Commonwealth Games, Day Three Finals: Josh Liendo Edges Matthew Temple by .01 for 100 Fly Gold
Given the gauntlet that was thrown down in a record-setting semifinals, the men’s 100 fly final at the Commonwealth Games promised something special.
Josh Liendo and Matthew Temple obliged.
The Canadian Liendo topped Temple by .01 seconds in 50.42, in the process taking the Aussie’s Commonwealth Games record from semifinals.
All three medalists, including Australian Ben Armbruster in third, were quicker than the mark that Temple set in semis. Temple was 50.63 in semis, ahead of the 50.67 of Liendo. Temple clocked in at 50.43 seconds at the Tollcross Swimming Centre in Glasgow at night, with Armbruster third in 50.58.
Liendo moves into the second-fastest time in the world this year, trailing only the 50.22 of Kristof Milak at Hungarian Championships. Temple improves his 50.50 to the third-fastest performer of the year. It’s a best time for Armbruster, whose previous best was 50.91 at the 2025 TYR Summer Championships in the United States. He jumps Noe Ponti into fourth in the world rankings this year.
Liendo and Armbruster were tied for the lead at the 50 in 23.48. Temple was .32 down, a gap too big to bridge.
Australian Harrison Turner finished just off the podium in 51.57.
Chad le Clos finished fifth in 51.49. He snuck into the final in eighth, having gone 52.35 in semis. He was aided by countryman Ruard van Renan scratching out after prelims, in which he finished fifth in 52.14. Le Clos, who set the Commonwealth Games record for a male athlete with his 19th medal in the 400 free relay to start the meet, will continue in search of No. 20. But the 51 is his first fastest time since a 51.48 at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships
Temple was quickest in prelims at 51.30, with Edward Mildred, Liendo and Armbruster also breaking 52 seconds. That set up a fast semis, with Mildred matching Temple’s morning time, but Temple blasting the record at 50.63 and Liendo joining him at 50.67.
Mildred was sixth in the final at 51.59. Lewis Fraser of Wales finished seventh in 52.24, ahead of England’s Jacob Peters, who faded from fourth at the wall to 2.30 seconds off the pace.
