Liebmann and Douglass set world records on same day

Germany's Johannes Liebmann and American Kate Douglass each set swimming world records on Saturday, at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris and the Pan Pacific Championships in California respectively.

Liebmann, 19, lowered the men's 1500m freestyle world record while claiming his first international gold medal at the European Aquatics Championships in Paris; he completed the distance in 14 minutes 26.79 seconds, beating the previous mark by 3.88 seconds. The prior record had been set by American Bobby Finke at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Liebmann became the first swimmer to go under 14:30 for the 1500m and his 3.88-second reduction was the largest cut to the world record since 2001. Australia's Grant Hackett previously took more than seven seconds off the record when he swam 14:34.56, a time that stood for 10 years.

Douglass, 24 and a two-time Olympic champion, broke the women's 50m freestyle world record for a second time this summer during heats at the Pan Pacific Championships in California, stopping the clock at 23.49 seconds. That performance regained the record from compatriot Gretchen Walsh.

Earlier this summer Douglass had recorded 23.59 in June, and Walsh then lowered the standard to 23.55 nine days later before Douglass reclaimed it with the 23.49 swim in California.

Liebmann's 14:26.79 stands as his first international gold medal-winning performance, and Douglass's 23.49 restored her position as the world record-holder in the women's 50m freestyle.