Ilya Kharun breaks meet record in 50m butterfly at U.S. Championships

Field Level Media|published: Thu 30th July, 02:02 2026

Jul 31, 2024; Nanterre, France; Ilya Kharun (Canada), Kristof Milak (Hungary) and Leon Marchand (France) in the men’s 200-meter butterfly final during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Paris La Défense Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Imagn Images

Ilya Kharun, in the midst of a nationality change, set a meet record while capturing the men's 50-meter butterfly championship on Wednesday in the U.S. Swimming Championships at Irvine, Calif.

Kharun prevailed in 22.59 seconds, with Caeleb Dressel coming in second at 22.86.

Kharun, 21, was born in Montreal, and he earned bronze medals in the 100 butterfly and 200 butterfly while competing for Canada at the 2024 Olympics. However, he will swim for the United States once he is eligible later this year, ahead of the Olympic debut of the 50 butterfly in 2028.

"I'm a part of the team now," Kharun told NBC Sports. "I'm just very happy to be with the big dogs, I guess."

Dressel is a nine-time Olympic gold medalist who won the 100-meter freestyle on Tuesday. His time in the 50 butterfly was his best since he won the event at the 2022 World Championships.

Michael Andrew came in third behind Kharun and Dressel at 23.07.

Anna Moesch, a day after setting the U.S. record while winning the women's 100 freestyle, came in first in the women's 200 freestyle on Wednesday.

Moesch, 20, finished in 1 minute, 55.05 seconds, edging Rylee Erisman (1:55.86) and Madi Mintenko (1:55.87).

Ryan Erisman, Rylee Erisman's 19-year-old brother, won the men's 200 freestyle while recording a personal-best time of 1:45.23. Patrick Sammon was the runner-up at 1:45.67, and Mitchell Schott claimed third place at 1:45.78.

Isabelle Stadden cruised to victory in the women's 200 backstroke at 2:04.76. Maggie Wanezek was a distant second at 2:07.08, and Rylee Erisman came in third at 2:07.55.

David King took the men's 200 backstroke in 1:55.01. David Melnychuk (1:57.56) and Michael Hochwalt (1:57.59) rounded out the top three.

Sophia Umstead earned the women's 200 breaststroke championship. Her time of 2:25.57 bettered Adalene Robillard's 2:26.07 and Maddy Huggins' 2:26.42.

Wilson York claimed the men's 200 breaststroke crown in 2:11.81, defeating Luc Dionne (2:12.86) and Gerhardt Hoover (2:14.38).

--Field Level Media

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