Hubert Kós and Kate Douglass claimed the pinnacle titles at the 2025 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup, amassing over $180,000 each throughout the three-stop series. The exhilarating event unfolded from October 10 to October 25, making waves in Carmel, Indiana, Westmont, Illinois, and Toronto, Canada. All competitions were contested in short course meters, and the series dazzled spectators as a slew of world records were shattered.
Across the three meets, an impressive thirteen world records were established, a significant leap from the eight recorded in 2024. Leading the charge were Kós and Douglass, alongside several other remarkable athletes. Gretchen Walsh etched her name in the record books by breaking the women’s 50 butterfly record, clocking in at 23.72, improving her previous best of 23.94. Meanwhile, Mollie O’Callaghan wowed audiences by setting the women’s 200 freestyle record twice, initially at 1:49.77 and later refining it to an astonishing 1:49.36.
Regan Smith matched her own world record in the women’s 100 backstroke with a time of 54.02. Kaylee McKeown also made headlines by resetting the women’s 200 backstroke record twice, initially with a time of 1:57.87 and later reducing it to 1:57.33. Lani Pallister joined the record-breaking spree by defeating the women’s 800 freestyle record with a time of 7:54.00, surpassing the previous mark of 7:57.42 held by Katie Ledecky, the most decorated American woman in Olympic history.
On the men’s front, Josh Liendo shattered the 100 butterfly record with a time of 47.68. Meanwhile, Caspar Corbeau made his mark in the 200 breaststroke, setting a new record at 1:59.52.
Hubert Kós, a celebrated Hungarian swimmer and a key member of the University of Texas swim team, played a crucial role in their victory at the 2025 Men’s NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships. He also clinched the Olympic gold in the 200 backstroke at the 2024 Paris Games.
Top Male Earner
During the World Cup series, Kós accumulated 175.8 points to secure the overall men’s title, earning a substantial total of $184,000. His earnings were comprised of $12,000 from the first stop, $10,000 from the second, and $12,000 from the third, augmented by $30,000 in Triple Crown bonuses, $20,000 for world records, and an additional $100,000 for leading the overall standings.
Getty Images
Kós is a Hungarian swimmer and a member of the University of Texas swim team. He most recently helped the team win the 2025 Men’s NCAA Division I Swimming and Diving Championships and was the Olympic champion in the 200 backstroke at the 2024 Paris Games.
At the World Cup, Kós scored 175.8 points to win the overall men’s title and earned a total of $184,000. His earnings included $12,000 from stop one, $10,000 from stop two and $12,000 from stop three, plus $30,000 in Triple Crown bonuses, $20,000 for world records and $100,000 for topping the overall standings.
Kós swept the backstroke events, claiming Triple Crowns in the 50, 100 and 200 back. He broke two world records in Toronto, setting new marks in the men’s 200 backstroke (1:45.12) and 100 backstroke (48.16).
Top Female Earner
TORONTO, CANADA – OCTOBER 25: Kate Douglass of the United States celebrates after winning the Women’s 100m Freestyle final and sets a new world record during day three of the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup – Toronto 2025 at Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre on October 25, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
Getty Images
During her NCAA career at the University of Virginia from 2019 to 2023, Douglass helped lead the Cavaliers to three NCAA Division I Championships (2021, 2022 and 2023).
Douglass, an American swimmer and five-time Olympic medalist with two golds, won her 2024 Olympic titles in the 200 breaststroke and 4×100 medley relay. She also earned silver medals in the 200 individual medley and 4×100 freestyle relay in Paris. Additionally, she captured bronze in the 200 IM in Tokyo.
Douglass successfully defended her title at the World Cup after topping the earnings list in 2024, totaling 177.5 points to secure the overall women’s crown and earning $182,000. Her breakdown included $10,000 from the first stop, $12,000 from the second, $10,000 from the third, $30,000 in Triple Crown bonuses, $20,000 for world records and $100,000 for overall standings.
Douglass swept the 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke events to earn three Triple Crowns. In Toronto, she made history in the women’s 100 freestyle with a 49.93 swim, becoming the first woman ever under 50 seconds and lowering her own world record set earlier in Westmont.
