Marchand, McIntosh rampant as US end turbulent worlds with record
SINGAPORE : Leon Marchand and Summer McIntosh sealed their golden swimming World Championships with rampant victories on today's final day of competition as the US signed off with a relay record.
Eight days of competition in Singapore wrapped up in style with French superstar Marchand and 18-year-old Canadian sensation McIntosh underlining their dominance.
Marchand, who won four golds and was the face of his home Paris Olympics a year ago, added the 400m individual medley crown to his 200m medley title this week.
The 23-year-old arrived in Singapore with a lighter programme in an effort to smash Ryan Lochte's 2011 200m IM world record – and he did just that.
Marchand today cruised to victory in the 400IM, powering to the wall in 4:04.73s, more than three seconds ahead of Japan's Tomoyuki Matsushita (4:08.32s), with Russian Ilia Borodin (4:09.16s) third.
Not to be outdone, McIntosh was similarly emphatic in winning the women's 400IM for her fourth gold in Singapore, to go with triumphs in the 200m medley, 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle.
The world record holder led from start to finish to romp to victory in a championships-record 4:25.78s, with Australia's Jenna Forrester and Japan's Mio Narita sharing silver (4:33.26s).
McIntosh's only defeat of the championships came yesterday when she finished third in the 800m freestyle, with the American Katie Ledecky dominating that event once more to underline her enduring quality aged 28.
The US team were battling acute gastroenteritis all week and faced criticism from Olympic greats Michael Phelps and Lochte.
But they silenced the doubters by breaking their own world record in winning the women's 4x100m medley relay.
The Americans were victorious in 3:49.34s, beating their previous record of 3:49.63s from Paris a year ago.
They also set a mixed 4x100m freestyle world record yesterday.
The US ended a turbulent week top of the pile with nine golds, ahead of Australia with eight and France and Canada on four – all by McIntosh.
Dream gold
Australia's Meg Harris beamed from ear to ear after joining compatriot Cam McEvoy as a 50m freestyle champion.
A day after McEvoy won the men's sprint, Paris Olympics silver medallist Harris powered home in 24.02s to beat Chinese pair Wu Qingfeng (24.26s) and Cheng Yujie (24.28s).
Harris said becoming an individual world champion was 'the dream I have been dreaming of the whole time'.
'This is why I swim,' said the 23-year-old.
Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi added the 1,500m freestyle world title to his 800m crown, with two-time Olympic champion Bobby Finke only third.
Jaouadi won a thriller to grab gold in 14:34.41s, ahead of Germany's Sven Schwarz (14:35.69s) and the American world record holder Finke (14:36.60s).
There was a Russian victory in the men's 50m backstroke, with world record holder Kliment Kolesnikov dominating for gold in a championships-record 23.68s.
Fellow Russian Pavel Samusenko and South Africa's Pieter Coetze shared silver, 0.49s behind.
Russian swimmers are competing as neutrals because of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte sealed a career fourth women's 50m breaststroke world crown.
The Russians won the men's 4x100m medley relay from France and the US.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Marseille sign Timothy Weah, son of Ballon d'Or winner George Weah, on loan from Juventus with €14m option
MARSEILLE, Aug 7 — US international Timothy Weah has joined Marseille on loan from Juventus with an option to buy, the French club confirmed on Wednesday. The 25-year-old winger arrives on loan for one million euros with a purchase option of 14 million euros ($16,000), according to several media reports, The son of the only African Ballon d'Or winner in history and former Liberian president George Weah has played for Italian club Juventus since 2023. Born in New York in 2000, he trained at Paris Saint-Germain at the age of 14, signing his first professional contract with them in 2017. After two seasons, he moved to Scottish side Celtic where he won the Premiership and Cup double in 2019, then to Lille, where he won the French Ligue 1 title in 2021. Capped 44 times for the United States Weah becomes Marseille's sixth signing of the summer transfer window. — AFP
New Straits Times
4 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Milan sign Swiss midfielder Jashari from Club Brugge
AC Milan have signed Switzerland midfielder Ardon Jashari from Belgium's Club Brugge on a contract until June 2030, the Serie A club said on Wednesday. Financial details were not disclosed, but Italian media reported Milan paid around €34 million (US$39.6 million) for the 23-year-old, plus three million in bonuses. Jashari joined Brugge from Swiss side Luzern in 2024 and made 52 appearances in all competitions, scoring four goals. The defensive midfielder, who has played four times for his country, helped Brugge reach the Champions League last 16 this year. Milan begin their Serie A campaign at home to promoted Cremonese on August 23. — REUTERS
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Isak told to train alone by Newcastle
LONDON: Alexander Isak's future at Newcastle hangs in the balance after the Swedish striker was reportedly told to train apart from the rest of the squad on Wednesday. The 25-year-old has been linked with a British transfer record move to Liverpool after failing to feature in Newcastle's pre-season preparations. Isak missed the Magpies' trip to Singapore and South Korea, citing a minor thigh injury, and instead flew to Spain to train at former club Real Sociedad. He has since returned to Tyneside but Sky Sports reported that Isak was instructed to train after the rest of the squad had departed on Wednesday. "You have to earn the right to train with us. We are Newcastle United," Howe told reporters earlier in pre-season. "We will make sure that any player earns the right to train with the group. No player can expect to act poorly and train with the group as normal." Liverpool have seen a £110 million (US$146 million) bid for Isak rejected, according to reports, with Newcastle seeking closer to £150 million. Another major hurdle to any deal is Newcastle's ongoing struggles to finalise a deal to replace Isak. They face competition from Manchester United for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko after missing out on Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Liam Delap earlier in the window. Liverpool have already splashed out over £250 million this window on Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong. However, they have also recouped major funds from the sales of Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tyler Morton. And Darwin Nunez is close to a £46 million move to Saudi side Al Hilal that would free up more resources and space in the squad for another bid to sign Isak. Since joining Newcastle for £63 million in 2022, Isak has scored 62 times in 109 appearances, including the goal that secured the club's first domestic trophy for 70 years in the League Cup final against Liverpool in March. - AFP
