The first night of the 2026 Pro Swim Series in Westmont was a rollercoaster for swim fans, marred by a broken livestream, but fear not! We've got the race videos you've been waiting for, featuring Leon Marchand's impressive double and a thrilling 800m freestyle showdown!
This year's Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont, Illinois, kicked off on Wednesday, March 4th, and will run through Saturday, March 7th, 2026, at the FMC Aquatic Center. The competition is being held in Long Course Meters, meaning swimmers are racing in a 50-meter pool, the standard for major international events.
But here's where it gets tricky for some: The much-anticipated opening night was plagued by technical difficulties with the livestream, leaving many fans unable to witness the action unfold. Thankfully, SwimSwam has worked to track down the official race videos for key events, ensuring you don't miss out!
The Big Duels and Dominant Performances:
Women's 800m Freestyle: This was the marquee event of the night, showcasing a fierce battle between swimming titans Katie Ledecky and Summer McIntosh. Ledecky, the reigning queen of distance swimming, went head-to-head with the prodigious McIntosh. Ledecky ultimately took the win with a time of 8:08.57, with McIntosh a close second at 8:10.45. It's a testament to their incredible talent that even their 'slower' times are faster than many swimmers' personal bests!
Men's 200m Backstroke & Breaststroke Double: Leon Marchand proved his versatility and power by sweeping both the 200m backstroke and the 200m breaststroke events. This kind of double, especially in demanding strokes like these, is incredibly rare and highlights Marchand's exceptional conditioning and skill. He won the 200 back in 1:57.56 and the 200 breast in 2:10.06.
Other Notable Races: The evening also featured exciting finals in the women's and men's 200m backstroke, women's and men's 50m butterfly, and the women's 200m breaststroke. We also saw semifinals for the 100m freestyle, setting the stage for more thrilling races to come.
And this is the part most people miss: While the livestream had issues, the official results and recaps are available. You can find comprehensive session recaps from SwimSwam for both prelims and finals, and results are also accessible through the Meet Mobile app under the name “2026 TYR Pro Swim Series – Westmont.”
A Note on Records: It's always fascinating to see how close swimmers get to world and national records. For instance, in the Women's 800m Freestyle, Katie Ledecky's performance was just a few seconds off her own World Record of 8:04.12, set in 2025. This demonstrates the incredibly high bar set by elite swimmers.
The Controversy Corner:
While the focus is on the incredible athleticism, the technical issues with the livestream raise a question: In an era where live streaming is expected, is it acceptable for major sporting events to have such significant disruptions? Should organizers invest more in robust streaming technology, or is it an unfortunate reality of live broadcasting? What are your thoughts on this – should fans be more understanding, or is this a critical failure that needs immediate attention?
We'd love to hear your opinions in the comments below! Did you manage to catch any of the races? What was your favorite moment from Day 1?
