Latest news with #WCH
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Katie Ledecky moves up to 2nd in all-time world championships medal ladder
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Katie Ledecky took gold in 15 min 26.44sec to win her 22nd world title. SINGAPORE – In just over 15 minutes at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) Arena in Kallang on July 29, Katie Ledecky showcased to the packed Singapore crowd why she is undoubtedly one of the greatest long-distance swimmers of all time. In the 1,500m freestyle final, the world record holder was in a league of her own from start to finish, taking gold in 15min 26.44sec to win her 22nd world title. The legendary American's total of 28 world championship medals also surpassed fellow American Ryan Lochte's tally (27), and she is now second only to compatriot Michael Phelps' all-time record of 33. Wearing a huge grin after the medal ceremony, Ledecky, 28, said she was not aware of those numbers when asked if she would now be turning her attention to chasing Phelps' record. 'Well, I mean, Michael's the best. He's the standard in our sport and that's not something that I'm chasing,' said Ledecky, after securing her sixth world title in the event. 'I don't know what the numbers are really. I don't really keep track. 'I'm just taking it one race at a time and putting my best foot forward each race, and whatever happens, happens. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business No clarity yet on baseline or pharmaceutical tariffs with US: DPM Gan Singapore Grace Fu apologises for Tanjong Katong sinkhole, says road may stay closed for a few more days Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD Singapore Liquidators score victory to recoup over $900 million from alleged scammer Ng Yu Zhi's associates Singapore Man on trial for raping woman who hired him to repair lights in her flat Sport IOC president Kirsty Coventry a 'huge supporter' of Singapore Singapore Child and firefighter among 7 taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat Singapore S'pore can and must meaningfully apply tech like AI in a way that creates jobs for locals: PM Wong 'But of course, growing up, it was very inspiring to watch world championships and the Olympic Games that Michael was in and I was trying to learn from the very best. ' I was always a student of the sport and so to watch his countless gold medals and world championships, Olympic wins was always very inspiring. We've talked a lot this week as a team about the legacy of USA Swimming, and we all want to be a part of that and we want to carry that on.' A legacy is certainly what Ledecky has in the 1,500m event, in which she has set the world record six times. It now stands at 15:20.48. On July 29, her rivals once again were left trailing in her wake. Katie Ledecky of USA clinched gold in the 1500m freestyle finals. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Finishing over five seconds adrift was silver medallist Simona Quadarella of Italy, whose 15:31.79 made her the second-quickest swimmer ever in the event – though it is still slower than 11 of Ledecky's times. Australia's Lani Pallister faded to take bronze in 15:41.18 while Singapore's Gan Ching Hwee finished seventh (16:03.51). Gan, who earlier in the day withdrew from the 200m freestyle heats to focus on the 1,500m race, is the first Singaporean female swimmer to qualify for a world championship final since Tao Li finished seventh in the 50m butterfly in 2007. Gan Ching Hwee in the Women's 1500m freestyle finals on July 29. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY On July 28, she smashed two national records to finish fourth out of 27 athletes and clinch a spot in the 1,500m freestyle final. Gan was delighted with her effort, noting that a few weeks ago, she would not have thought that it was possible for her to make a final. 'I think what I've taken away from this is really to trust my training. Sometimes things don't always go perfectly, like even tonight's race, I don't think it was anywhere near perfect, but it's always a learning journey, and that's sports,' said the 22-year-old, who will next compete in the 800m freestyle heats on Aug 1. Gan's swim came in front of a packed crowd that included President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam watches the women's 1500m freestyle swimming event during the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY She also earned praise from Ledecky, who said: 'I know she has competed in the NCAA (for) Indiana (University) and so a lot of my teammates have swum with her and speak very highly of her. I was really happy to see her do so well.' Meanwhile, Australian star Kaylee McKeown also made it a night to remember as she edged out American rival Regan Smith to win her first gold in Singapore and her fifth world championship title. Kaylee McKeown of Australia clinched Gold at the 100m women's backstroke finals. ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY McKeown's 13th overall medal came in the 100m backstroke when she touched home in 57.16sec to pip Smith by 0.19sec. Another American, Katharine Berkoff, was third in 58.15. In the men's 200m freestyle, Romanian David Popovici overcame his mental struggles to win gold, telling the media afterwards that he had almost pulled out of the event. The 20-year-old Paris Olympic champion, who clocked 1:43.53 to beat American Luke Hobson (1:43.84) and Japan's Tatsuya Murasa (1:44.54), said: 'Frankly, just one or two days before the competition I wanted to pull out. I just wasn't feeling well. 'It wasn't the fear of competing or losing, it was the fear of... reaching your own potential. That's very scary. 'And so I'm really glad I didn't quit.' Asked how close he had come to withdrawing, Popovici said: 'I started looking for flights back. 'It was a mental thing and it had to do with the fear of seeing my real potential.' Pieter Coetze of South Africa claimed his first world title in 51.85sec in the men's 100m backstroke, while Germany's Anna Elendt pulled off a stunning swim from Lane 1 to win the women's 100m breaststroke in 1:05.19. American Kate Douglass settled for silver in 1:05.27, ahead of Tang Qianting of China (1:05.64). Meanwhile, Beijing was confirmed as the host for the 2026 short-course world championships during the World Aquatics General Congress in Singapore on July 29.
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Irish swimming's trailblazer Daniel Wiffen wants a world record
SINGAPORE – The dejection on Daniel Wiffen's face was unmistakable as the defending champion touched the wall fifth in the second heat of the World Aquatics Championships (WCH) men's 800m freestyle on July 18. His time of 7min 46.36sec was almost five seconds behind Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi, who won in 7:41.58. This was a far cry from the 2024 final in which he cruised to gold by two seconds. After initial despair, there was some relief as the 24-year-old Irishman squeezed into the July 29 final as the eighth-ranked qualifier overall. A month before the meet, he was hit by appendicitis but chose to treat it with antibiotics, putting off surgery until after the championships. He told The Straits Times at the WCH Arena: 'I don't feel the appendicitis, but I have to get it out after this competition. I held off the surgery until after the world champs because I wanted to give a good crack at defending both my (800m and 1,500m freestyle) titles. I hope it's not affecting me anymore... it certainly looks like it is, but I don't know. 'That was probably one of the worst swims I've done in a long time. But whatever we are overcoming right now, we are going to come back stronger.' Born in England, the lanky and bubbly Irishman's brush with fame began at a young age. As an 11-year-old, despite not being allowed to watch the Game of Thrones, he managed to snag a role as an extra in the popular TV drama alongside his twin brother Nathan in the famous Red Wedding scene. His sister Elizabeth had a more prominent role as Neyela Frey. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Grace Fu apologises for Tanjong Katong sinkhole, says road may stay closed for a few more days Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD Singapore S'pore can and must meaningfully apply tech like AI in a way that creates jobs for locals: PM Wong Singapore 7, including child and firefighter, taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat Sport IOC president Kirsty Coventry a 'huge supporter' of Singapore Singapore ICA inspector obtained bribes in the form of sex acts from 6 foreign men in exchange for his help Singapore Doctor who forged certificates for aesthetic procedures gets 4 months' jail Singapore 12 motorists nabbed for providing illegal private-hire services: LTA His swimming journey with his brother began when they joined local Water Babies sessions at just three months old and started competing at age six – Daniel and Nathan specialised in freestyle and backstroke respectively. By 13, he made the national team. Despite setting 800m and 1,500m freestyle national records, he missed both finals at his first Olympics in Tokyo 2020, and finished fourth in both events at the 2023 world championships. But he went on to break the 1,500 free short course world record with a blistering 7:20.46 later that year at the European Championships. He then claimed double gold at the WCH 2024 before going on to become the first Irishman to win Olympic swimming medals with his 800m gold in Olympic record time (7:38.19) and 1,500m bronze at Paris 2024. 'I was telling people for five years I was going to be the Olympic champion in Paris and nobody believed me at the start, but as we got closer, everybody was like 'this guy is easily gonna win'', said Daniel, who has the words 'dream big' tattooed on his arm. Since his historic feats for Ireland, life has been 'very weird' for him as he gets stopped for photos, even when he was on holiday in Bali. But he has remained down-to-earth, donating his entire £25,000 (S$43,000) Olympic Medallist Fund to his former school, St. Patrick's Grammar School, to build a new gym, enhance its sporting facilities and provide new equipment. While all eyes are on the women's 400m and 800m freestyle showdowns between American legend Katie Ledecky and Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh, he feels the men's 800m is 'definitely more competitive'. Although he is not in his best condition here, it should not be long before he flashes his trademark two-hand W celebration, which stands for Wiffen and winning, again. Eyeing the world records held by Chinese swimmer Zhang Lin in the 800m (7:32.12) and American Bobby Finke in the 1,500m (14:30.67), he said: 'Breaking a world record is a different type of feeling because you're the fastest-ever, whereas at the Olympics there are like nine other men winning Olympic golds. 'Everyone says the hardest thing to do is to win a world championships after an Olympics, and I'm up for the challenge. I think winning back-to-back world championships is going to be better than winning the Olympics for me.'
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
China's divers continue to dominate at World Aquatics Championships
Wang Zongyuan and Zheng Jiuyuan of China in action during the World Aquatics Championship Men's 3m Synchronised Diving final held at the OCBC Aquatic Centre on July 28. SINGAPORE – China extended their diving dominance at the World Aquatic Championships (WCH) at the OCBC Aquatic Centre on July 28, taking their tally to five golds out of six events. On July 28, Wang Zongyuan and Zheng Jiuyuan claimed gold in the men's 3m synchronised springboard with 467.31 points from six dives, ahead of Mexico's Osmar Olvera Ibarra and Juan Manuel Celaya Hernandez (449.28) and Britain's Jack Laugher and Anthony Harding (405.33) Wang, who has now won this event for the fourth consecutive time at the WCH, was without regular dive partner Long Daoyi, with whom he also clinched gold at the Paris Olympics. 'It's a new pairing for these world championships,' Wang, 23, said in Mandarin. 'It's the first time he (Zheng) and I have competed in a synchronised event together and both of us were actually very nervous and felt a lot of pressure. 'I think everyone should still see our pairing with a balanced mindset… I've experienced four editions of these competitions (WCH). I think everyone (his partners) has his own characteristics and strengths. 'To outsiders, it does seem relatively easy for us. But actually, from the last training cycle until now, I've also had injuries, especially back problems as I get older. But since I've chosen to dive, I believe I have to keep going.' His 21-year-old partner Zheng, who won his second gold in as many days after the men's 1m springboard title, added: 'Brother Wang always tells me not to pay attention to the scores, so I don't know about the opponents' scores. 'I only know that I had to perform my own dive well. And that if we completed the last dive well, we would be champions.' Despite missing out on the gold, the Mexican duo, also silver medallists at Paris 2024, are pretty happy with their performance. Hernandez said: 'There are some details that I still need to work on personally and we beat our Paris score, so we're just trying to keep matching and breaking our personal bests at every competition. 'We believe in what we're working with coach Ma Jin, and we'll just put our head down and keep working. Whatever she says, we'll do. 'We're trying to do higher-difficulty dives, because we can and, I guess, we'll make the competition a little more interesting.' Laugher, who had finished third at the Olympics and fifth in the last edition of the WCH with Harding, said: 'Our last world championships in Doha, we had a bit of a shocker. 'That was the Olympic year and we crowned it off with an Olympic bronze. Me and Anthony are an experienced pair now, we've got a lot going for us. 'Today was a really difficult challenge – the Chinese and the Mexicans were really on form… We've learnt a lot and, for us now, it's a bit of deserved time off and then we move forward into the next year.' In the women's 10m synchronised platform, China's Chen Yuxi and Zhang Minjie took home the gold with 349.26 points after five rounds of diving, ahead of Mexican duo Alejandra Estudillo Torres and Gabriela Agundez Garcia (304.80) and North Korea's Jo Jin Mi and Kim Mi Hwa (293.34). China's fans showing their support for Chinese divers Chen Yuxi and Zhang Minjie after the duo won the World Aquatics Championship women's 10m synchronised platform diving final. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG China were cheered on by a section of raucous supporters and the duo were given a standing ovation after their final dive. Chen, 19, who had won the mixed team event on July 26 and fourth consecutive gold in the women's 10m synchronised platform, said: 'I feel that as long as I'm standing up there diving, I must be 100 per cent serious and committed, giving my best performance. 'After the Paris Olympics, I had to make some adjustments to my mindset. Coming to today's world championships, it feels somewhat different from the last cycle. 'From two years ago until now, I have seen significant changes and developments in my form. From Budapest (2022 edition), where I dealt with some injuries, I constantly motivated myself to complete that final competition. 'For me, it's all a process of continuous growth and improvement.' There are seven more diving events at the WCH and China will be looking to add to their golds, having won nine out of 13 at the last edition in Doha. Chinese divers Chen Yuxi (left) and Zhang Minjie gesture to the camera after winning the World Aquatics Championship Women's 10m Synchronised Platform Diving final. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Diving action continues on July 29, with the women's 3m synchronised springboard and men's 10m synchronised platform finals.
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Breaststroke king Qin Haiyang back to his best with 100m win at World Championships
China's Qin Haiyang makes it back to the top of the World Aquatics Championships men's 100m breaststroke podium after a challenging 2024. SINGAPORE – The king of breaststroke is back. After creating history by sweeping the men's 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke titles at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships (WCH), Qin Haiyang's highly anticipated coronation at the Paris 2024 Olympics turned out to be an anti-climax as he finished seventh over 100m and did not even qualify for the 200m final. A year later, the 26-year-old Chinese swimmer's road to redemption has begun at Singapore's WCH Arena as he reclaimed the 100m crown in 58.23sec, ahead of Italy's Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi (58.58) and Kyrgyzstan's Denis Petrashov (58.88), who won his country's first WCH medal. After reeling in Martinenghi in the last 25m, Qin summed up his first international win since the Olympic setback in four English words: 'Finally, I've come back.' Later at the mixed zone, Qin, who is also competing in the 50m and 200m breast, said in Mandarin: 'This definitely helps with confidence. I'm competing in three events, and they're all tough ones. In the last 10m, we were all spent, maybe this was when my technique gave me a little bit of an advantage. 'This win gives me confidence. To win this gold medal is not something that's easily said and done for me. I want to still be able to achieve my dreams. That dream is to achieve Olympic gold in this event.' It had been a whirlwind 2024 following his 2023 WCH heroics. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole: Road recovery works progressing steadily, tests under way Singapore ST Explains: What we know about the Tanjong Katong sinkhole so far Singapore Foreign workers who rescued woman from sinkhole given tokens of appreciation Asia Gunman kills 5 near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Business SIA Q1 profit falls 59%; airline group sees volatile times ahead Singapore Man exposed daughter's identity despite court order after she was removed from his care Singapore Over 6 years' jail for conman who cheated 13 victims of more than $1.2m In the lead-up to the Olympics, he injured his knee and claimed that the vigorous dope testing of Chinese athletes were 'tricks to disrupt our preparation rhythm and destroy our psychological defence'. Following his Olympic misadventure, where he still picked up a men's 4x100m medley gold and mixed 4x100m medley silver, he was accused of infidelity by his fiancee, which he brushed off as 'fake news'. In 2025, he started working with famed Australian coach Michael Bohl, who mentored Australia's Olympic champion Emma McKeon, and looks to have rediscovered his form. Qin told the Chinese media: 'I put too much emphasis on physical training last year, but this did not translate into good results. I'm going to focus more on pool training... and the results are showing. 'Bohl knows very well what athletes think. He has his unique way for helping me to relax and focus. Before races, he would tell me at most to keep it simple, and that is what I need now – focus on the process and not be held back by the outcome or pressure. 'I will not be a youngster at LA 2028, and it's a huge project to balance training intensity, injury prevention and maintaining top form as I age. It would be a great success if I can climb out of the low, but this is also a great challenge and a very difficult process because it is full of unpredictability.' What is certain is Summer McIntosh's dominance in the women's 200m individual medley, as the Canadian won in 2:06.69, ahead of American Alex Walsh (2:08.58) and Canada's Mary-Sophie Harvey (2:09.15). China's 12-year-old Yu Zidi finished fourth and missed out on bronze by just 0.06. McIntosh, 18, who won the women's 400m freestyle and is also gunning for golds in the 200m butterfly, 400m IM and 800m freestyle, said: 'Going in tonight, my goal was to get my hand on the wall first, so to get that done is good. 'I'm not super happy with the time, but honestly, at a world championships, my goal is just to go as fast as I can against my competitors. 'Still, happy with the gold and hoping to keep up my streak next time.' In the fast pool at the WCH Arena, American Gretchen Walsh set a women's 100m butterfly championship record when she won in 54.73 to lower Swede Sarah Sjostrom's 2017 mark of 55.53 and go within 0.13 of her own world record. Referencing the stomach bug that has plagued the US team since their training camp in Thailand, the 22-year-old said: 'I faced it back the last couple days, my body has just been fragile, and I think that I've needed to give myself grace. It took a lot of guts. 'I think I just wanted to go out here and do it for my team. Represent the flag well and I think that race just came out of somewhere. But I'm really, really happy.' Belgian Roos Vanotterdijk (55.84) and Australian Alexandria Perkins (56.33) took silver and bronze. respectively for their first WCH medal. The men's 50m butterfly final was the fastest ever, with all eight swimmers going under 23 seconds and five setting national records. Frenchman Maxime Grousset claimed gold in 22.48, pipping Swiss Noe Ponti (22.51) who collected his first long-course WCH medal. Italian Thomas Ceccon (22.67) took bronze 20 minutes after making the 100m backstroke final as the fourth-fastest semi-finalist in 52.35.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Gan Ching Hwee breaks 2 national records, qualifies for World Aquatics C'ships 1,500m final
Over two days, Singapore's Gan Ching Hwee has set new national records in the women's 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle. SINGAPORE – Singapore's distance swimming queen Gan Ching Hwee continued to make strides in the pool on July 28, when the 22-year-old smashed two more national records and clinched a spot in the 1,500m freestyle final at the World Aquatics Championships (WCH). Her time of 16min 1.29sec in the heats – almost nine seconds under the 16:10.13 she swam in the Paris 2024 Olympics heats to narrowly miss the final – also earned her a spot in the championships final as the fastest Asian swimmer. Swimming in Heat 2 at the WCH Arena, she touched the wall third behind Australia's Lani Pallister (15:46.95) and Italy's defending champion Simona Quadarella (15:47.43). She placed fourth out of 27 athletes overall, as American legend Katie Ledecky topped Heat 3 in 15:36.68 to qualify for the July 29 final. Gan's front 800m split of 8:29.93 was also a new national record – her previous best in Paris 2024 was 8:32.37. It was the Singaporean's third national records in two days, after she won her 400m freestyle heat and finished 13th overall in a new mark of 4:09.81 on July 27. Lynette Lim's previous record of 4:11.24 was set in 2009. She told The Straits Times: 'I don't think it has sunk it that much yet. The race was quite exhausting, I gave it my absolute all, and I couldn't have asked for a better outcome. I wasn't expecting to break the 800m free national record, and didn't know until I was on the way back from the pool. 'After how close I came in Paris, that definitely gave me a lot of motivation going into this race to be in the top eight. This being my first WCH final, coming 36 hours after the heats, I don't want to set any expectations, I just want to do my best and work on the small details that were lacking from the heats.' Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Thailand, Cambodia agree to 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire' to de-escalate border row Singapore Tanjong Katong sinkhole backfilled; road to be repaved after PUB tests Singapore Ong Beng Seng set to plead guilty on Aug 4 in case linked to ex-transport minister Iswaran Asia Gunman kills 5 security guards near Bangkok's Chatuchak market before taking own life Singapore COE quota up 2.6% to 18,701 for August to October Business Resilient economy versus uncertain outlook splits views on Singapore's monetary policy Singapore HPB looking for vaping, smoking counselling services for up to 175 secondary school students Singapore Jail for former pre-school teacher who tripped toddler repeatedly, causing child to bleed from nose Gan's performance in the 1,500m heats was all the more impressive as her timing was the quickest among the Asian swimmers, which included Asian Games champion Li Bingjie (16:02.31) and Japan's open water swimming champion Ichika Kajimoto (16:09.65), who won the 3km knockout sprint on July 19. In placing fourth overall in the heats, she was also ahead of Russia's Olympic silver medallist Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (16:06.97), and bronze medallist Isabel Gose (16:08.41) of Germany, who was in Gan's heat and did not make the final. Gan said: 'Knowing that there were so many big names in my heat inspired me – if they can do what they have done, then what's holding me back from improving my times as well and get closer to them than I used to be, which was like a full minute behind? 'But during the race, I didn't think about who I was racing against. If I see someone, I was just going to give chase and hope for the best. I don't think the heats really mean that much more than making the final, because many of them have faster times and more experience doing heats and finals, while this is my first and I'm still learning as I'm going.' National swimming head coach and performance director Gary Tan credited Gan's family, her Singapore Swimming Club coach Eugene Chia and Singapore Aquatics technical consultant Sonya Porter for the swimmer's upward trajectory. She has shaved more than half a minute off her 1,500m time since 2022. He said: 'Her latest times are quite timely ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, which will be a good marker to see what is to come from her future.' Chia shared that they have always had an Asian Games medal, the Olympics and WCH finals in their sights. He said: 'She has been swimming well, and went a bit faster than expected today, but this is not beyond her with hard work and the home crowd energy. 'In terms of potential, based on today's swim, she has thrown her name into the hat of Asian Games medal contenders. She is a very good racer, tactically she carries out our race plan on point, and she has shown she can be up there with the finest.' Other Singaporeans who featured in the heats in July 28 were Letitia Sim (23rd in the 100m breaststroke), Quah Zheng Wen (29th in the 100m backstroke), Levenia Sim (34th in the 100m backstroke) and Jonathan Tan (40th in the 200m freestyle).
