McIntosh wins fourth Singapore gold with 400m medley title
The 18-year-old Canadian phenomenon romped to victory in a championships-record 4min 25.78sec, with Australia's Jenna Forrester and Japan's Mio Narita sharing silver (4:33.26).
China's 12-year-old Yu Zidi was narrowly out of the medals in fourth in 4:33.76.
World record-holder McIntosh was red-hot favourite beforehand and she was never in trouble as she added to her Singapore triumphs in the 200m medley, 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle.
McIntosh's only defeat of the championships came on Saturday when she finished third in the 800m freestyle, with Katie Ledecky dominating that event once more.
McIntosh won three golds, including in both individual medley events, at the Paris Olympics a year ago.
She came to Singapore in superb form, having broken three world records in a matter of days in the Canadian trials, including in the 400 medley (4:23.65).
Along with McIntosh, Yu has been one of the names of the competition.
Huge cheers went up for her from the large number of Chinese fans as she entered the arena for the final on Sunday, the last day of competition.
Yu this week became the youngest swimmer in history to win a world championships medal with bronze in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay.
She came fourth in all three of her individual races.
But not everyone thinks Yu should be competing in Singapore.
Some in the sport have raised questions about the mental and physical impacts of high-level training and competing at an age when she is still developing as a person.
Under current World Aquatics rules, the minimum age is 14 but younger swimmers can compete at the championships if – like Yu – they are fast enough.--AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
35 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
World Cup host Morocco under pressure to save stray dogs
TANGIERS, Morocco: Animal welfare groups have accused Morocco of culling stray dogs as it prepares to host football's 2030 World Cup, but the kingdom denies the accusations, vowing to protect the canines. Advocates have charged that Morocco was indiscriminately ridding its streets of strays ahead of the global sporting event it will jointly host with Portugal and Spain. Authorities in the North African country, however, insist they had endorsed a non-lethal method known as TNVR -- to trap, neuter, vaccinate, and then release the dogs -- aimed at reducing public health risks while controlling the stray population. And a bill aimed at protecting street animals was adopted earlier this month, still pending parliament review. It would set fines of up to US$1,500 or jail terms of up to three months for harming stray dogs, according to a copy of the bill seen by AFP. Yet the culling accusations persist as online videos show dogs being shot or poisoned with strychnine, a toxic alkaloid which is sometimes used as a pesticide. In the videos from across the country, some of the dogs appear to already have marks on their ears indicating they had been sterilised and vaccinated. Mohammed, a resident of Tangiers in Morocco's north who refused to give his last name for fear of retribution, said he witnessed a dog he had often seen in the neighbourhood where he works get poisoned and killed. "I heard her cry before I saw her die," he recalled. That dog, too, had its ear tagged, he said. An online petition launched by the International Animal Coalition to end the "violent killing of dogs on the streets and beaches of Morocco" has gathered nearly 75,000 signatures. In June, an activist interrupted a FIFA Club World Cup match, invading the pitch with a sign that read: "Morocco: stop shooting dogs and cats". France's Brigitte Bardot Foundation, created by the movie star in 1986 to promote animal protection, has called on FIFA to block Morocco from hosting the 2030 tournament. Moroccan Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit has decried "media attacks" against the government with "wrong and out-of-context information". Advocates say Morocco has around three million stray dogs, but no official figures exist. Each year, there are about 100,000 stray dog bites nationwide, according to official data. In 2024, authorities said 33 people died from rabies, which is often transmitted by unvaccinated animals. "Local officials still see dogs on the streets as presenting a bad image," said Salima Kadaoui, 52, who launched the Hayat project, using the TNVR method to help control the stray dog population in Tangiers and aiming at eradicating rabies. Kadaoui commended government efforts to protect animals, saying she was "fully available" to work with authorities and build up on the success of Hayat -- meaning "life" in Arabic -- which has treated more than 4,600 dogs in Tangiers alone since 2016. She said it was "essential" not to kill TNVR-tagged dogs and to return them to the same place. "They're like police against rabies. If a rabid dog shows up, they drive it away and protect the community." The government has invested more than $24 million in creating clinics capable of implementing TNVR en masse, said Mohammed Roudani, head of hygiene and green spaces at the interior ministry. One clinic is already active in Al Arjat, near the capital Rabat, where veterinarian Youssef Lhor said more than 500 dogs had been treated this year and nearly half of them released back to the areas where they had been captured. A young female dog, tagged "636", was recovering at the clinic after being sterilised, and will soon be released. "Sometimes people tell us: 'You took the dogs away, why are you bringing them back?'" said Lhor, highlighting the need for public awareness on the issue. Moroccan authorities have developed a mobile app explaining what these clinics do, and allowing users to report sightings of stray dogs.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
'Marathon River Queen' Chelsea makes waves in Europe
PETALING JAYA: Having made Malaysian sporting history, open water swimmer Chelsea Ning Lee has set her sights on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The 21-year-old became the first swimmer in the world to complete the Marathon River Swim Series, an epic three-part challenge across Europe, after winning the final and most punishing leg, the 30km UltraEbre Swim Marathon in Spain, on July 4. The feat earned her the title of "Marathon River Queen", an honour bestowed upon those who successfully complete all three marquee open water events — the 33km Flow des Gabarriers in France, the 13km Thames Marathon in the United Kingdom, and the UltraEbre — within a five-year span. Chelsea did it in three. "I honestly didn't expect to win, just finishing the race was already a big achievement for me," said Chelsea. "I mean, no sane person wakes up on a Sunday thinking, 'Let's go swim 30km!' So to cross the line first was just an added bonus." The series was created to unite the global open water community through a shared celebration of endurance, camaraderie and nature. It also represents a unique sporting trifecta — from the scenic Charente River in the Cognac region of France, to the bustling stretch of the River Thames in the UK, and finally, the expansive Ebro River winding through Catalonia, Spain. Chelsea completed the Flow des Gabarriers in 2023, followed by the Thames Marathon last year, before capping her journey with a triumphant performance at the UltraEbre. Along the way, she raced alongside swimmers from Japan, the Netherlands, Germany and beyond — building international friendships and proving she could match the best. Her efforts are all the more commendable given that open water swimming remains a niche discipline in Malaysia, with little in the way of mainstream exposure or structured development. But Chelsea is determined to change that narrative. Now, she has turned her focus towards a new goal — qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the 10km marathon swim is contested. "What started as just me watching the Olympics on TV has now become my dream, to compete in LA2028," said Chelsea. "I may not know exactly where to begin, but I know one thing, I'm not backing down. All hard work pays off eventually, and that's all that matters." While she is still navigating the demands of university life, Chelsea is already eyeing her next big test — an ultra-distance swim in Norway next year, expected to be the coldest she has ever faced. And beyond that, perhaps one day, the English Channel. "I want to inspire more Malaysians to embrace the spirit of open water," she said.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-Argentina-bound All Blacks rookie forced to scramble after dog eats passport
FILE PHOTO: Paris 2024 Olympics - Rugby Sevens - Men's Pool A - New Zealand vs Ireland - Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France - July 25, 2024. Leroy Carter of New Zealand in action before scoring their first try. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez/File Photo (Reuters) -Leroy Carter's dream call-up to New Zealand's Rugby Championship squad nearly turned sour when he discovered his passport had been chewed up by his dog days before leaving for Argentina. Utility back Carter, named among the injury replacements in Scott Robertson's All Blacks squad, found his passport ruined on his bed and had to scramble to arrange a new one. "I got my passport out to take a photo to send to the (team) manager and I just left it on my bedside table," the 26-year-old told New Zealand media. "My partner went to the gym and left my dog home alone and it's gone down the hallway, jumped on the bed and just chewed up the passport and my teeth aligners. "It was a bit of a shambles yesterday. I was trying to get an emergency one but I think it's all sussed (sorted) now. "I thought it would happen to me, something like that, so no point getting stressed about it, just trying to sort it out." Most of the All Blacks squad will fly out on Friday for Argentina where they play their Rugby Championship opener against the Pumas in Cordoba next week. Carter, who represented New Zealand in rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics and won a bronze with the squad at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, earned his first All Blacks call-up after his debut season with the Waikato Chiefs in Super Rugby. Carter said he was out for breakfast with his partner and some of his teammates from provincial side Bay of Plenty when Robertson called to confirm his selection on Monday. "I got an unknown-number call. I guess I thought if there was a day to answer those it was probably (that day) and he just said congratulations," said Carter. "I honestly can't really remember what else he said after that. I was pretty emotional and pretty stoked to get a phone call like that. "All the boys were pretty pumped but I was still in a bit of a shock." (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
