logo
Walsh completes world butterfly double in riposte to Phelps

Walsh completes world butterfly double in riposte to Phelps

France 243 days ago
The American, who won the 100m butterfly earlier in the week, touched the wall in 24.83sec, beating Australia's Alexandria Perkins (25.31) and Belgium's Roos Vanotterdijk (25.43).
Walsh said she felt "fragile" before her 100m win after going down with a stomach bug that has swept through the American camp.
She was back to full strength for the fast and furious 50m, which will become an Olympic event for the first time at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
"I'm very proud," said the 22-year-old Walsh.
"That was a great swim, it was great to feel like myself again in the water after kind of a rocky meet, but two-time world champion, can't complain with that."
Sweden's Sarah Sjoestroem, the world record holder and a six-time world champion in the event, is not competing in Singapore.
Walsh took advantage of her absence and showed that she will be a force to reckon with in LA in three years' time.
Walsh's performance also offered a riposte to swimming legends Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, who have been critical of the American team's displays in Singapore.
Six-time Olympic gold medallist Lochte on Friday shared an image on Instagram depicting a funeral that featured a tombstone inscribed: "In loving memory of United States Swimming."
"They set the bar high -- until they stopped reaching for it," the inscription says, Lochte adding the caption: "Call it a funeral or call it a fresh start. We've got 3 years."
Phelps, who counts a stunning 23 gold among his 28 Olympic medals, shared Lochte's post, adding: "Is this the wake-up call USA swimming needed?"
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller
England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller

France 24

time14 minutes ago

  • France 24

England face searching Ashes questions after India series thriller

Their next major red-ball assignment is a five-match Ashes series away to arch-rivals Australia -- where England have gone 15 Tests without a win -- starting in November. Below AFP Sport looks at some of the key issues that emerged from England's rollercoaster contest with India and what they mean for their quest to regain the Ashes 'Down Under'. Stokes central to England's hopes What England gain from having Ben Stokes in their side was never more evident than when their inspirational captain missed the fifth Test with a shoulder injury -- a fresh worry following his history of hamstring trouble. The 34-year-old all-rounder was the most threatening member of England's attack against India, taking 17 wickets at 25 in 140 overs -- the most he has bowled in a series. Stokes also looked back to his best with the bat, scoring 141 in England's mammoth total of 669 in the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford. By contrast specialist opener Zak Crawley failed to reach three figures in nine innings. And at the Oval, the sight of vice-captain Ollie Pope running off to the dressing room to receive what appeared to be tactical guidance from Stokes did not say much for England's depth of leadership. England limited-overs captain Harry Brook, also a mainstay of the Test team and a lively skipper in the Stokes mould, could yet prove a better fit as vice-captain against Australia. Fast-bowling plan under threat England have long believed a battery of genuinely fast bowlers is essential if they are to win an Ashes series in Australia for the first time since 2010/11. But fitness issues could blight their best-laid plans. Jofra Archer made an encouraging return to Test cricket against India but played just two matches as England looked to manage the express paceman's workload. Mark Wood, another bowler with genuine pace, has not played Test cricket for nearly 12 months and had knee surgery earlier this year. The inconsistent Josh Tongue's return of 19 wickets at under 30 in the India series could well see him selected for Ashes duty, with Gus Atkinson's five-wicket haul on his return to Test duty at the Oval doing his cause no harm. Spin dilemma England, and Stokes in particular, have shown huge faith in Shoaib Bashir, a 21-year-old off-spinner unable to hold down a regular place in a county side but who has now taken 68 wickets in 19 Tests at 39. In the India series, Bashir's 10 wickets came at an expensive average of 54.1, before a finger injury ruled him out of the last two Tests. But Hampshire stalwart Liam Dawson failed to seize his chance in the drawn fourth Test, with Stokes appearing to tell the left-armer where he should be bowling on the Old Trafford pitch. Leicestershire's 20-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, already England's youngest Test cricketer, is another option. England, however, didn't bother with a specialist spinner at the Oval, deploying Joe Root and Jacob Bethell -- clean bowled following a reckless charge down the pitch during a second-innings collapse -- for a mere 11 overs combined. But former Australia captain Ricky Ponting believes England should stick with Bashir for the Ashes because of his similarity to outstanding Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon. "Australia will have probably three or four left-handers in their line-up which will aid the right-arm off-spinner as well," Ponting told Sky Sports. "And it's the over-spin that you need in Australia."

NBA Spurs agree to four-year extension with Fox: reports
NBA Spurs agree to four-year extension with Fox: reports

France 24

time7 hours ago

  • France 24

NBA Spurs agree to four-year extension with Fox: reports

Fox, who would have become a free agent next year but is now set through the 2029-30 campaign according to ESPN and The Athletic, was obtained in a trade with Sacramento last February. The 2023 NBA All-Star and 2024 league leader in steals averaged 19.7 points, 6.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game in 17 appearances for the Spurs last season before season-ending surgery on his left pinkie finger last March. Fox spent more than seven seasons in Sacramento and has career averages of 21.5 points, 6.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game. The 27-year-old American becomes a key player in the Spurs future plans alongside 21-year-old French star big man Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 (2.21m) All-Star who averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals and a league-high 3.8 blocked shots a game last season after being the NBA Rookie of the Year two seasons ago. San Antonio, which boasts last season's NBA Rookie of the Year in guard Stephon Castle, also selected guard Dylan Harper with with second pick in June's NBA Draft.

Djokovic withdraws from ATP Cincinnati Masters
Djokovic withdraws from ATP Cincinnati Masters

France 24

time10 hours ago

  • France 24

Djokovic withdraws from ATP Cincinnati Masters

Tournament officials confirmed the news to The Athletic, meaning the 38-year-old Serb will have played no matches between his Wimbledon semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner and the US Open start in three weeks. World number one Sinner, who like Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz skipped the current ATP Toronto Masters in order to rest and recover from Wimbledon, has been in Cincinnati since the weekend. Sinner and his team posted a golf course selfie to social media on Monday, one day after an opening practice session at the pre-US Open event. Djokovic, winner of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, first played Cincinnati in 2005 and won the last of his three titles there in 2023 after losing five previous finals. © 2025 AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store