Singapore divers shake off early nerves as they kickstart campaign
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CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Walsh blocks out criticism of US team's performance at world championships
SINGAPORE: Gretchen Walsh admits she struggles to understand the flak being directed at the US team over their performance at the world championships in Singapore and said the swimmers have been competing under extremely difficult circumstances. The US team were hit by an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis during a training camp in Thailand just before the championships, with several swimmers travelling late to Singapore and others having to pull out of events. On Friday (Aug 1), six-time Olympic champion Ryan Lochte shared an image on social media of a tombstone with the inscription: "In loving memory of United States Swimming. They set the bar high-until they stopped reaching for it." He also added a caption referencing the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, saying: "Call it a funeral or call it a fresh start. We've got 3 years." US swimming great Michael Phelps then shared Lochte's post and added: "Is this the wake-up call USA swimming needed?" Asked about the criticism, Walsh, who won the 50 metres butterfly title on Saturday to add to her 100 crown in Singapore, said she was trying to ignore it. "I was made aware, and it's frustrating, but I think that personally, I am just trying to block it out and take on the meet with everything I can and just show up and race like I know how. "I think we've been dealing with a lot, so it's hard to get the criticism in the first place because I don't think people quite understand the magnitude of everything going on behind the scenes. "But showing up, giving my best, and coming out a world champion twice now has been everything, and I'm just happy to keep doing it and happy that I'm feeling like myself again in the water." US TOPS MEDAL STANDINGS The US tops the medal standings with eight golds, one ahead of rivals Australia, with one final day of competition to come. The US have won only one individual gold in the men's events, Luca Urlando claiming the 200 butterfly title. Jack Alexy, who was part of the team that won the mixed 4x100 mixed freestyle gold in a world record time on Saturday, said US athletes were always held to the highest of standards. "It's definitely fuel to the fire for the next couple years," added Alexy, who also has a silver and two bronze medals from his events in Singapore. "And the theme going into this meet was setting off the tone right for LA 2028. So I think we're continuing to do a better job at that, especially after tonight, and I'm really excited for the future."
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
China claim 1-2 in the women's 3m springboard for ninth diving gold at World Aquatics C'ships
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Chinese diver Chen Yiwen claims gold in the women's 3m springboard diving event at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on August 2. SINGAPORE – Despite a slow start, Olympic champion Chen Yiwen showed her prowess in the women's 3m springboard dive at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) on Aug 2 when she came from behind to reclaim her title. Competing at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, Chen – who won the gold in the 2023 edition in Fukuoka, Japan – had entered the finals as the top qualifier, but the Chinese diver trailed for two rounds behind leader and compatriot Chen Jia. A strong third-round performance saw her leapfrog into the lead, which she never relinquished. The 26-year-old eventually finished top after five rounds in 389.70 points, ahead of Chen Jia's 356.40. Italy's Chiara Pellacani was third in 323.20. Yiwen's triumph in Singapore was her ninth world title overall, as well as the ninth diving gold for China at the 2025 championships. When asked if she had a slow start, she said: 'Not really, I think it was my first move, which has always had technical issues.' The Chinese diver had earlier claimed gold in the mixed 3m and 10m team event on July 26, before partnering with Chen Jia to win the women's 3m synchronised event on July 29. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw names 6 law firms taken to task over involvement in property deals Singapore Police reopen access to all areas in Marina Bay after crowd congestion eases at NDP Preview area Singapore Opening of Woodlands Health has eased load on KTPH, sets standard for future hospitals: Ong Ye Kung Asia KTM plans new passenger rail service in Johor Bahru to manage higher footfall expected from RTS Singapore HSA investigating teen allegedly vaping on MRT train Asia 4 workers dead after falling into manhole in Japan Singapore New vehicular bridge connecting Punggol Central and Seletar Link to open on Aug 3 Singapore New S'pore jobs portal launched for North West District residents looking for work near home On being world champion again, she added: 'It gives me a bit more confidence for the future. Actually, I was quite worried during the last jump because there were (loud) noises outside… I was worried it might have an impact.' World championships debutante Chen Jia, 20, said: 'Actually, in the first round, I was quite confident, but in the second and third round, there were some technical issues. 'It may look easy. But when you stand on the board, with that atmosphere and that responsibility, it's an invisible pressure. Also with so many years of stable performances (from China) in the women's events, we definitely need to keep moving forward. 'I think for this competition, I'm not too satisfied… But for a first world championship trip, I'm quite satisfied.' Pellacani, who won the mixed 3m synchronised dive with partner Matteo Santoro on July 30, said: 'It was my goal to get a medal in this event after (finishing in) fourth place at the Olympic Games in Paris. And we worked really hard for this. So I'm very, very happy. 'I always start low on the first round, but the most important thing is to keep it very consistent, and that's what I did during the preliminary round, semi-final and final. I know there are still some things that I have to improve in my diving, for example, my entry can be better.' The men's 10m platform semi-final and final will be contested on the final day of the championships on Aug 3.
Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Straits Times
Veteran Katie Ledecky claims seventh straight 800m free gold after winning clash with Summer McIntosh
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – Experience proved to be the winning formula at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) on Aug 2, as American legend Katie Ledecky emerged victorious in the most anticipated race of the meet – the showdown between the veteran and Canadian teenage sensation Summer McIntosh in the 800m freestyle. Ledecky triumphed for a seventh time in a championship record of 8min 5.62sec at the WCH Arena, touching home ahead of Australia's Lani Pallister – who set an Oceania record in 8:05.98 – and McIntosh, who clocked 8:07.29. The 28-year-old said: 'That's pretty incredible, three of us going under 8:10... incredibly fast. They pushed me all the way. I'm just really happy I could put that together. I just told myself to trust my legs, because I've gotten a bit better at kicking. Just running home at the end. 'I just came in tonight trying to enjoy it as much as I can. I don't think I have anything to lose at this point of my career. Just enjoying the crowd, swimming against the best in the world. Everyone in that heat is the next generation of swimmers coming up; just proud to be a part of it.' The race lived up to its billing, with the sold-out crowd treated to a thrilling battle between Ledecky, McIntosh, and Pallister from start to finish. While Ledecky led for most of the race, McIntosh and Pallister were right on her heels. The Canadian turned first at the 700m mark, but the American surged ahead again with 50m to go and began to pull away. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: MinLaw names 6 law firms taken to task over involvement in property deals Singapore Police reopen access to all areas in Marina Bay after crowd congestion eases at NDP Preview area Singapore Opening of Woodlands Health has eased load on KTPH, sets standard for future hospitals: Ong Ye Kung Asia KTM plans new passenger rail service in Johor Bahru to manage higher footfall expected from RTS Singapore HSA investigating teen allegedly vaping on MRT train Asia 4 workers dead after falling into manhole in Japan Singapore New vehicular bridge connecting Punggol Central and Seletar Link to open on Aug 3 Singapore New S'pore jobs portal launched for North West District residents looking for work near home In the final stretch, McIntosh began to drop off and Pallister moved ahead, but it was Ledecky's race as she asserted her dominance in an event she has won at every edition of the world championships since 2013. The nine-gold Olympic champion did not take part in the 2024 World Championships in Doha, choosing to focus on training for the Paris Games, where she won her fourth consecutive title in the event at the quadrennial competition. This was the closest contest Ledecky had faced for the title at the championships. Before this, her toughest challenge came in 2019, when she beat Italy's Simona Quadarella by 1:41, while her largest margin of victory came at the 2022 edition in Budapest, where she triumphed over Australia's Kiah Melverton by 10:73. Katie Ledecky of the USA after winning the World Aquatics Championship women's 800m freestyle final, held at the WCH Arena on Aug 2. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG She said: 'It's just really cool that the distance events can be that big at a World Championships. With that kind of result, they're only going to get bigger from here, and that's really exciting to be a part of.' Despite getting on the podium, McIntosh looked downcast as she answered questions in the media mixed zone. The bronze was a blip in her quest for five gold medals in Singapore. 'I hate losing more than I like winning, and I think that's a mentality that I carried with myself through my entire career and that's my hand on the wall first most of the time,' said the 18-year-old, who had won the 200m individual medley, 200m butterfly and 400m free titles earlier in the week. 'I'll warm down, talk to my coach and all I'm thinking about is the 400 IM. I know I'm the favourite going in so it's a bit of a different set-up. I'm excited to finish off this meet with a really strong swim and I have full confidence for the IM.' It was a good day for the United States as they picked up another two golds, with the quartet of Jack Alexy, Patrick Sammon, Kate Douglass and Torri Huske bagging the mixed 4x100m free title in a world record time of 3:18.48sec. Their winning effort eclipsed the previous mark of 3:18.83 set by Australia at the 2023 championships in Fukuoka, with the team handed a cheque of US$30,000 (S$38,700) for their feat as they finished ahead of Russia (3:19.68) and France (3:21.35). It was the second world record clocked in Singapore. On July 30, France's four-gold Olympic champion Leon Marchand shattered a 14-year-old record in the 200m individual medley semi-finals with a time of 1:52.69, before going on to win the event a day later. American Gretchen Walsh also took her second title of the meet on Aug 2 in the 50m butterfly in 24.83 seconds, with Australian Alexandria Perkins (25.31sec) and Belgian Roos Vanotterdijk (25.43) finishing second and third respectively. In the evening's other events, Australia's reigning Olympic champion Cameron McEvoy reclaimed his 50m freestyle world title ahead of Britain's Benjamin Proud (21.26) and Alexy (21.46). (From left) Benjamin Proud of Britain, gold medallist Cameron McEvoy of Australia and American Jack Alexy on the men's 50m freestyle podium on Aug 2, 2025. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Australian Kaylee McKeown won her fourth 200m backstroke world title in a championship record time of 2:03.33, while Americans Regan Smith (2:04.29) and Claire Curzan (2:06.04) took silver and bronze respectively. In the men's 100m fly, Frenchman Maxime Grousset snagged gold in 49.62, with Switzerland's Noe Ponti (49.83) and Canada's Ilya Kharun (50.07) behind him.
