Canada's Josh Liendo takes aim at 100m butterfly title at World Aquatics Championships

Canadian swimmer Josh Liendo advanced to a pair of finals at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan on Friday, but will only race in one of them on Saturday.

The Markham, Ont., native won his men's 100-metre butterfly semifinal heat in a time of 50.75 seconds. Liendo won bronze at last year's worlds and is the reigning Commonwealth Games champion in the distance.

The final scheduled for Saturday at 7:42 a.m. ET.

Not long after he wrapped up his butterfly heat, Liendo was back in the pool for his semifinal heat in the men's 50m freestyle. The 20-year-old's time of 21.88 was the eighth-fastest time in the heats, and just enough to qualify for Saturday's final.

However, according to CBC Sports reporter Devin Heroux, Liendo will not race in the 50m freestyle final, instead focusing on the butterfly final.

"I've done doubles multiple times and want to keep getting better at it as my career progresses,'' said Liendo. "I'm just having fun and racing hard. Obviously I'm in the fight with those guys, that's what I like and that's what I did."

WATCH | Liendo wins 100m butterfly semifinal heat:

Canada's Josh Liendo wins 100 metre butterfly semifinal, advances to final

1 year ago

Duration 4:34

Josh Liendo of Markham, Ont., won the second semifinal of the day in the 100 metre butterfly, advancing to the final at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Fellow Canadian Ilya Kharun, of Montreal, finished the 100m butterfly semi in a personal best 51.22, but the 18-year-old did not advance to the final.

"I guess it was fine because I dropped [my time], but definitely disappointing getting ninth place,'' said Kharun. "I've definitely got to get faster."

Kelsey Wog was the only Canadian in an individual medal final on Friday. The 24-year-old Winnipeg native finished eighth in the women's 200m breaststroke, posting a time of 2:25.21.

"I definitely would have liked to be a bit faster but it's always a good experience being in a final,'' said Wog, in her third straight worlds final in the event. "I definitely want to be placing higher in the final in the future."

The gold medal was won by South Africa's Tatjana Schoenmaker in 2:20.80.

WATCH | Wog 8th in women's 200m breaststroke:

Kelsey Wog finishes in 8th place in 200 metre breaststroke

1 year ago

Duration 6:45

Winnipeg, Man., Kelsey Wog swam to an eighth place finish in the 200 metre breaststroke final at the world aquatic championships.

Masse advances to 200m backstroke final

Kylie Masse, of LaSalle, Ont., secured her spot in the women's 200m backstroke finals on Friday.

Calgary's Ingrid Wilm failed to advance to the semifinals after finishing just outside the top-16 in the preliminary heats.

Masse won silver in the event at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. The 27-year-old fell just short of the 100m backstroke podium in Fukuoka with a fourth-place finish in the final on Day 3.

"I'm just taking it day by day, making sure I get the proper recovery and rest that I need to set myself up well for the next race," said Masse.

WATCH | Masse makes it to 200m backstroke final:

Kylie Masse advances to 200 metre backstroke final

1 year ago

Duration 6:25

Kylie Masse of LaSalle, Ont., qualified for the final of the 200 metre backstroke final with a fourth place finish in her semifinal race at the World Aquatics Championships.

The final will take place Saturday at 7:57 a.m. ET.

Watch live coverage of the World Aquatics Championships on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports app and CBC Gem.