinkleigh Hansen (SPA-FL), 6 8:37.13, Claire Weinstein (UN-CA); and, own the comeback trail, Becca Mann (TAC-NC), 8:45.62.

Ledecky laid down the second-fastest 1500m ever, a 15:23, on day 1 of the four-day meet, and took the 400m free in 4min flat. 

She raced the 800m on the 10th anniversary of her 8:06.68 World record in the 800m freestyle at the same Austin round of the pro Swim series. The most decorated female Olympic swimmer in history, Ledecky has made the early-in-year Pro-Swim events a moment to lay down distance freestyle swims faster than any of her rivals have ever mustered. In 2016, her 8:06 was the warm-up for an 8:04 World-record win at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, for the second gold in what is now a pioneering and record run of four golds 2012 to 2024 in that event:

Ledecky The Living Legend Is Founder Member Of Female Quad Club

“Thank you for making me better,” says Ledecky to Titmus after their epic 800. Says Titmus “She’s made me a better athlete, I totally respect what she’s done in this sport, more than any other athlete”

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Austin 2026, and one of the swims of the meet came from Regan Smith, who clocked 2:05.29 to dominate the 200m butterfly in her home pool ahead of Texas teammate Lindsay Looney, on 2:09.64.

Smith was back for a second win later in the session, a 27.67 good for the win over French visitor Beryl Gastadello, 28.03, in the 50m backstroke. Like Ndoye Brouard among men, the dash win made it a women's backstroke sweep for Smith.

Marchand Marches On 

Her Texas teammate and France's world swimmer of the year once more in 2025, Léon Marchand swam as fast on breaststroke as Looney on 'fly, the Olympic champion's 2:09.72 keeping Denis Peyrashov (CARD) at bay, on 2:10.75.

The last women's final of the meet went to 15-year-old World junior champion Rylee Erisman (LAKR) on 53.34 in the 100m free ahead of 2016 Olympic champion Simone Manuel (Texas), 53.55, Anna Peplowski (ISC) on 54.51, a swing ahead of World swimmer of the year 2024 and 2025, Canadian ace Summer McIntosh (Texas), on 54.91.

In other finals, Gabriel Jett (CAL) and Carson Foster (Texas) topped the 200 'fly 1:56.44 to 1:56.93, a 1:58.00 good for third place for Rylee's big bro Ryan Erisman(CAL), Olympic 1500m champion and World record holder Bobby Finke (Gators) digging into winter reserves on 1:59.34.

The other finals on the day: women's 50m butterfly went to Marie Wattel (FRA) in 26.01, while other winners included Grace Palmer (LSU), on 2:30.57 in the 200m breaststroke.

Winter striving continues apace...

Also In The January 2026 Vortex:

• Summer McIntosh Shadows Her WR Pace At A Safe Distance In A League Of Her Own
• Summer McIntosh, Léon Marchand & Co Show Race-Pace Lace Work On Way To Catwalk Of Full Reveal
• Katie Ledecky Strikes Again With Pro-Swim 15:23 In Austin 1500
• Ryan Lochte Sells 3 Olympic 4x200 Relay Golds for Almost $400,000
• The Peaty Family Feud - my chat with Jane Mulkerrins on the Times Radio Breakfast Show
• WADA Starts Year With Reminder to Athletes of the 2026 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods

In other coverage:

2025 Review & Awards - State Of Swimming +

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord