U.S. Team Shatters World Record
U.S. Mixed Medley Relay Shatters World Record at Pan Pacs, Ledecky Extends Win Streak
Key Points
Mathias, a sprint specialist who had retired for two years before returning to competition in 2025, delivered a 57.30 split on the backstroke as part of the U.S. mixed 4×100 medley relay that set the world record at Pan Pacs.
Kate Douglass earned silver in the women’s 50-meter butterfly on Pan Pacs Night One, with Gretchen Walsh taking gold in the same event.
Italy’s Sara Curtis set a European record in the women’s 50-meter backstroke at Euros, clocking 26.63 seconds in semifinal one to move Europe to the top of the event’s times list.
Lani Pallister swam a 1:53.67 in the opening-night 200-meter freestyle at Pan Pacs as part of her double on the night, highlighting the depth of Australian sprinting alongside Ledecky’s 1500m effort.
Katie Walsh’s 50-meter butterfly time of 24.65 on Night One placed her as the fifth-fastest performer in history and was within 0.22 seconds of Sarah Sjöström’s world record, underscoring the event’s high-level competition.
The United States opened the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California with a stunning world record. The U.S. mixed 4x100-meter medley relay team clocked 3:36.70, breaking the global mark on the meet's opening night, according to Taylor Daily News.
Katie Ledecky added to the American haul by winning the women's 1500-meter freestyle in 15:36.09, extending her winning streak in the event to 16 years, The Guardian reported. It was also her first major international title won on home soil.
How the U.S. Smashed the Medley Relay World Record
The relay team featured four sharp splits. Will Modglin, Van Mathias, Gretchen Walsh, and Kate Douglass each delivered in sequence. Mathias, a sprint backstroke specialist, posted a 57.30 split, according to Taylor Daily News. His comeback makes the swim even more striking — he had retired for two full years before returning to competition in 2025.
Gretchen Walsh anchored the butterfly leg, bringing elite speed to the relay. The team's final time of 3:36.70 sets a new bar for the event worldwide. The record underlines deep U.S. talent across all four strokes in the mixed relay format.
Ledecky Wins at Home for the First Time Ever
Ledecky's 1500m win was her 11th career major international title, per US Head Topics. Australia's Lani Pallister pushed hard, finishing 2.53 seconds back in 15:38.62 — an Australian record. Pallister also swam the 200-meter freestyle earlier in the night, posting 1:53.67, showing impressive range.
Ledecky has now won the 1500m freestyle at every major international meet since 2009. That is a 16-year streak with no losses. The Guardian noted this was her first international medal on American soil, adding a historic note to an already remarkable career mark.
Walsh Flies in the 50 Butterfly, Nearly Cracks World Record
Gretchen Walsh also won gold in the women's 50-meter butterfly on opening night. Her time of 24.65 seconds placed her fifth-fastest in history, per Eastern Herald. She finished just 0.22 seconds off Sarah Sjöström's world record. Kate Douglass took silver in the same event.
Walsh's double — a relay world record and an individual sprint gold — made her the standout performer of Night One. The 50m butterfly result shows the U.S. is not just strong in distance. American women are now chasing world records in sprint events too.
Europe Answers Back as Sara Curtis Breaks 50m Backstroke Record
While Pan Pacs dominated the headlines, Europe had its own moment. Italy's Sara Curtis clocked 26.63 seconds in the women's 50-meter backstroke semifinal at the European Championships. That time sets a new European record and moves her to the top of the event's all-time list.
Curtis's swim signals that the competition feeding into global swimming is getting sharper at every level. With Pan Pacs still in its early stages and European records falling at the same time, the 2025 international swimming season is shaping up as one of the most competitive in recent memory.
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