Ben Proud Speeds to 50 Freestyle Crown at AP Race International; Oliver Klemet Stars in 1500 Free
Great Britain’s Ben Proud delivered a strong statement on the road to this summer’s World Championships when he won his signature event at the AP Race International Meet on Saturday. Competing at the London Aquatics Centre, Proud easily prevailed in the 50-meter freestyle, thanks to a time of 21.69. Proud was joined in sub-22 territory by Ireland’s Tom Fannon (21.96), while 18-year-old Jacob Mills was third in 22.12.
Proud possesses a spectacular portfolio in the 50 freestyle, where he’s been a world and European champion and is the reigning Olympic silver medalist from last summer in Paris. Proud’s time from London was just off his season best of 21.67, which he posted during the British Championships in April. Proud owns a career-best mark of 21.11.
When Proud arrives in Singapore for the World Championships, he’ll chase his fifth medal in the 50 freestyle from the global showcase. In addition to mining gold at the 2022 edition of the competition, Proud was the bronze medalist in 2017, 2023 and 2024.
Germany Continues Distance Surge
Germany’s superb distance-freestyle season continued with a gold-silver showing from the tandem of Oliver Klemet and Florian Wellbrock. Klemet prevailed over his countryman, thanks to a time of 14:41.91. That effort wasn’t far off his season best of 14:39.03, which he recorded earlier this month at the German Championships.
Wellbrock, clearly back in training, took second place in 15:01.28. Wellbrock has been 14:36.25 this season and figures to be a podium contender at the World Championships.
In the women’s 400 freestyle, Isabel Gose triumphed in 4:07.16, placing almost two seconds ahead of the 4:09.00 by Australian Moesha Johnson.
Although best known for his ability in the middle-distance freestyles, Lukas Martens put his skill on display in the 200 backstroke, winning the event in 1:56.50. That performance enabled Martens to finish ahead of the British tandem of Oliver Morgan (1:57.23) and Luke Greenbank (1:57.68). Earlier this year, Martens set the world record in the 400 freestyle, becoming the first athlete to go under 3:40.
British 1-2 in 200 Breaststroke
Angharad Evans and Abbie Wood packaged a gold-silver finish in the 200 breaststroke, with Evans continuing her stellar 2025 campaign. Although better known for her achievements in the 100 breaststroke, where she’s the British record-holder, Evans won over four laps in London in 2:24.34. Evans was followed by Wood, who stopped the clock in 2:25.54.
Evans is expected to challenge for the podium in the 100 breaststroke at the World Championships in Singapore, and she continues to progress in the 200 distance. Earlier this year, she went 2:21.86 in the 200 breaststroke and her swim in London is a solid showing two months out from the action in Asia.
Estonia’s Eneli Jefimova was just behind Wood, placing third in 2:25.59.
In Other Action:
For the third time in as many months, Belgium’s Florine Gaspard dipped under 24.60 in the 50 freestyle, this time going 24.54 to defeat the Netherlands’ Marrit Steenbergen (24.74). Gaspard has also been 24.42 (Belgian record) and 24.53 this year and has clearly made the jump to elite status.
Steenbergen’s countryman, Nyls Korstanje, went 51.43 to grab top honors in the 100 butterfly, finishing a half-second ahead of Britain’s Ed Mildred (51.96). Another Dutch victory came from Caspar Corbeau in the 100 breaststroke, where he was timed in 59.45.
There was a British sweep of the top-three positions in the women’s 200 butterfly, headlined by Keanna MacInnes prevailing in 2:06.93. A little less than two seconds behind was Emily Richards (2:08.61) while Freya Colbert was third in 2:12.44. Meanwhile, Max Litchfield was victorious in the 400 individual medley, as he went 4:16.46. Litchfield has been the fourth-place finisher in the 400 IM at the past three Olympics.
Some of Britain’s biggest names took part in the mixed 400 freestyle relay, with the squad of Matt Richards, Jack McMillan, Katie Shanahan and Freya Anderson claiming victory in 3:26.13. That time was just ahead of the 3:26.38 of the foursome consisting of Tom Dean, Mills, Lucy Hope and Wood. In third place was the team of Duncan Scott, Jacob Whittle, Leah Schlosshan and Colbert.