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≡ WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPS ≡
The big stars were out at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, with Leon Marchand and Summer McIntosh both winning again, as well as a U.S. 1-2 in the 50 m Backstroke. But the featured event had to be the men’s sprint showdown in the 100 Free.
● Men/100 m Freestyle: Romania ‘s David Popovici won the Worlds gold in 2022 and looked to be the new sprint star, but was upended by China’s Zhanle Pan, who set the world record and won Olympic gold in 2024. This time, Pan didn’t qualify and American Jack Alexy was coming on, setting an American Record of 46.81 in the semis.
In the final, Alexy was only third at the turn, followed by Popovici and Rio 2016 gold winner Kyle Chalmers (AUS). But all three surged on the way home, with Popovici rolling fastest to touch in a sensational 46.51, the no. 2 performance of all time! Alexy was game, and managed a 46.92, the equal-ninth performance ever, ahead of Chalmers, third in 47.17.
Fellow American Patrick Sammon was sixth in 47.58. Popovici has now duplicated his 100-200 m Free wins from 2022, for four career Worlds golds. Alexy duplicated his 2023 Worlds silver.
● Men/200 m Medley: All eyes were on France’s Marchand, who smashed the world record in semis. Again? No.
Marchand led from start to finish and won easily in 1:53.68, the no. 2 performance in history and again faster than American Ryan Lochte’s 1:54.00 record that had stood from 2011 until Marchand in the semifinal.
Behind him was training partner, American Shaine Casas, a clear second in 1:54.30, the no. 9 performance ever and the no. 4 performer in history. It’s Casas’ second individual Worlds medal, adding to the 2022 bronze for the 200 m Back. Hungary’s Hubert Kos, the Paris 2024 200 m Back winner, finished third in 1:55.34.
● Women/50 m Backstroke: The U.S. was 1-3 in qualifying and 2022 Worlds silver winner Katharine Berkoff sprinted away to win in 27.08, just behind her world-leading time of 26.97 from the U.S. Trials. It’s her first Worlds individual gold.
Teammate Regan Smith was a clear second in 27.25, repeating her 2023 World silver in this event and her second silver of the night (previously in the 200 m Fly; see below). China’s Letian Wan finished third in 27.30.
● Women/200 m Butterfly: Canada’s McIntosh was the expected winner and she dominated, with the no. 2 performance in history at 2:01.99 leading right from the start. She now has three of the top five performances ever, and has three wins in Singapore, with the 800 m Free and 400 m Medley still to come.
The U.S.’s Smith was a clear second in 2:04.99, moving up from bronze in this event in 2023. Australia’s Elizabeth Dekkers took third (2:06.12) and Caroline Bricker of the U.S. was sixth in 2:07.59.
● Women/4×200 m Freestyle: The U.S. led the qualifying, but in the final, Olympic 200 m Free champ Mollie O’Callaghan held off Katie Ledecky and gave Australia a 7:39.35 to 7:40.01 victory.
It’s the no. 4 performance ever for the Aussies, and no. 5 for the U.S. squad of Claire Weinstein, Anna Peplowski, Erin Gemmell and Ledecky, which did claim the American Record, replacing the 7:40.73 gold-medal swim at the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.
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In the qualifying, two more American scratched from the morning heats, including star Gretchen Walsh in the women 100 m Free, and Josh Matheny in the men’s 200 m Breast. A statement from USA Swimming before the session explained:
“You may notice some changes in the lineup this morning. Notably, Gretchen is not racing the 100 free. We’ve adjusted our entries today as part of broader race management plans for the team. We will not be commenting on individual athlete health.”
In the men’s 200 m Backstroke semifinals, 100 m Breast winner Pieter Coetze (RSA) scored a world-leading win in semi one at 1:54.22, while France’s Yohann Ndoye-Brouard took semi two in 1:54.47. American Keaton Jones was 12th in 1:56.20 and did not advance.
Former world-record holder Ippei Watanabe (JPN) men’s 200 m Breaststroke led all qualifiers, winning semi one in 2:08.01. American AJ Pouch won semi two in 2:08.34 and was the no. 2 qualifier.
Defending champion Marrit Steenbergen (NED) posted the top semifinal time in the women’s 100 m Free at 52.81 in semi one, with two-time women’s 100 m Free champion O’Callaghan winning semi two in 52.82. World leader Torri Huske of the U.S. qualified fourth in 53.21, on the mend from illness.
World-record holder Evgeniia Chikunova (RUS “neutral”) led the qualifying in the women’s 200 m Breaststroke in 2:20.65 from semi two, just faster than the 2:20.96 from American Kate Douglass – the Paris Olympic champion – in semi one. Fellow American Alex Walsh was 12th overall in 2:25.16 and did not advance.
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Despite all the trouble with illness, the U.S. continues in front with 18 medals (4-10-4) with Australia, which has also had issues, second with 11 (5-1-5), then China (1-3-4) with eight.
Friday’s finals include the men’s 200 m Backstroke, 200 m Breaststroke and the 4×200 m Freestyle, and the women’s 100 m Freestyle and 200 m Breaststroke.
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