Excitement buzzed through the stands at the Carmel Aquatic Center in Indiana as the world’s top swimmers converged for the first short course stop of the 2025 Swimming World Cup, held from October 10 to 12. The air was thick with anticipation, and by the end of day two, it was clear that American swimmers were not just participating—they were making a statement.
Saturday night’s marquee event, the men’s 200-meter individual medley, saw Shaine Casas deliver a performance that had the crowd on its feet. Casas, already a familiar name to swimming enthusiasts, pulled off a wire-to-wire victory against none other than world record holder Leon Marchand of France. The two have developed a fierce rivalry over the past year, and this race added another thrilling chapter.
From the opening whistle, Casas and Marchand distanced themselves from the rest of the field. Side-by-side, stroke-for-stroke, they pushed each other to the brink. Casas took the race out hard, surprising many by out-splitting Marchand on the breaststroke leg—a segment usually dominated by the Frenchman, who is the reigning Olympic champion in the 200 breaststroke. As they turned for home, Marchand unleashed a powerful underwater phase, but Casas refused to yield, holding on by the slimmest of margins.
When the touchpad stopped, it was Casas who emerged victorious in 1:49.43, just three-tenths of a second ahead of Marchand’s 1:49.73. Australia’s David Schlicht claimed third with a 1:53.09. Not only did Casas claim the top spot on the podium, but he also broke his own American and U.S. Open records, shaving 0.08 seconds off his previous best from the 2024 World Short Course Championships. According to event officials, "Casas' time was a new American record, besting his prior mark of 1:49.51."
This result was a reversal of fortunes from the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, where Marchand had beaten Casas to the wall by 0.62 seconds. The two have become training partners at the University of Texas, working under the legendary Bob Bowman—often hailed as the best men’s 200 IM coach in history. Their rivalry has only intensified in this high-octane environment. After the race, Casas was quick to acknowledge the dynamic, telling broadcasters, "I have to give thanks to these guys, especially Leon. He kind of brings out the best in me. I just love the fire and that kind of rivalry. It feels good to just keep moving the needle forward every meet."
Casas’ victory wasn’t his only highlight of the meet—he also took gold in the 100 medley on the opening night, further cementing his status as one of the world’s most versatile and dangerous swimmers in short course competition. The American’s career trajectory has been on a steady climb since his silver medal in the 200 IM at the World Championships, where he was one of just four men to break the 1:55 barrier in the event’s history. Now, with a new American record and a win over the reigning world record holder, Casas is looking more formidable than ever as the Olympic cycle heats up.
But Casas wasn’t the only American to shine in Carmel. Regan Smith, another Bowman trainee in the Texas pro group, delivered a breakthrough win in the women’s 100 backstroke, clocking 54.92 to edge out her perennial rival, Australian Kaylee McKeown (55.05). The significance of this victory ran deeper than the time itself. Smith had not beaten McKeown in a head-to-head individual race—short course or long course—since 2019, a drought that included several silver-medal finishes at recent World Championships. Saturday’s win, though not a personal best, could mark a crucial mental turning point for Smith as she eyes the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics.
Smith’s performance was a testament to the importance of racing against the world’s best, even outside of the major championships. While her time was nearly a second off her own world record, the psychological edge gained from finally topping McKeown shouldn’t be underestimated. As swimming insiders have noted, "The ability to go faster than McKeown has never been the issue. After all, Smith is the World Record holder in four of the six backstroke races. It’s winning the individual races when lined up next to McKeown that has been her insurmountable hurdle." Saturday night, Smith cleared that hurdle, and the swimming world took notice.
Bella Sims, once considered one of the United States’ brightest prospects, also showed signs of resurgence in Carmel. After a couple of challenging years and a tough Olympic Trials in 2024, Sims has recently switched her training base to the University of Michigan. The change seems to be paying off: she finished third in the 100 backstroke with a new lifetime best of 55.27, moving her up to 12th on the all-time rankings. Though her 200 free earlier in the session (1:55.57 for seventh) was not as strong, it came just 14 minutes after her backstroke race—a demanding double that should boost her confidence as she rebuilds for the future.
The collective success of Team USA in Carmel comes at a pivotal moment. In recent years, American swimmers have found it increasingly difficult to dominate the international stage as they once did. The emergence of stars like Marchand and McKeown has forced the U.S. to adapt and evolve. Yet, the performances in Indiana—especially with Casas and Smith knocking off undisputed world number ones—suggest that momentum may be shifting back in favor of the red, white, and blue.
Coach Bob Bowman’s influence looms large over these results. With both Casas and Smith training under his watchful eye at Texas, the pair’s progress is a testament to the power of elite coaching and a competitive training environment. Bowman’s reputation as a master tactician in the 200 IM and backstroke events is only growing, and his athletes are reaping the rewards.
As the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics draw ever closer, the swimming world will be watching to see if Team USA can sustain this resurgence. The rivalry between Casas and Marchand is far from settled, and the Smith-McKeown saga promises more fireworks ahead. For now, though, the Americans can savor a weekend where they not only held their own but struck back in emphatic fashion.
With two days of competition complete and one more to go, the Swimming World Cup in Carmel is already delivering on its promise of world-class racing and dramatic storylines. The momentum is building, and if these results are any indication, the road to Los Angeles might just run through the heart of Indiana.
