Australia teammates Kaylee McKeown and Lani Pallister, and Dutch ace Caspar Corbeau - pressed by Adam Peaty - set World Cup records on the first of three days of racing at the last round of the short-course 2025 World Cup series in Toronto.

The session was topped by two world records:

Liendo 1st Black Swimmer & 2nd Canadian Since Gery in 1990 To Claim S/C 100 ′ Fly World Record

At the home and last round of the 2025 World Cup in Toronto, Josh Liendo goes 10.26sec, 22.28 at half-way & is still 0.2 shy of Swiss ace Noe Ponti’s WR pace at the last turn. He then nails a 12.86 homecomer for his first World mark as 11th Canadian man to hold a world swim record

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Kós Cracks Larkin’s 2015 World 200 Back Mark in 1:45.12

The first Hungarian man to hold a world backstroke record was Andras Baronyi, over 100m in 1911. Hubert Kos is the second. At the World Cup in Toronto today, as Hungary commemorates the 1956 Revolution and War of Independence, he became the first from his country to hold the 200m mark

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

On the women's side, McKeown and Pallister stole the limelight. First up, Pallister completed a sweep of 400m freestyle finals on the tour with a Cup, Australian and Oceania record of 3:51.87.

The time shaved a further 0.55sec off the standards Pallister set at the Westmont leg of the Cup last weekend. Today, she shadowed the world-record pace of absent Torontonian and Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh, at the 100 and 200m marks. With 100m to go, Pallister was inside WR pace by 0.27sec but McIntosh's last 100m for the World crown in Budapest last December was not to be denied:

Pallister is on course to win all distance freestyle races at the three rounds of the cup this year.

In the very next women's final, teammate McKeown kept the Dolphin momentum flowing with a 50m backstroke Cup-record 25.35 just 0.12sec shy of the World high bar in the hands of American Regan Smith, who bypassed the dash to focus on.the 200m 'fly, in which she made it three out of three victories on tour.

Closest to Smith, coached by Bob Bowman was a roaring Irish record from Ellen Walshe, whose home coach is Brian Sweeney: 2:05 at stop 1, 2:04 last weekend at stop... and now, 2:02.36.

Just 0.05sec shy of McKeown, American Gretchen Walsh warmed up for victory in the 100m medley, with another Dolphin in third place on backstroke, Mollie O'Callaghan out-sprinting Canada's Kylie Masse for the last medal:

100IM and 200 'Fly:

Caspar Corbeau, of The Netherlands, rattled the World record in the 100m breaststroke, his 55.55 a cup mark by 0.06sec. He raced in 4. In 5 was an opponent who's opposition has got used to being shook, rattled and rolled over by: Adam Peaty, twice Olympic champion and the silver medallist by 0.02sec in Paris last year, today swam inside 57sec for the first time on a tour that marks his first competitions since the Games. On 56.49 in heats, he clocked 56.59 in the final for a comfortable second place, his best finish of the series so far, with the 50m pending.

In other finals: Kate Douglass and Katarzyna Wasick completed their specialist-event dominance with respective victories in the 200m breaststroke and 50m freestyle while Carson Foster topped the 400m freestyle as one of a few medley men putting pressure on the pride of freestylers:

Douglass was followed home by former UVA teammate Alex Walsh, third place to Mona McSharry in an Irish record:

Thursday, October 23

USA Swimming Board Chair Natalie Coughlin to Step Down

Natalie Coughlin, 12-time Olympic medallist and long-time member of the USA Swimming Board of Directors, is stepping down as Chair of the Board, effective early November 2025. Her decision was taken with a view to focussing on her family.

USA Swimming issued the following in a statement:

Coughlin has proudly served the USA Swimming Board since 2016, volunteering her time to various capacities, including most recently as Chair, where she helped guide the organization through a period of strategic renewal and executive leadership transition. Throughout her tenure, she provided her unique perspective as an athlete, parent, and business leader to several key initiatives, including the National Team Managing Director Task Force and the CEO Search Task Force, which resulted in the appointment of current CEO Kevin Ring earlier this year. She will remain engaged with the organisation as a member of USA Swimming’s National Team Steering Committee. Coughlin said:

“The opportunity to serve USA Swimming and our community has been an incredible honour for me. I first joined the USA Swimming family as an age group swimmer, rose through the sport as a competitive athlete, and ultimately became a long-time member of the National Team. I volunteered for USA Swimming out of immense gratitude for what the sport has done for my life. I wanted to share that knowledge as a contribution back to the sport and actively support its progression moving forward.

"I’m deeply proud of the work the Board has done in service to all of our athletes, coaches, clubs, and volunteers. I have complete confidence in Kevin Ring’s vision for the future of USA Swimming and Greg Meehan’s leadership of the National Team, and I believe this is the right moment in time for me to step aside. While I will continue to volunteer and support the swimming community, I am excited to focus on my family and being a swim mom to my two young kids.”

During Coughlin’s time on the Board, USA Swimming achieved several landmark successes, including the vision and execution of bringing the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming, presented by Lilly, to Lucas Oil Stadium in 2024. The event marked the first time an NFL stadium hosted a swim meet, setting multiple attendance and revenue records and showcasing the organization’s bold approach to elevating its premier events ahead of the LA28 Games.

“Natalie has been an invaluable leader and ambassador for USA Swimming,” said Kevin Ring, USA Swimming CEO. “Her steady guidance, collaborative spirit, and passion for athlete development have helped strengthen the organisation’s governance and long-term strategy. The principles she helped establish will continue to guide the Board and our entire community as we enter this next critical chapter for the sport.”

Coughlin was a driving force in strengthening the athlete voice within USA Swimming’s governance. She championed efforts to ensure that athletes, and the coaches who serve them, remain front of mind throughout the organization’s strategic planning and program development, helping USA Swimming stay grounded in its mission to support performance and participation at every level of the sport. 

USA Swimming’s Athlete Advisory Council will appoint an athlete to fulfil the remainder of Coughlin’s term and the Board of Directors will elect a new Board Chair in the coming weeks.

Caldas Banned For 5-Years For Failing To Submit To Sex Test

Hannah Caldas, who swam in the 2021 and 2024 World Masters Championships, under the name Anna, then Hannah, has been suspended from Aquatics for five years after having accessed the women's category by claiming to be a member of the opposite sex.

Caldas, who has competed in Masters events in the sport-health-lesiure community for those aged 25 and over, was born Hugo Caldas and is a biological male who identifies as a transwoman. Since 2022, World Aquatics rules have barred any athlete who developed through Tanner Stage 2 male puberty from the female/women's category:

Male Puberty Rules Out Access To Female Racing As FINA ‘Gold-Standard’ Policy Safeguards Fair Play For Women & Creates Open Category For Transgender Athletes - StateOfSwimming

Swimming backs policy that keeps women’s sports category for women (no athlete who experienced male puberty is allowed in to race with females)

StateOfSwimmingCraig Lord

In 2023, the international federation reached out to the trans community with an invitation for them to register their interest in competing at the World Cup event in Berlin in northern autumn that year. None registered, including males identifying as (trans)women who believe their have a right to deprive women of their sex-based rights, which in sport are undeniably and highly significant:

Is ‘Open’ Only Attractive If Males Get A Ticket To Female Races? Berlin World Cup Suggests So: Not A Single Open Entry

“World Aquatics can confirm that no entries have been received for the Open Category events.” - World Aquatics reveals that trans swimmers invited to take part in Open World Cup event show no interest, as biological males continue to insist that their place in female sport is ‘fair’

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

The 2022 rules include these clauses pertinent to the ban on Caldas, who was suspended for violating the following:

• Article 5.1, Article 5.2, Article 6 c), and Article 10.2 of the World Aquatics Integrity Code;
  • The violations of the World Aquatics Integrity Code involve providing false information, failing to act honestly, and engaging in conduct that undermines integrity.
• Section F.2 a) and Section F.4 b) of the Policy on Eligibility for the Men’s and Women’s Competition Categories;
  • The violations of the Policy on Eligibility for the Men’s and Women’s Competition Categories relate to false sex certification and failure to meet the women’s eligibility criteria.
• and Section B.2, Section B.7, and Section B.9 of the Operational Requirements to the Policy.
  • The violations of the Operational Requirements to the Policy concern non-compliance with policy terms, missing required documentation, and breaches of procedural obligations.

Caldas is out of the sport until 18 October 2030, while the swimmer's results between 19 June 2022 and 17 October 17 2024 are expunged.

In August, U.S. Masters Swimming’s Eligibility Review Panel found that Caldas was eligible for competition in the female category, but that ruling ignored World Aquatics rules.

New York Aquatics issued a statement on behalf of Caldas in response to the World Aquatics suspension. It include the following:

Today, World Aquatics announced a five-year suspension of masters swimmer Hannah Caldas from World Masters competition and the disqualification of her results from the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships.

During the investigation, World Aquatics required Ms. Caldas to undergo a genetic or chromosomal test—at her own expense—to “prove” compliance with the organisation’s “chromosomal sex” requirement under its Gender Policy to take part in the older-adult recreational World Aquatics Masters competition. This test was required even after Ms. Caldas provided World Aquatics with her birth certificate identifying her as female.

The statement then cites Caldas as saying:

“Chromosomal tests are invasive and expensive procedures. My insurance refuses to cover such a test because it is not medically necessary. No U.S. state requires genetic tests for recreational sports events like these. Not even U.S. Masters Swimming, the national governing body for recreational adult swimming in the U.S., demands this for any of its events.”

SOS notes that the sex tests required are not 'invasive', according to female athletes who have taken the tests. Caldas cites U.S. rules but fails to grasp that all athletes racing internationally are subject to international rules. Caldas is no exception.

Challenges to the presence of biological males in female sport are in process at the U.S. Supreme Court:

U.S. Supreme Court To Hear 2 Landmark Women’s Sports Cases On What ‘Sex’ Means

“A Supreme Court ruling in these cases could finally bring long-awaited clarity and legal protection for women’s athletic opportunities.” - ICONS, at the forefront of campaigning for women’s sport to be preserved for females only

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

The New York Aquatics statement goes on to say that: "Masters swimming does not award prize money; in fact, Ms. Caldas personally paid thousands of dollars to travel to Doha and compete. She has also faced repeated violent threats in recent months simply for participating in swimming events."

SOS notes that none of that, of course, changes the fact that Caldas, in common with all other athletes, must comply with World Aquatics rules. The Statement cites Caldas acceptance of a penalty:

“I understand and accept the consequences of not complying with a World Aquatics investigation. But if a five-year suspension is the price I must pay to protect my most intimate medical information, then it’s a price I am happy to pay - for myself, and for every other woman who does not want to submit to highly invasive medical testing just to swim in an older-adult competition.”

SOS notes that every female athlete who has spoken out (and spoken to us) about the issue since 2018-19, when the debate took off, has been supportive of sex tests. In that sense, Caldas is not only not representing "every other woman" but in the most relevant issue in the case - sport and the context of sport and biology - the word "other" is a personal opinion, not a fact.

Caldas told New York Aquatics that a line has been drawn and that "... I am prepared to let it all go. My life and privacy have been invaded enough. It is time to prioritise my health and personal safety.”

SOS notes that those words are welcomed by female athletes, who have long noted that those like Hannah Caldas who wish to live their lives identifying as transwomen are welcome to do so (and many more of us would add 'and should face no hostility because of who they are, but like the rest of us, must understand that there are plenty of areas in life where sex matters - and that must also be respected and accepted). Those areas include races and safe places where women - biological females - also have rights, including legal rights; and those include the right to have a women's sex-based category in sport in the interests of fair and safe play - and in the interests of ensuring that girls have a fair and safe place to develop their interests in sport devoid of reasons to quit and consider sport to be "not for me".

Here is an example of where allowing a biological male into women's competition poses a clear and dangerous threat to their female opponent, as highlighted by Martina Navratilova:

Commentary by Oliver Brown at The Telegraph:

Will it take a death for IOC to get a grip on boxing gender-row lunacy?

Return of Lin Yu-ting, who was shown to have male chromosomes, to women’s competition is the result of Olympic chiefs’ dereliction of duty

The TelegraphOliver Brown

• SOS notes = editorial/commentary

Wednesday, October 22

Canadian NextGen Go The Distance On Train/Race Camp Down Under

Six of Canada’s top promising distance swimmers are participating in the NextGen Open Water Pan Pacific Charter Nations Training and Racing Camp on the Sunshine Coast, Australia.

Team leader Mark Perry, coach Judy Baker and team manager Katie Callon are guiding and preparing the athletes for their 7.5-kilometre race Saturday at the Queensland State Championships.
 
This training camp gives athletes opportunities to work on their swimming technique and sharpen their performance before the competition. It aligns with Swimming Canada’s Distance Strategy Initiative, a program focused on developing Canada’s up-and-coming distance swimmers. The athletes are training together as a Canadian team before heading to Australia to train with the other Pan Pacific nations.
 
Alex Yao, who swims with High Performance Centre – Ontario, has learned a lot about open water swimming during the camp. He said:

“We've been pushing and encouraging each other through tough sets, and we're working on open water tactics. So far, I've learned many different ways to swim open water and am looking forward to swimming with the other countries."

With training conditions for open water and distance swimming becoming more challenging, the camp gives athletes chances to train in outdoor facilities, helping them better prepare for their competitions.
 
Isabella Cooper, from Lakeshore Swim Club, is grateful for the opportunity and how the camp is adding to her development. She said:

“I'm really honoured to have the privilege to get to swim with some other amazing swimmers from across the country. It’s a wonderful location and the outdoor pool is beautiful. We’ve had the opportunity to work a lot on open water, kick and aerobic maintenance."

As the training camp continues this week, athletes and coaching staff are working hard to have athletes prepared and ready to swim fast in Sunshine Coast, Australia, at the end of the week.

SWIMMERS - NAGEURS 
 

 
TEAM STAFF - PERSONNEL 
 

Also In the October Vortex and SOS Coverage:

• Kate Douglass Downs 2017 World & Cup Marks Of Cate Campbell & Sarah Sjöström With 50.19 In 100 Free
• Regan Smith Snaps Her Own 100 Back WR To Put 10K in The Bank
• Midas-Touch McKeown Strikes Again + Cup Marks For Pallister, Smith, Walsh & Douglass
• Gretchen Walsh Limbers Up For Back Battle With Kaylee McKeown

Ariarne Titmus Finds Life Beyond The Black Line “Just a Little Bit More Important to Me”

Dolphin 778, Olympic 400m Free Champion and first Australian woman to retain an Olympic crown in the pool since Dawn Fraser in 1964 announces her retirement from swimming with immediate effect

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Wunderlich & Other ‘Swim Across America’ Wonders Up For Daytona Debut To Fight Cancer

Olympian and five-times Worlds medallist will join the fund-raising shoal at the Inaugural Swim Across America - Daytona Open Water 1-Mile Charity Swim on December 7 almost 30 years into his passion for raising money and awareness for cancer research, prevention and treatment

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

• Aussies Kaylee McKeown & Lani Pallister Top Day 3 World Cup Points Bill - 1 Round Down, 2 To Go
• Swim Ireland Severs Ties With Shane Ryan [plus, commentary]
• Australia Calls On Meta & X To Remove Fake Quotes Falsely Attributed To Mollie O'Callaghan
• Gretchen Walsh Whistles To Her 7th World S/C Mark With 23.72 50 'Fly
• Regan Smith Takes Down Liu's Shiny Suited Cup Mark & Gretchen Walsh Makes It 2 World Cup Marks On Day 1 Of 9
• Benedetta Pilato and Chiara Tarantino Land 90-Day Bans Over Singapore 2025 Shoplifting Arrest
• Walsh, Ponti, Marchand Top The Bill As World Cup Leaves Blocks; McIntosh Out Through Illness
• Australian Study Highlights Family Cost Of Junior Swimming
• No Aquatics Rules Broken But Indian Fed Facing Pressure In 'Controversy' Over Flag On Water Polo Bathers
• Hector Pardoe Is Athlete Of The Year At BBC Green Sport Awards
• Mum's The Word: Sarah Sjostrom Back In The Swim
• Three-time Irish Olympian Shane Ryan Retires From Fast Lane
• Two New Faces On Swimming Canada Board
• Cameron McEvoy Matches His 9.36 World Best In Aussie S/C 25m Exhibition
• Sam Short - Swiftest Aussie s/c 1500 Freestyler since Grant Hackett
• Sam Short On 3:36 in 400 Free As Aussie S/C Champs Get Underway in Melbourne

The SOS FORUM for subscribers

Deep Clean The Olympics, a 4-part mini-series:

Part 1:

FORUM - Honeymoon Over: Time For IOC Boss Kirsty & Aquatics Allies To Send Doping Shame To Coventry

The sporting crime of the 20th Century, and biggest recorded systematic fraud in the history of sport, hangs over the Olympic president, her allies in Aquatics & other IFs. If they want a legacy worth having they must - at last, and at the very least - reach for reconciliation. Here’s why…

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord

Part 2:

FORUM: Will Kirsty Coventry Break The Mould Of IOC Malaise On The Biggest Scam In Sports History?

No IOC president has ever found the courage & integrity to reach for reconciliation & recognition for those caught up in the GDR doping fraud. Can a woman reach for what the men who went before her failed to achieve, look Enhancement In the eye and wag her winning finger?

State Of Swimming +Craig Lord