American Smith fastest in 100 backstroke heats, Ledecky dominates 1,500
The pair have built up quite the rivalry, with McKeown completing a triumphant defence of her Olympic 100 and 200 backstroke titles when the two faced off in Paris last year, with Smith having to settle for silver in both events.
Smith came into the world championships as the top seed in the event ahead of five-times Olympic gold medallist McKeown and posted a time 58.20 on the second day of competition at the Singapore Sports Hub.
American Katharine Berkoff was second quickest with 58.55, while 2023 world champion McKeown's time of 58.57 put her in third heading into the semis later on Monday.
In the men's event, world record holder and Olympic champion Thomas Ceccon was given a scare as he only squeaked into the semi-finals with the 13th-fastest time in the heats.
Frenchman Yohann Ndoye-Brouard was fastest, touching the wall in a personal best 52.30, with Russian Kliment Kolesnikov, competing as a neutral athlete, second quickest with 52.57.
Italian Ceccon's time was 1.35 adrift of Ndoye-Brouard's mark.
American great Katie Ledecky put the disappointment of missing out on the 400 freestyle title on Sunday behind her with a strong swim in her signature event – the lung-bursting 1,500 freestyle.
The 28-year-old, who is the world record holder and has won five world titles in the event, posted a time of 15:36.68, which was more than 10 seconds quicker than Australia's Lani Pallister, the winner of the second heat.
Ireland's Mona McSharry posted 1:05.99 to go through fastest in the women's 100 breaststroke heats, nearly half a second ahead of defending champion Tang Qianting of China, who was seventh quickest (1:06.45).
World record holder Lilly King was well off the pace but scraped through in 15th almost a second down on McSharry's time.
There were few surprises in the men's 200 freestyle as Olympic champion David Popovici of Romania turned up the heat in the final 50 to put down a time of 1:45.43.
American Luke Hobson qualified second fastest in 1:45.61 but China's Pan Zhanle failed to progress, the 100 freestyle Olympic champion and world record holder trailing in 22nd in the heats.
"I'm not sure what happened, and I'm not happy with this time," Pan said. "But it won't affect my upcoming races. The 200m and 100m are two different events."
In the evening programme, all eyes will once again be on Canadian powerhouse Summer McIntosh as she goes for her second gold of the meet in the women's 200 individual medley, while China's 12-year-old swimming sensation Yu Zidi is also in action.--REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
19 minutes ago
- The Star
PM hopes new OCM HQ will spur country to win first Olympic gold
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the groundbreaking ceremony of OCM Headquarters at Bukit Jalil. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants Malaysia to come home with at least one gold medal from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) headquarters in Bukit Jalil, Anwar said he hopes the development of the new facility will spur the country to get its first Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles. Anwar said the government has been supporting sports in the country through efforts from Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, as well as OCM president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria. "I think the government, through the Youth and Sports Ministry, has been very proactive and supportive. You have a good minister who has been harassing me for more money and more funds "With Hannah and Norza, everyone is now waiting and we expect one gold medal at least, otherwise they'll be in trouble," said Anwar in jest at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday. Anwar added that the new headquarters comes as a need to provide the 58 National Sports Associations (NSA) a place to gather and share knowledge to further enhance sports performance. Expected to cost RM103mil in total, the new Olympic House will be constructed in Bukit Jalil within the Kuala Lumpur Sports City, with the new building located next to the National Hockey Stadium. Norza had previously said that the main building is targeted to be done before the 2027 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, but Anwar hopes the project can be completed ahead of its intended schedule. Meanwhile, Anwar also stressed the importance of sportsmanship, stressing that there is no room for hooliganism in sports at any level, particularly in football. "As I always tell my grandchildren in any sports they are involved in, especially when they get upset, that it's not the spirit. "You must try and excel to win, but must accept the fact that the best athlete will win and that's the spirit of sportsmanship. "That is why we take any issue of hooliganism or violence in sports seriously, particularly in football in this country. Everyone supports their team or their state, but that does not allow them to create chaos," he said. The new Olympic House is inspired by the one in Lausanne, Switzerland, and will replace OCM's current base at Jalan Hang Jebat.
New Straits Times
19 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
'Others must fight for world title, not just Aaron-Wooi Yik'
KUALA LUMPUR: Men's pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik won't be at the top forever and the others must step up. While Malaysia will continue to bank on former world champions and Olympic bronze medallists Aaron-Wooi Yik at the world meet on Aug 25-31 in Paris, Rexy Mainaky has urged their national teammates to share the responsibility in the fight for honours. The national doubles coaching director said while he still has much faith in world No. 2 Aaron-Wooi Yik, he wants the other BAM pairs — world No. 7 Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun and world No. 22 Wan Arif Junaidi-Yap Roy King — to aim for the title too. Malaysia are the only country with four pairs, including independents Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, the world No. 3, besides the three BAM pairs, at the World Championships. Rexy said it's not about Malaysia having the numbers, but more importantly, their players must have the champion's mindset. He feels that South Korea's world No. 1 Kim Won Ho-Seo Seung Jae are still the favourites in Paris, even though they lost to Fajar Alfian-Shohibul Fikri in the China Open quarter-finals last month. The Indonesians went on to win the title, beating Aaron-Wooi Yik. "Aaron-Wooi Yik are not going to be champions forever. So, all our pairs must do their part to fight for the title at the World Championships," said Rexy. He said the fact that Won Ho-Seung Jae lost to Fajar-Shohibul at the China Open means the current level at the top is about the same. "We have four pairs, but this doesn't mean we will secure the title. It's not about the numbers nor the training alone. "It's the players' mindset — to ensure every detail including avoiding illness and injuries, diet, and proper rest — that will be crucial towards success in Paris." Rexy pointed out that Seung Jae and his former partner, Kang Min Hyuk, were rated as the best after winning the 2023 world title in Copenhagen, but their partnership broke up after they failed to win a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. "People used to say Min Hyuk-Seung Jae were the best, but what has happened now? They have been split and this shows nothing is permanent. "All our pairs are on equal terms with other top pairs and we have to be ready to battle with rivals from South Korea, China, Indonesia and Japan."
The Star
19 minutes ago
- The Star
Cricket-Time to move on from South Africa's WTC win, says Rabada
(Reuters) -South Africa's leading paceman Kagiso Rabada says it is time to move on from the euphoria of beating Australia in the World Test Championship final wile admitting a belated major trophy success has come as a relief to his team. Rabada will lead South Africa's attack as they take on Australia in three Twenty20 clashes and three one-day Internationals starting in Darwin on Sunday. "I think it was special, and I've done so many interviews on that since," Rabada said of South Africa's victory over Australia at Lord's in June. "I think it's time to move on. I don't think we'll forget about that ever as a team, and South Africa won't ever (forget), but time to move on now." he told a press conference on Thursday. The five-wicket win in the WTC final followed several frustrating near misses for South Africa in limited-overs World Cups. "It was kind of like a relief. But the show moves on, and moving toward the T20 World Cup, I guess the approach will be a bit different. Now, you know, there's no fear of anything." Rabada is relishing a reprisal of the rivalry between Australia and South Africa. "It's always some hard cricket being played, some good cricket," he said. "Whenever we play Australia, I always feel like they get the best out of us, because they're sort of in our faces. And I guess we like that." Rababa, who turned 30 in May, has not played since the WTC final in London. "Thankfully, I've had quite a long break, so that's been awesome. Maintenance work consistently has to be done because the volume of cricket is quite a bit." The Australia tour comes ahead of next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, and the 2027 World Cup in Southern Africa, and South Africa hope the experience will benefit the young players in their squad. "For me that's extremely exciting to see them raring to go. It's just about trying to see where we're at as a team, moving into almost like another generation," Rabadaadded. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ed Osmond)
