You are working on Staging1

Ilya Kharun Dismantles Canadian Record, Moves To #7 All-Time In Men’s 200 Fly

2024 PARIS SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES

Racing in his first Olympic final, Ilya Kharun delivered.

The 19-year-old unleashed the fastest swim of his career in the final of the men’s 200 butterfly, securing the bronze medal and smashing his Canadian Record by over a second in 1:52.80.

Kharun takes down his previous national mark of 1:53.82, set at the 2023 World Championships (where he tied for 4th), and becomes just the ninth swimmer in history to eclipse the 1:53 barrier in the event.

The former Sandpipers of Nevada product who now trains out of Arizona State was much more aggressive over the first 100 meters relative to his swim last summer, and he was able to carry that momentum through the third 50, putting him more than a second and a half under his National Record pace at the final turn.

He gave a half-second back on the last 50, but it didn’t matter as he was firmly entrenched in the bronze medal position.

Split Comparison

Kharun, 2023 Kharun, 2024
25.74 25.06
54.94 (29.20) 53.67 (28.61)
1:24.67 (29.73) 1:23.04 (29.37)
1:53.82 (29.15) 1:52.80 (29.76)

In the race for gold, Frenchman Leon Marchand, Kharun’s former training partner at ASU, came from behind to win the title in epic fashion over defending champion Kristof Milak, with Marchand clocking 1:51.21 to break Milak’s Olympic Record and overtake Michael Phelps for #2 all-time.

Coming into the meet tied for 16th all-time, Kharun rockets up to 7th in the historical rankings. It was also the fourth-fastest swim ever by a teenager, trailing only three of Milak’s swims.

All-Time Performers, Men’s 200 Butterfly (LCM)

  1. Kristof Milak (HUN), 1:50.34 – 2022 World Championships
  2. Leon Marchand (FRA), 1:51.21 – 2024 Olympic Games
  3. Michael Phelps (USA), 1:51.51 – 2009 World Championships
  4. Daiya Seto (JPN), 1:52.53 – 2020 FINA Champions Series – Beijing
  5. Laszlo Cseh (HUN) / Tomoru Honda (JPN), 1:52.70 – 2008 Olympic Games / 2022 Japan Opej
  6. Ilya Kharun (CAN), 1:52.80 – 2024 Olympic Games
  7. Chad Le Clos (RSA), 1:52.96 – 2012 Olympic Games
  8. Takeshi Matsuda (JPN), 1:52.97 – 2008 Olympic Games
  9. Pawel Korzeniowski (POL), 1:53.23 – 2009 World Championships

Kharun’s swim holds extra significance for Canadians, as his medal marks the first time a Canadian male has won an Olympic swimming medal since 2012, when Ryan Cochrane (1500 free silver) and Brent Hayden (100 free bronze) both reached the podium. Richard Weinberger also won bronze in the men’s open water event in London.

Kharun is also entered to swim the 100 fly in Paris, coming in as the 13th seed with his personal best time of 51.09 set in May. Teammate Josh Liendo is the top seed at 50.06.

In This Story

13
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

13 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Luis
3 months ago

Definitely the “swim you might have missed” of the session. Look out in Singapore, Leon

Facts
3 months ago

Heilman will have some work to do if he wants to reach the podium for the 200 fly in the future

Last edited 3 months ago by Facts
Lpman
3 months ago

Wow! Over a second improvement! In a slow pool nonetheless!

SwimmerFan99
3 months ago

This is most likely going to be the understated/underrated swim of the meet.

danjohnrob
3 months ago

I think Kharun should reconsider staying at ASU to train vs switching to Texas!

bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  danjohnrob
3 months ago

I don’t think he’s considered leaving ASU to go to Texas, has he?

danjohnrob
Reply to  bobthebuilderrocks
3 months ago

Not that I know about. I think his 100 fly may improve if he stays at ASU, but his 200 will suffer, IMO. Why wouldn’t he want to stay with the GOAT of 200 fly training and shoot for the gold in LA? It’s a no-brainer to me! Bowman has now coached 4 of the last 6 200 fly gold medalists!

bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  danjohnrob
3 months ago

No-brainer to me too. especially with the kids coming in, Texas is going to be the mid distance place to be the next couple of years

Bob
3 months ago

Hoping Ilya stays Canadian.Reason number 1,trials where he can enter without tapering and be assured he’s going to at least the next 2 Olympics.Reason number 2,as he evolves I’m sure he can branch out and make Canadian relay teams, not just medleys but freestyle relays too.Why create problems for yourself?You,re a citizen of the world like your parents.Go Canada go.

NCSwimFan
Reply to  Bob
3 months ago

To be fair, if he’s going 1:52 while the best Americans are going 1:54, he probably won’t need to come down much to make the US team. Heilman will hopefully come down in the coming years, but Kharun just put a good amount of separation between himself and all the other North Americans.

Bo Swims
Reply to  NCSwimFan
3 months ago

At this point I think the 3 year rule applies and I don’t see him skipping the next 2 worlds just to be on the US team, not worth it IMO.

Sean C.
3 months ago

This is the first time since 1996 that Canadian male and female swimmers have medaled in the same Olympics.

"we've got a boilover!"
3 months ago

🇨🇦🥉👍👏

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

Read More »