Cayman’s Jordan Crooks is now the fastest swimmer in history after breaking the world record twice in a single day in Budapest.
Crooks, 22, finished his 50-metre freestyle heat in a record time of 20.08 – destroying the previous record of 20.16 set by American Caeleb Dressel in 2020.
Then he smashed his own record in the semi-final becoming the first swimmer in history to go sub 20 over that distance in the pool.
Crooks won his semi-final in 19.90, more than half a second better than the next fastest qualifier – Jack Alexy, of the US, who took gold in the 100m earlier in the meet.
As well as breaking the short course record, Crooks looks primed to defend his world title in Sunday’s final at the Duna Arena.
When asked, after his heat about what was going through his mind, he responded: “just try and stay in the process and I’ll continue to prepare for tonight and do better.”
The Caymanian superstar who won bronze in the 100m free on Thursday at the World Aquatics Swimming Championships had also come close to a world record during his heats of that event.
He won his heat on Wednesday, finishing in a time of 44.95 seconds – a new championship record and .11 off the world record.
Crooks, who won gold at these championships in 2022, received a cheque for $25,000 for breaking the world record on Saturday.
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