Singapore open water team finishes 14th, calls it "good indicator" ahead of SEA Games
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Straits Times
16 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Katie Ledecky moves up to 2nd in all-time world championships medal ladder
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Katie Ledecky took gold in 15 min 26.44sec to win her 22nd world title. SINGAPORE – In just over 15 minutes at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) Arena in Kallang on July 29, Katie Ledecky showcased to the packed Singapore crowd why she is undoubtedly one of the greatest long-distance swimmers of all time. In the 1,500m freestyle final, the world record holder was in a league of her own from start to finish, taking gold in 15min 26.44sec to win her 22nd world title. The legendary American's total of 28 world championship medals also surpassed fellow American Ryan Lochte's tally (27), and she is now second only to compatriot Michael Phelps' all-time record of 33. Wearing a huge grin after the medal ceremony, Ledecky, 28, said she was not aware of those numbers when asked if she would now be turning her attention to chasing Phelps' record. 'Well, I mean, Michael's the best. He's the standard in our sport and that's not something that I'm chasing,' said Ledecky, after securing her sixth world title in the event. 'I don't know what the numbers are really. I don't really keep track. 'I'm just taking it one race at a time and putting my best foot forward each race, and whatever happens, happens. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business No clarity yet on baseline or pharmaceutical tariffs with US: DPM Gan Singapore Grace Fu apologises for Tanjong Katong sinkhole, says road may stay closed for a few more days Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD Singapore Liquidators score victory to recoup over $900 million from alleged scammer Ng Yu Zhi's associates Singapore Man on trial for raping woman who hired him to repair lights in her flat Sport IOC president Kirsty Coventry a 'huge supporter' of Singapore Singapore Child and firefighter among 7 taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat Singapore S'pore can and must meaningfully apply tech like AI in a way that creates jobs for locals: PM Wong 'But of course, growing up, it was very inspiring to watch world championships and the Olympic Games that Michael was in and I was trying to learn from the very best. ' I was always a student of the sport and so to watch his countless gold medals and world championships, Olympic wins was always very inspiring. We've talked a lot this week as a team about the legacy of USA Swimming, and we all want to be a part of that and we want to carry that on.' A legacy is certainly what Ledecky has in the 1,500m event, in which she has set the world record six times. It now stands at 15:20.48. On July 29, her rivals once again were left trailing in her wake. Katie Ledecky of USA clinched gold in the 1500m freestyle finals. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Finishing over five seconds adrift was silver medallist Simona Quadarella of Italy, whose 15:31.79 made her the second-quickest swimmer ever in the event – though it is still slower than 11 of Ledecky's times. Australia's Lani Pallister faded to take bronze in 15:41.18 while Singapore's Gan Ching Hwee finished seventh (16:03.51). Gan, who earlier in the day withdrew from the 200m freestyle heats to focus on the 1,500m race, is the first Singaporean female swimmer to qualify for a world championship final since Tao Li finished seventh in the 50m butterfly in 2007. Gan Ching Hwee in the Women's 1500m freestyle finals on July 29. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY On July 28, she smashed two national records to finish fourth out of 27 athletes and clinch a spot in the 1,500m freestyle final. Gan was delighted with her effort, noting that a few weeks ago, she would not have thought that it was possible for her to make a final. 'I think what I've taken away from this is really to trust my training. Sometimes things don't always go perfectly, like even tonight's race, I don't think it was anywhere near perfect, but it's always a learning journey, and that's sports,' said the 22-year-old, who will next compete in the 800m freestyle heats on Aug 1. Gan's swim came in front of a packed crowd that included President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam watches the women's 1500m freestyle swimming event during the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY She also earned praise from Ledecky, who said: 'I know she has competed in the NCAA (for) Indiana (University) and so a lot of my teammates have swum with her and speak very highly of her. I was really happy to see her do so well.' Meanwhile, Australian star Kaylee McKeown also made it a night to remember as she edged out American rival Regan Smith to win her first gold in Singapore and her fifth world championship title. Kaylee McKeown of Australia clinched Gold at the 100m women's backstroke finals. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY McKeown's 13th overall medal came in the 100m backstroke when she touched home in 57.16sec to pip Smith by 0.19sec. Another American, Katharine Berkoff, was third in 58.15. In the men's 200m freestyle, Romanian David Popovici overcame his mental struggles to win gold, telling the media afterwards that he had almost pulled out of the event. The 20-year-old Paris Olympic champion, who clocked 1:43.53 to beat American Luke Hobson (1:43.84) and Japan's Tatsuya Murasa (1:44.54), said: 'Frankly, just one or two days before the competition I wanted to pull out. I just wasn't feeling well. 'It wasn't the fear of competing or losing, it was the fear of... reaching your own potential. That's very scary. 'And so I'm really glad I didn't quit.' Asked how close he had come to withdrawing, Popovici said: 'I started looking for flights back. 'It was a mental thing and it had to do with the fear of seeing my real potential.' Pieter Coetze of South Africa claimed his first world title in 51.85sec in the men's 100m backstroke, while Germany's Anna Elendt pulled off a stunning swim from Lane 1 to win the women's 100m breaststroke in 1:05.19. American Kate Douglass settled for silver in 1:05.27, ahead of Tang Qianting of China (1:05.64). Meanwhile, Beijing was confirmed as the host for the 2026 short-course world championships during the World Aquatics General Congress in Singapore on July 29.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Singapore's Gan Ching Hwee finishes 7th in women's 1,500m freestyle final at world championships
It was a bittersweet evening for Team Singapore swim sensation Gan Ching Hwee at the World Aquatics Championships. The 22-year-old competed against the world's best as the fastest Asian swimmer in the women's 1,500m freestyle final. But she fell short of a medal and around two seconds off a new national record, after finishing seventh with a time of 16:03.51. Nikhil Khattar reports from the race.
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CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Katie Ledecky wins women's 1,500m freestyle, Gan Ching Hwee finishes seventh at World Aquatics Champs
US swimmer Katie Ledecky (top) and Singapore swimmer Gan Ching Hwee (bottom) in action during the Women's 1500m Freestyle Finals By CNA/Wallace Woon Gan is the only Singapore swimmer to have made a final in this edition of the World Aquatics Championships. 22-year-old Gan started strong with the fastest reaction time of 0.64 seconds. Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in history, led the race from start till end. Gan (above) clocked a time of 16:01.29 in the heats, besting her previous record by nine seconds. Ledecky (below) came within one second of her championship record. Ledecky's win is her 22nd world championship gold medal, extending her dominance in the event. Among those who attended the race were President Tharman Shanmugaratnam (pictured) and International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry. Next Story
