Summer McIntosh ended her stellar World Aquatics Championships campaign in Singapore with a dominant win in the 400m individual medley, securing her fourth individual gold. Clocking 4:25.78, the Canadian teenager finished over seven seconds ahead of silver medalists Jenna Forrester from Australia and Japan’s Mio Narita, underlining her supremacy in the pool. The 18-year-old McIntosh became just the third swimmer in history to win five individual medals at a single world championship, joining swimming legends Michael Phelps and Sarah Sjöström. Although she was visibly disappointed with her bronze in the 800m freestyle, she remained focused, admitting her goal had been five golds. “Even if I were to get five golds, I would still want more,” she said, reflecting a competitive spirit that has defined her performances.
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On the men’s side, French Olympic champion Leon Marchand rebounded from a shaky morning heat to dominate the 400m IM final with a time of 4:04.73. His gold added to a standout championship where he also shattered the 200m IM world record. Marchand’s return to form was a highlight of the final day, showing his ability to deliver under pressure.
China’s 12-year-old sensation Yu Zidi continued to impress, finishing fourth in the 400 IM after similar near-podium results in the 200 IM and 200 butterfly. Her consistency in her debut global meet points to a promising future.
Another major story came from Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi, who captured gold in the 1500m freestyle with a personal best of 14:34.41, following in the footsteps of compatriot Ahmed Hafnaoui, who had won the 800m and 1500m titles two years ago. German swimmer Sven Schwarz and American Olympic champion Bobby Finke completed the podium in a highly competitive final.
Australian Meg Harris also had a breakthrough moment, winning the 50m freestyle in 24.02 seconds to claim her first individual global title after years of success in relay events. The 23-year-old edged out Chinese swimmers Wu Qingfeng and Cheng Yujie, who took silver and bronze respectively.
Despite competing under a neutral flag, Russian swimmers made a strong impact. Kliment Kolesnikov won the men’s 50m backstroke in 23.68, narrowly missing his own world record. Fellow Russian Pavel Samusenko tied with South Africa’s Pieter Coetze for silver in 24.17. The Russian team also stunned the field in the men’s 4x100m medley relay, clocking 3:26.93—just short of the world record.
The US women wrapped up the championship in emphatic fashion, breaking the world record in the 4x100m medley relay with a time of 3:49.34. The quartet of Regan Smith, Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske shaved nearly three-tenths of a second off the previous US record set at the Paris Games. Their victory ensured that Team USA topped the overall medal table with nine golds, just ahead of Australia’s eight.
In another notable performance, Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte won her fourth consecutive world title in the 50m breaststroke with a time of 29.55, confirming her dominance in the sprint event. The race also marked a farewell for American swimmer Lilly King, who placed fifth in her final individual event.
Team USA, despite suffering from gastroenteritis before the event, finished strong. “Team USA always knows how to finish with a bang,” said Douglass. Their resilience and record-setting performances capped a remarkable championship, highlighting the depth of talent in international swimming and setting the stage for next year’s Olympic showdowns.
