Canadian swimmer Joshua Liendo won the men’s 100-metre butterfly gold medal on Sunday in Glasgow, Scotland [1, 2].

The victory marks a significant achievement for Canada at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, as Liendo secured the title with a record-breaking performance on the third day of competition [1, 3].

Liendo touched the wall with a winning time of 50.42 seconds [4], establishing a new Commonwealth Games record [4]. The finish was one of the closest of the meet, with Liendo edging out Matthew Temple of Australia by 0.01 seconds [2, 5].

Liendo maintained his lead despite a late charge from Temple, who took the silver medal [2, 4]. The race was a high-stakes battle for dominance in the butterfly event, a discipline where fractions of a second often determine the podium.

There are conflicting reports regarding the previous record holder for the event. Some sources indicate the record was held by South Africa’s Chad le Clos [4], while others suggest an Australian swimmer had set a mark during the semifinals of the current Games [2].

Liendo's gold medal adds to the Canadian tally during the Glasgow Games, where the national team has seen success across multiple sporting disciplines [3]. The win highlights Liendo's ability to perform under pressure in a final that required both a fast start and a strong finish to hold off the Australian challenger [2, 4].

“Liendo touched the wall with a winning time of 50.42 seconds”

Liendo's victory and the accompanying Games record demonstrate a rising competitive ceiling in the men's 100-metre butterfly. By defeating a top Australian contender by the smallest possible margin, Liendo has positioned himself as a primary threat in international swimming, while the record-breaking time suggests that the Glasgow venue is producing elite-level speeds.