Edinburgh, Scotland – March 15, 2025 – The 2025 Edinburgh International Swim Meet commenced with a thrilling first day of competition, as Belgium’s Florine Gaspard delivered a record-breaking performance in the women’s 50m freestyle.
The 23-year-old sprinter clocked a stunning 24.53 seconds in the final, rewriting her own Belgian national record and securing the silver medal in a fiercely contested race.
Gaspard’s performance was only narrowly eclipsed by the Netherlands’ Milou van Wijk, who surged to gold in 24.48 seconds, registering a new personal best.
The British contingent was also well represented, with 19-year-old Eva Okaro securing bronze in 24.80, a lifetime best for the rising star.
Record-Breaking Performance
Gaspard, who had already demonstrated her form with a 25.01-second swim in the heats, found another gear in the final. Her time of 24.53 shaved 0.12 seconds off the previous Belgian record of 24.65, which she had set in December 2023.
The performance solidified her status as one of Belgium’s top sprint freestylers on the international stage. Speaking after the race, Gaspard expressed her satisfaction with the result.
“I’m really pleased with this swim,” she said. “Breaking the national record and being part of such a fast final is a great way to start the meet. It gives me a lot of confidence heading into the rest of the season.”
Van Wijk Takes World Lead
Dutch swimmer Milou van Wijk was the only competitor to finish ahead of Gaspard, claiming gold in a career-best 24.48. The 21-year-old not only set a new personal benchmark but also took over the #1 spot in the world rankings for 2025.
Her victory marked a significant step forward in her sprinting career, as she shaved 0.22 seconds off her previous best time.
“I’m over the moon with this performance,” van Wijk said post-race. “To get a lifetime best and the fastest time in the world this year is an amazing feeling. It’s great to race against such strong competition, and this gives me a lot of motivation for the rest of the season.”
Okaro Breaks Into Britain’s All-Time List
The race also saw Britain’s Eva Okaro deliver a milestone swim, touching in 24.80 seconds to claim the bronze medal.
The 19-year-old, who holds the World Junior Record in the short course version of the 50m freestyle, improved her previous best by 0.11 seconds. With this swim, she now ranks as Great Britain’s fourth-fastest performer of all time, tying with Amy Smith.
“I’m really happy with this,” Okaro said. “I’ve been working on my speed, and it’s exciting to see those improvements show up in competition. This race had some of the best sprinters in Europe, so it’s great to be on the podium.”
World Rankings Shake-Up
The rapid pace of the race has significantly altered the global rankings in the women’s 50m freestyle. Van Wijk’s time of 24.48 now leads the world, while Gaspard’s 24.53 moves her into a strong position ahead of upcoming international competitions.
With two more days of competition remaining at the 2025 Edinburgh International Swim Meet, anticipation is high for more standout performances as Europe’s elite swimmers continue to test their form ahead of the summer championship season.
