Canadians Taylor Ruck and Finlay Knox contributed to Canada’s medal count on Friday at the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup held in Baku, Azerbaijan. Ruck, a resident of Kelowna, B.C., who has won four Olympic medals, secured a silver medal in the women’s 100-meter backstroke event, clocking in at 56.49 seconds, coming second to Marrit Steenbergen from the Netherlands who finished at 55.17 seconds. On the other hand, Knox from Okotoks, Alta., clinched a bronze medal in the men’s 200 individual medley, completing the race in 1 minute and 52.57 seconds. The gold in this event was won by American Luke Barr with a time of 1:51.34.
Ruck also claimed a bronze medal in the 50 freestyle event the day before, while Blake Tierney from Saskatoon secured a silver medal in the men’s 200 backstroke. Russian swimmer Egor Kornev equaled the world record in the men’s 100 freestyle, finishing in 44.84 seconds, matching the record set by Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers in 2021. Kornev also set a new World Cup record in the 50 backstroke, completing it in 22.23 seconds.
