World Cup Astana, Day 3 Finals: Ilia Borodin Denies Carson Foster a Triple Crown in 400 IM
Following three weeks of competition, highlighted by several world-record performances, the 2026 edition of the World Aquatics World Cup wraps up on Saturday in Astana, Kazakhstan. This year’s tour was conducted along the Silk Road, with initial stops in Baku, Azerbaijan and Tashkent, Uzbekistan helping to promote the sport to a wider geographic locale and new audiences.
During the final session of World Cup action, multiple Crown attempts will be leading storylines. Athletes who win the same event at all three legs are rewarded with a $10,000 bonus. Through the first two days in Astana, 15 Crowns have been secured, with eight more within reach on Night Three. Leading the charge will be the Netherlands’ Marrit Steenbergen, who is positioned to sweep both the 100-meter freestyle and 100 backstroke.
On the men’s side, Russia’s Egor Kornev (50 butterfly) and South Africa’s Pieter Coetze (50 backstroke) will try to complete their crowns after setting world records in their respective events in Tashkent.
Here is a recap of the Day Three finals from Astana:
Men’s 400 Individual Medley
The first event of the session featured a Crown-busting performance from Russia’s Ilia Borodin, who denied American Carson Foster from sweeping the 400 IM. Borodin trailed Foster by more than a second at the midway point of the race, but surged over the back half to prevail in 3:58.95, with Foster placing third in 4:00.85. In between was Italian veteran Alberto Razzetti, who touched the wall in 4:00.72.
Borodin was the runnerup in the 400 medley during the first two stops, where Foster earned victories. As for Razzetti, he bumped up from back-to-back bronze medals to earn silver.
Women’s 800 Freestyle
Gan Ching Hwee of Singapore continued her stellar distance run through the World Cup by lowering her national record to 8:13.18. By cutting more than two seconds off her previous mark of 8:15.73, Gan claimed the win and a Crown for her World Cup work. The former Indiana University swimmer banked $10,000 for the swim and finished comfortably ahead of China’s Chang Mohan, who was the runnerup in 8:15.38. New Zealand’s Caitlin Deans was third in 8:15.75.
Men’s 800 Freestyle
