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Arab News
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Marchand, McIntosh headline bill at swimming worlds with 2028 on minds
SINGAPORE: French hero Leon Marchand and Canadian prodigy Summer McIntosh headline as swimming's world championships begin in Singapore on Sunday with thoughts already turning toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Marchand is appearing at his first major competition since rocketing to global fame at last year's Paris Games, where he won four golds in front of an adoring home crowd and lived up to his billing as the next Michael Phelps. The 23-year-old skipped the world short course championships in Budapest in December, saying he was 'exhausted' after his Olympic exertions. He returned to action in May and will concentrate on the individual medley events in Singapore. Having broken Phelps's 400m medley world record at the world championships in Japan two years ago, Marchand now has his sights set on Ryan Lochte's long-standing 200m medley mark. 'He wants to see what happens in the 200m medley, without having any other races on his plate,' Marchand's club president in Toulouse, Michel Coloma, told AFP. While Marchand is still feeling his way back to action after his Olympic heroics, McIntosh heads to Singapore in red-hot form. The 18-year-old broke three world records in a matter of days at the Canadian trials last month, including Hungarian great Katinka Hosszu's decade-old 200m medley mark. It was the first time any swimmer had broken three different long course world records at one meet since Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. McIntosh won three gold medals at the Paris Games and said she was 'super pumped' after her scintillating start to 2025. 'I think the goal is always to be faster and that's how I approach every day in training,' warned McIntosh, who is set to compete in five individual events in Singapore. McIntosh smashed Australian Ariarne Titmus's 400m freestyle world record but the pair will not go head to head in Singapore, with Titmus taking time off before she prepares for the LA Games. Several other leading swimmers are doing the same, with Britain's Adam Peaty, Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom and Hungary's Kristof Milak among those sitting out. There will be no shortage of stars competing in Singapore, however, with American great Katie Ledecky high on the billing. Ledecky has also broken a world record this year, updating her own 800m freestyle mark that had stood since the 2016 Rio Olympics. The 28-year-old is competing at her seventh world championships and is looking to add to her collection of 21 gold medals. 'I have been to a lot of these but I still feel like I get the same excitement, the same energy from the team,' she said. Ledecky and McIntosh will clash in the 400m and 800m freestyle, with the latter race billed as the one to watch in Singapore. The US team also features Gretchen Walsh, who lowered her own 100m butterfly world record twice in one day in May. Bobby Finke, Torri Huske, Jack Alexy and Regan Smith also compete for the Americans. At the other end of the experience spectrum is 12-year-old Yu Zidi, who was picked by China after announcing herself in stunning fashion at her country's national championship. Yu, sporting a cartoon dog on her swimming cap, qualified for three individual events and is part of a Chinese team that also includes men's 100m freestyle world record holder Pan Zhanle and breaststroke contender Qin Haiyang. China will be looking to finish high in the medal table but they will be hard pushed to break up the battle for top spot between the United States and Australia. The Australians might be missing Titmus but Olympic champions Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O'Callaghan and Cam McEvoy should ensure they bring home plenty of gold. The Australian squad also features several new faces, including 16-year-old Sienna Toohey. Head coach Rohan Taylor called Singapore crucial experience for the 2028 Olympics. 'The end goal is LA, but to be great in LA this very young team, which boasts 10 rookies, is going to learn what is needed on the global stage in Singapore,' Taylor said. Olympic champions David Popovici of Romania, Germany's Lukas Maertens and Italy's Thomas Ceccon are all also in action.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Canada swim star Summer McIntosh primed to take worlds by storm
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Summer McIntosh of Canada celebrates as she poses with her medal after winning the women's 200m at the Paris Olympics. LOS ANGELES – Three world records in five days put Summer McIntosh in rare company and now the 18-year-old Canadian swimming sensation is primed to take the world championships by storm. McIntosh won three gold medals at the Paris Olympics last year and then broke three world records in a breathtaking performance at the Canadian trials in June. The teenager is the first swimmer to set world records in three different individual events since Michael Phelps did it on the way to his glittering eight-gold haul at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 'Absolutely wild,' McIntosh said of the accomplishment in an interview with Canadian broadcaster CBC. Then she promptly pointed to a litany of things she could improve on in each race, saying the self-criticism is part of her mission to keep testing the boundaries of her sport. 'I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect race, at least I haven't done it yet,' she said ahead of the world championships in Singapore starting on Sunday. 'There's room for more and that's what keeps me going. And I'm also still so young, I have so much more to achieve and I know I can get so much stronger.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore's domestic recycling rate drops to all-time low of 11% Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in Singapore Local buyers are key to recovery of prime district condo market Singapore New online channel for public to report illegal ride-hailing services Singapore Ex-Tanjong Pagar United footballer charged with assault after Singapore Premier League match in Feb Business Singapore core inflation stays unchanged in June but uncertainties to outlook remain high Life The Projector will resume daily screenings at Golden Mile Tower. Is it exiting Cineleisure next? Singapore Youth Courts will take a new approach to cases, focused on underlying issues and supporting needs That competitive spirit runs deep in the McIntosh family. Her mother Jill competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in swimming and older sister Brooke is a top pairs figure skater who won bronze in 2022 at the world junior championships. 'We're very competitive. This is really in our blood,' Brooke once said. McIntosh's rapid journey to the pinnacle of swimming has taken her from Canada to Florida, where she trained with the Sarasota Sharks from 2022 and through the Paris Games. After the world championships she will begin training with Phelps's mentor Bob Bowman in Texas, as she builds toward the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. In the meantime she has been training since January with French coach Fred Vergnoux and his group in Antibes, crediting his contribution to 'the best meet of my career' despite the relatively brief association. 'I've gone way faster than I ever could have imagined,' she said. At the Canadian trials in Victoria she smashed the 400m freestyle world record with a time of 3min 54.18sec, regaining a mark she had lost to Australian Ariarne Titmus. She also broke the decade-old 200m individual medley world mark and lowered her own 400m medley world record. In between she threatened Katie Ledecky's latest 800m free world mark on the way to the third-fastest time in history. She also clocked the second-fastest 200m butterfly ever, edging toward the record set by China's Liu Zige in 2009. McIntosh launched her Olympic career in 2021 in Tokyo, where at 14 she was the youngest member of the Canadian team. She didn't win a medal but in Paris last summer she took gold in the 200m butterfly, 200m medley and 400m medley, and claimed silver in the 400m free. In Singapore she's expanding her program to include the 800m free and another mouthwatering showdown with Ledecky – one of the swimmers she idolized as a youngster. Now that she has established herself among swimming's elite, McIntosh has no trouble finding new motivation. 'I always want more,' she said. AFP
Al-Ahram Weekly
2 days ago
- Sport
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Canada swim star McIntosh primed to take worlds by storm - Omni sports
Three world records in five days put Summer McIntosh in rare company and now the 18-year-old Canadian swimming sensation is primed to take the world championships by storm. McIntosh won three gold medals at the Paris Olympics last year and then broke three world records in a breathtaking performance at the Canadian trials in June. The teenager is the first swimmer to set world records in three different individual events since Michael Phelps did it on the way to his glittering eight-gold haul at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. "Absolutely wild," McIntosh said of the accomplishment in an interview with Canadian broadcaster CBC. Then she promptly pointed to a litany of things she could improve on in each race, saying the self-criticism is part of her mission to keep testing the boundaries of her sport. "I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect race, at least I haven't done it yet," she said ahead of the world championships in Singapore starting on Sunday. "There's room for more and that's what keeps me going. And I'm also still so young, I have so much more to achieve and I know I can get so much stronger." That competitive spirit runs deep in the McIntosh family. Her mother Jill competed at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics in swimming and older sister Brooke is a top pairs figure skater who won bronze in 2022 at the world junior championships. "We're very competitive. This is really in our blood," Brooke once said. Wanting more McIntosh's rapid journey to the pinnacle of swimming has taken her from Canada to Florida, where she trained with the Sarasota Sharks from 2022 and through the Paris Games. After the world championships she will begin training with Phelps's mentor Bob Bowman in Texas, as she builds toward the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. In the meantime she has been training since January with French coach Fred Vergnoux and his group in Antibes, crediting his contribution to "the best meet of my career" despite the relatively brief association. "I've gone way faster than I ever could have imagined," she said. At the Canadian trials in Victoria she smashed the 400m freestyle world record with a time of 3min 54.18sec, regaining a mark she had lost to Australian Ariarne Titmus. She also broke the decade-old 200m individual medley world mark and lowered her own 400m medley world record. In between she threatened Katie Ledecky's latest 800m free world mark on the way to the third-fastest time in history. She also clocked the second-fastest 200m butterfly ever, edging toward the record set by China's Liu Zige in 2009. McIntosh launched her Olympic career in 2021 in Tokyo, where at 14 she was the youngest member of the Canadian team. She didn't win a medal but in Paris last summer she took gold in the 200m butterfly, 200m medley and 400m medley, and claimed silver in the 400m free. In Singapore she's expanding her program to include the 800m free and another mouthwatering showdown with Ledecky -- one of the swimmers she idolized as a youngster. Now that she has established herself among swimming's elite, McIntosh has no trouble finding new motivation. "I always want more," she said. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.) Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
News18
3 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Three World Records In Five Days: Summer McIntosh Sets Her Sights On World Championships
Summer McIntosh, the 18-year-old Canadian swimmer, is looking forward to the world championships in Singapore. In just five days, Summer McIntosh shattered three world records, placing herself among a select group of athletes. The 18-year-old Canadian swimming prodigy is now set to make waves at the upcoming world championships. McIntosh clinched three gold medals at the Paris Olympics last year and followed up with a stunning performance at the Canadian trials in June, breaking three world records. She is the first swimmer to achieve this feat across three different individual events since Michael Phelps, who set multiple records during his eight-gold triumph at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 'Absolutely wild," McIntosh remarked in an interview with CBC about her achievement. Despite her success, she highlighted numerous areas for improvement in each race, indicating her dedication to pushing the limits of her sport. 'I don't think there is such a thing as a perfect race, at least I haven't done it yet," she stated ahead of the world championships in Singapore starting on Sunday. 'There's room for more, and that's what keeps me going. And I'm also still so young, I have so much more to achieve and I know I can get so much stronger." The competitive drive is deep-rooted within the McIntosh family. Her mother, Jill, competed in swimming at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and her older sister, Brooke, is a top pairs figure skater who won bronze at the 2022 world junior championships. 'We're very competitive. This is really in our blood," Brooke once said. McIntosh's swift ascent to the top of the swimming world has seen her train from Canada to Florida with the Sarasota Sharks since 2022 and through the Paris Games. After the world championships, she will start training with Bob Bowman, Michael Phelps's mentor, in Texas, as she prepares for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Since January, she has been training with French coach Fred Vergnoux in Antibes, attributing her exceptional performance to his guidance despite the brief collaboration. 'I've gone way faster than I ever could have imagined," she said. At the Canadian trials in Victoria, McIntosh broke the 400m freestyle world record with a time of 3min 54.18sec, reclaiming the record she had lost to Australian Ariarne Titmus. She also smashed the decade-old 200m individual medley world record and improved her own 400m medley world record. Additionally, she nearly eclipsed Katie Ledecky's latest 800m freestyle world record, achieving the third-fastest time in history. She recorded the second-fastest 200m butterfly ever, approaching the record set by China's Liu Zige in 2009. McIntosh began her Olympic career in 2021 in Tokyo as the youngest member of the Canadian team at 14. Though she didn't win a medal, she went on to claim gold in the 200m butterfly, 200m medley, and 400m medley at the Paris Olympics last summer, along with silver in the 400m freestyle. In Singapore, she is expanding her repertoire to include the 800m freestyle, setting the stage for another thrilling contest with Ledecky, one of her childhood idols. Now firmly established among the elite in swimming, McIntosh remains driven by her ambition. 'I always want more," she said. With AFP Inputs view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 11:39 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Olympic champion Leon Marchand to focus on medleys at World Aquatics C'ships in Singapore
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Leon Marchand competing in the men's 400m individual medley at Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Centre on May 2. – French swimmer Leon Marchand has a clear objective for his World Aquatics Championships campaign in Singapore next week. In a bid to break the 200m medley world record, the 23-year-old will be skipping two of the four events which he won at the 2024 Olympics, his club president in Toulouse announced on July 21. Marchand was one of the standout stars of the Paris Games where he claimed gold in the 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly, as well the 200m and 400m individual medleys. However, he is now set to focus purely on the medley events. 'He won't be doing the 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke,' Michel Coloma of the Dauphins du TOEC club told AFP. 'He wants to see what happens in the 200m medley, without having any other races on his plate.' Nicolas Castel, Marchand's coach at Dauphins, told Franceinfo Sport: 'It's a choice we made because we're in a post-Olympic year, and he's never had the opportunity to perform a 200m medley without having a race before or after the same day. 'He wanted to try this isolated 200m medley and see what he is capable of. Now, the main idea is to test this race without anything around it.' Marchand is already the world record holder for the 400m medley, having snatched it from American legend Michael Phelps in 2023, but he now wants a crack at Ryan Lochte's 2011 record of 1min 54.00sec for the 200m medley. He came close in his Olympic final, which he won in 1:54.06, setting a Games record in the process. In a warmup event ahead of the world meet, he clocked 1:57.23 to come home first at the Indy Summer Cup in Indianapolis on June 28, with Hungary's Hubert Kos second in 2:00.16. Marchand will begin his world championship campaign on July 30 when the 200m medley heats take place at the WCH Arena, with the final the next day. REUTERS
