Media Release: Léo Lebot Delivers on Independence Day (2025 World Aquatic Championships)

News Brief:

Léo Lebot has delivered for his nation on Vanuatu’s 45^th Independence Day, at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, smashing over 6 seconds off his personal best with a 59.58 in the Men’s 100m Freestyle. He became the second Vanuatu swimmer, under the exclusive 1-minute mark. His previous best was a 1.06.13, swum at the 2023 Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands. It was just 0.20 seconds off the National Record of 59.38 that Johnathan Silas OLY swam exactly a year ago at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Léo finished 3^rd in his heat and in 98^th position overall.

Commenting on his race, Léo Lebot said “I am so happy to go sub one-minute, especially with-it being Vanuatu’s Independent Day. It’s a huge achievement, going under 60 seconds, that I have been working towards but one I didn’t think was quite possible just yet. I was really locked in prior to the race, felt really great in the water in the first 50 metres, then I fired up my legs and just gave it everything in the final 50 – I couldn’t walk down the stairs after the race. I’d really like to thank my Coach Lachlan Milner, without moving to Australia and training under him, none of this would have been possible.”

Vanuatu Head Coach Lachlan Milner added, “Léo’s swim was more than just a time on the board, it was a statement. I’m proud of the athlete and the person that Léo is becoming. Every stroke, every breath in that 100m freestyle was built on hours in the pool. Léo is proving he is just not fast, he is world class.”

That concludes Léo’s highly successful World Championships, attention now turns to Loane Russet OLY, who kicks off her campaign in the Women’s 100m Freestyle on Thursday.

Loane Russet OLY

Thursday 31^st July:

Event: Women’s 100m Freestyle
Heat: 3
Lane: 0
Time: 10:08am (Singapore) and 1:08pm (Vanuatu)

Friday 1^st August:

Event: Women’s 50m Butterfly
Heat: 3
Lane: 2

Time: 11:31am (Singapore) and 2:31pm (Vanuatu)

Information on where to watch can be found here: https://www.worldaquatics.com/news/4299020/where-to-watch-world-aquatics-championships-singapore-2025

The Vanuatu Aquatics Federation (VAF) would like to acknowledge the support of the Vanuatu Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (VASANOC) through Olympic Solidarity funding and World Aquatics through their Support Program, for providing the invaluable funding to attend the World Championships in Singapore.

END