Noè Ponti Almost Lost For Words After Lowering European 100 Fly S/C Record In Shanghai; Third-Fastest All-Time
Noè Ponti swam the third-fastest 100m butterfly all-time en-route to a European short-course record of 48.40 on the first day of finals at the World Cup in Shanghai, China.
The Swiss set the previous continental standard of 48.47 at the 2023 European Short-Course Championships where he took 0.01 from Evgeny Korotyshkin’s record of 48.48 set at the 2009 World Cup stop in Berlin as the supersuit era entered its final weeks.
His time last December in Otopeni, Romania, had elevated Ponti alongside Tom Shields in the all-time rankings but he surpassed the American to sit alone as third in history behind only Caeleb Dressel and his shuddering 47.78 WR at the ISL final in November 2020 and Chad Le Clos, who went 48.08 for gold at the 2016 short-course worlds, then a global standard.
Noè Ponti: Photo courtesy: European Aquatics
Seventh at the first turn, the 23-year-old made his way through the field to sit third at halfway in 22.99, 0.19 behind leader Nyls Korstanje (22.80) and 0.07 adrift of Le Clos (22.92).
However, a 12.51 third length guided him to the head of the field at the final turn before he powered away with a 12.90 last 25, the only sub-13 of the field and the fastest split by 0.61, for a new European record.
Shanghai splits: 10.64/22.99 (12.35)/35.50 (12.51)/48.40 (12.90)
Otopeni splits: 10.45/22.68 (12.23)/35.44 (12.76)/48.47 (13.03)
Ponti appeared stunned by his performance, telling World Aquatics on the Shanghai poolside:
“Yeah! I mean, three and a half weeks of training and swimming a PB, European record and everything. Amazing! What can I say? I’m speechless.”
There was a Dutch record of 49.24 for Korstanje in second who took 0.25 from his own standard of 49.49 from July 2022 with Le Clos clocking 49.72 for third.
That was the 56th swiftest of a stellar career during which the South African has won two Olympic silvers over 100 fly, two world long-course titles and four straight world short-course golds.
He said:
“Noè was exceptional tonight but great job to him and of course Nyls we knew was going to be quick.
“I look forward to running it back next week but it’ll be a tough task but try to take one back.”
Of racing the likes of Ponti and Le Clos, Korstanje added: “They are always inspirational, I’ve watched them a lot, especially Chad as a small boy so it’s really cool to race with them.”
Ponti then returned after the 100IM in which he won silver, 0.01 behind Leon Marchand, who returned to the international pool after his golden summer.
All-Time Rankings
47.78: Caeleb Dressel, ISL Final, Nov 2020
48.08: Chad le Clos, World Short-Course Championships, Dec 2016
48.40: Noè Ponti, World Cup Shanghai, Oct 2024
48.47: Tom Shields, ISL Final, Nov 2020
48.48: Evgeny Korotyshkin, World Cup Berlin, Nov 2009
Read more about Noè Ponti:
- Noè Ponti Looks Ahead To “A Great Battle” In Paris Amid Golden Age Of 100 Fly Swimming
- Noè Ponti Fires Off 50.16 In 100 Fly: Goes Sixth All-Time
- Sarah Sjöström and Noè Ponti Voted Top Swimmers At 2023 European Aquatics Awards