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≡ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ≡
Day two of the swimming at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore brought world-record holder Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. to the blocks for her first final, and she did not disappoint.
Recovering from the food poisoning issues at the U.S. training camp in Thailand, she dominated the women’s 100 m Butterfly final, leading by more than a half-second at the turn and storming home in 54.73, the no. 2 performance in history, second only to her world mark of 54.60 from May of this year. It’s her first individual Worlds gold.
Belgium’s Roos Vanotterdijk was a clear second at 55.84, moving her to no. 8 all-time. Alex Perkins (AUS) took the bronze in 56.33.
Canadian star Summer McIntosh was back for her second final – and second gold – in the women’s 200 m Medley, leading from the start over Alex Walsh of the U.S. (Gretchen’s older sister). McIntosh led throughout and touched in 2:06.89, the equal-10th performance in history.
Walsh, the 2022 World Champion, won her third Worlds medal in this event in second in 2:08.58, and Canadian Mary-Sophie Harvey took the bronze in 2:09.15, with 12-year-old Zidi Yu (CHN) a very close fourth in 2:09:21.
Oh yes, there were two men’s finals on Monday:
● Men/100 m Breaststroke: China’s Haiyang Qin, the 2023 World Champion, got out second to Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi (ITA) at the turn, but had plenty left to surge ahead and win, 58.23 to 58.58. Qin’s time is the fastest of 2025, 1/100th better than his semifinal winner; it’s his second Worlds gold in this event.
Denis Petrashov (KGZ) got a national record of 58.88 for third, his first Worlds medal. American Josh Matheny finished seventh in 59.26.
● Men/50 m Butterfly: France’s Maxime Grousset, the 2023 World Champion in the 100 Fly, flew to a national record of 22.48 to touch first over 2024 Worlds short-course winner Noe Ponti (SUI: 22.51). Those are the two fastest times in the world for 2025 and Grousset and Ponti are nos. 4-5 all-time in the event.
Italy’s Thomas Ceccon, the 2023 World Champion in this event, got the bronze at 22.67.
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In the morning qualifying heats, U.S. star Katie Ledecky easily led the women’s 1,500 m heats in 15:36.68, more than 10 seconds faster than anyone else, and the no. 17 performance in history (she has the top 24).
In the evening semi-finals, American Luke Hobson led all qualifiers for the men’s 200 m Freestyle, clocking 1:44.80, ahead of Korea’s Sun-woo Hwang (1:44.84). World leader (and Olympic champ) David Popovici (HUN) qualified fourth in 1:45.02, winning semi two. American Gabriel Jett also qualified, in eighth at 1:45.60.
Hungary’s Hubert Kos, the Paris 2024 200 m Backstroke winner, led the qualifying in the men’s 100 m Back in 52.21, his best of the year.
American star Kate Douglass posted the no. 2 time of the year in leading the women’s 100 m Breast semifinals in 1:05.49, a lifetime best. She’s now no. 21 all-time and no. 9 all-time U.S. Italy’s Anita Bottazzo qualified second in 1:05.61; world-record holder Lilly King of the U.S. was ninth in 1:06.26 and did not make the final.
Fellow American Regan Smith, the Olympic silver medalist, led the women’s 100 m Back semi-finals at 58.21, ahead of Olympic champ Kaylee McKeown (AUS: 58.44) and Canada’s Kylie Masse (58.66). Katharine Berkoff of the U.S. was the no. 4 qualifier at 58.79, winning semi one.
Tuesday’s finals include the men’s 200 Free and 100 Back and the women’s 1,500 m Free, 100 Back and 100 Breast. The meet continues through Sunday.
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