Canada's Josh Liendo wins men's 50-yard freestyle national title at NCAA championships
Alex Wauthy | CBC Sports | Posted: March 29, 2024 1:57 AM | Last Updated: March 29
21-year-old later added a 1st-place finish in 200-yard team relay with Florida squad
University of Florida Gators swimmer Joshua Liendo placed first in the men's 50-yard freestyle on Day 2 of the NCAA swimming and diving championships Thursday in Indianapolis, Ind., claiming the national title.
The Scarborough, Ont., native came in at 18.07 seconds, becoming the second athlete in Gator history to accomplish the feat.
Jordan Crooks, from the University of Tennessee, placed second with 18.09 seconds, while University of California Golden Bears swimmer Jack Alexy rounded out the podium with a personal-best 18.38 finish.
Later on Thursday, Liendo followed up his first-place finish by being a part of the Gator squad to win the 200-yard freestyle relay. He raced alongside collegiate teammates Julian Smith, Macguire McDuff and Adam Chaney.
The quartet put together the second fastest time ever in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:13.49. It was Florida's third consecutive year winning the event.
WATCH | Canada's Joshua Liendo swims into the history book
Liendo competed in his first Olympics with Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
The 21-year-old told CBC earlier in March that Canada's male swimming team is "looking good" and has "good momentum" going into the 2024 Olympics this summer in Paris.
As for individual racing goals, Liendo has his sights set on many, including reaching an individual final.
"I definitely want to get myself in an individual final, and then from there, at the Olympics, anything can happen in a final," Liendo said.