World Cup, Day 1 Finals: Marrit Steenbergen Captures Golden Double; Asian Records for Haughey & Yu
Marrit Steenbergen claimed double gold on the first night of racing as the first leg of the 2026 World Cup got underway in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Netherlands swimmer won the 50 back before taking the 100IM where she edged out long-time leader Roos Vanotterdijk with a perfectly-timed finish as Yu Yiting set a 56.99 Asian record in third.
Siobhan Haughey lowered the Asian 50 free record to 23.48 en-route to silver behind Kasia Wasick.
Twelve champions were crowned at the Aquatic Palace including Pieter Coetze who won gold and bronze, Cam McEvoy and Carson Foster.
Women’s 400 Free Fastest Heat
Freya Colbert led for all but the first 25m, taking control early on to build a lead of almost two seconds. Behind the Briton, the challengers were all in a line with Anna Peplowski leading them through the final turn. Colbert, however, was never threatened and was the only woman to go sub-4mins in 3:59.91. Peplowski was second in 4:00.47 with China’s Yan Tiaoshan third in 4:00.70.
Men’s 400 Free Fastest Heat
He Yubo of China led the way out in lane one of 10 and was ahead at the 100m mark followed by Carson Foster and Lewis Clareburt. Foster took over pole position at the 150m mark where he was just 0.16 off the WR with the American swimmer extending his lead throughout. Lucas Henveaux moved into second although the Belgian was two seconds adrift at 300 before coming fast down the final 50,. Foster though came home first in 3:36.07 – a PB – with Henveaux second in 3:37.44.
Women’s 50 Back
Steenbergen led by 0.23 at halfway where superb underwaters on the turn saw her break clear to come home in 25.75. Mariia Osetrova (26.59) and Roos Vanotterdijk (26.60) join her on the podium.
Men’s 200 Back
Pieter Coetze has had a fine 2026, winning the backstroke treble at the Commonwealth Games where he rattled the 100 WR. The South African flew down the first 25, turning just 0.08 off the world record, and led thereafter to take the title in 1:49.64. Blake Tierney of Canada was second in 1:50.74 with Dmitrii Savenko third in 1:51.10.
Women’s 200 Fly
China has sent a young team to Baku and it was 16-year-old Zhou Xinyang who stormed out in front ahead of teammate Chang Mohan. She led through halfway before Chang started to put pressure on her and went ahead at 150m. Chang maintained the lead down the final 25 with the 15-year-old winning in 2:04.15 ahead of Ellen Walshe and Zhou.
Men’s 100 Fly
Dylan Carter has had an extended break from the water and was out quick, reaching the first turn ahead. The Trinidad and Tobago athlete led by 0.23 over Chen Juner although the Chinese took a slight 0.04 lead at the 75m mark. He came home to take victory despite the challenge of So Ogata in 49.70 to 49.79 with Carter third in 50.74.
Women’s 200m Breaststroke
Evgeniia Chikunova took the lead off the first turn and built momentum thereafter, holding her technique throughout to win in 2:17.20. Mona McSharry was second throughout the race and came home in 2:18.45 with 34-year-old Vitalina Simonova third in 2:21.21.
Men’s 100m Breaststroke
Caspar Corbeau led the way in prelims and he lined up for what was set to be one of the most competitive races of the evening. So it proved with just 0.12 separating the first four men at the 25m mark with Michael Houlie leading at the halfway mark, just 0.12 off the WR. Kirill Prigoda was aggressive and matched the South African’s speed to lead at the final turn. The Russian got the touch in 56.08 ahead of Corbeau (56.33) and Qin Haiyang (56.37).
Women’s 50 Free
Wasick led at halfway, with 0.07 separating the first three women at the 25. The Pole is a two-time Triple Crown winner in this event and although Siobhan Haughey challenged in the adjacent lane, Wasick won in 23.40, Haughey was just 0.08 adrift in an Asian record and PB of 23.48. Taylor Ruck was third in 23.75.
Men’s 50 Free
McEvoy was first off the blocks and surfaced ahead of Kornev to turn first in 9.55, 0.11 ahead of Kornev. The Russian has powerful underwaters but the Australian was faster through the water to win in 20.22, lowering Josh Liendo’s World Cup record from 2025. It was a PB for McEvoy. Kornev stopped the clock in 20.26 with Sean Niewold third in 20.82.
Women’s 100IM
A big-time finish from Steenbergen saw her capture her second gold medal in as many races. Vanotterdijk had led throughout but the Netherlands swimmer came through on the final 25 to extend her arm on a full stroke to take the prize in 56.82. Vanotterdijk was just 0.02 behind in 56.84 with Yu Yiting setting an Asian record of 56.99 as just 0.17 separated the first three women home.
Men’s 100IM
Just 0.03 separated the first three men home as Luke Barr emerged with victory after a dogfight down the final 25. Shaine Casas powered off the blocks into the fly to turn first at the 25, a lead he maintained at halfway where Coetze moved into second place. The American still led at the final turn with Barr in third before he came through down the last 25 to take the title ahead of Casas by the narrowest of margins in 51.57 to 51.58 with Coetze third in 51.60.