Imagine crushing a world-class performance right in the middle of your training season – that's exactly what Aussie Olympic superstar Meg Harris just did, sending shockwaves through the swimming world! At the 2025 Rocky City Swimming Club Twilight Meet in Australia, Harris unleashed a blistering 52.86 in the 100-meter freestyle, a time that not only secured her the win but also positioned her as the fastest in the world right now.
The meet, held from Friday, November 28th to Sunday, November 20th at the 2nd World War Memorial (Southside) Pool in Wandal, Queensland, Australia, saw Harris shine brightly. The competition was swum in a long course meters (LCM) pool, the standard for international competition, ensuring her time is directly comparable to other top swimmers globally. You can find a recap of her earlier performance in the 50 freestyle here: Recap #1. For those who prefer the full results, they are available on Meet Mobile under the '2025 Rocky City Twilight Meet'.
While her impressive 24.48-second sprint in the 50-meter freestyle already had people talking, it was her 100-meter performance that truly stole the show. Splitting the race with a 25.38-second opening 50 meters and closing with a 27.48-second final 50 meters, Harris demonstrated incredible speed and endurance.
And this is the part most people miss... This wasn't just a good swim; it was the fourth-fastest time of her entire career! Her personal best stands at 52.52 seconds, achieved at the pressure-cooker environment of the 2024 Olympic Trials. Her Rocky City time was a mere 0.34 seconds off that mark. That's incredibly close, especially considering this was an in-season meet, not a peak performance event!
But here's where it gets controversial... Some might argue that Trials and Championships are where athletes are 'supposed' to perform their best. However, Harris's 52.86 is significant because it's her fastest time ever outside of those high-stakes competitions. Her previous best in-season performance was a 53.17, clocked at the Brisbane Metro in March of 2024. This demonstrates remarkable consistency and suggests she's in phenomenal form heading towards major competitions.
With this swim, Harris has overtaken Hong Kong's Siobhan Haughey, who previously held the top spot with a 52.89. Haughey is the only other swimmer to break the 53-second barrier this season, making the competition at the upcoming World Championships all the more compelling.
Here's a glimpse at the current top 5 in the world for the 2025-2026 LCM Women's 100 Freestyle:
- 1. Meg Harris (AUS): 52.86
- 2. Siobhan Haughey (HKG): 52.89
- 3. Yang Junxuan (CHN): 53.55
- 4. Chen Yujie (CHN): 53.65
- 5. Nagisa Ikemoto (JPN): 54.11
View the Top 26 here.
Harris's achievements extend far beyond this single meet. She is a 5-time Olympic medalist, having secured a silver in the 50m freestyle, a silver in the 4x100m medley relay, and a coveted gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the Paris Olympics. Her consistent excellence makes her a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
Written by Retta Race, a former Masters swimmer and coach with a passion for swimming and a diverse professional background. Read More »
So, what do you think? Is Meg Harris's in-season performance a sign of even greater things to come? Can she maintain this level of performance through the championship season, or will the pressure of major competition change things? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
