After a rocky start to the World Swimming Championships in Singapore, the United States capped off the meet on a high note by breaking the world record in the women’s 4×100-meter medley relay. The team clocked 3 minutes, 49.34 seconds, shaving nearly three-tenths of a second off their previous record (3:49.63) set during the Paris Olympics.
The American quartet of Regan Smith, Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske delivered the standout performance, ending the eight-day meet with smiles and renewed momentum.
“This is the best way to end the meet,” said Walsh. “When you’ve got a team this strong, it’s such a great opportunity to close on a high note.”
Despite a turbulent week—partly caused by a bout of acute gastroenteritis that hit the team during a training camp in Thailand—the U.S. swimmers pulled through. After winning just five gold medals in the first six days, the Americans surged with four golds over the weekend, totaling nine golds and 29 overall medals. Australia followed with eight golds and 20 overall, while France and Canada each captured four golds.
Canada’s 18-year-old sensation Summer McIntosh stood out individually, securing four golds and becoming only the second woman in history to win four individual titles at a single world championship. Her only stumble came in the 800 freestyle, where she placed third behind American great Katie Ledecky.
Sunday’s final day of competition saw winners from seven different countries across eight events. France’s Leon Marchand left with two individual golds, capping a dominant showing that included a record-shattering 200 IM (1:52.69). In the 400 IM, he narrowly missed his own world record but still claimed gold with a time of 4:04.73.
McIntosh closed her campaign by winning the 400 IM in 4:25.78, just shy of her own world record. She also took gold in the 200 IM and 400 freestyle.
In another highlight, 12-year-old Yu Zidi of China astonished onlookers by finishing fourth in all three of her individual events—200 butterfly and both individual medleys—and earning a relay bronze for her contribution in prelims.
On the men’s side, Ahmed Jaouadi of Tunisia completed the distance double, adding the 1,500-meter title to his earlier 800 win. Kliment Kolesnikov of the Neutral Athletes won the 50 backstroke, and Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania took the 50 breaststroke.
Australia’s Meg Harris won the women’s 50 freestyle, while the men’s 4×100 medley relay was claimed by the Neutral Athletes (3:26.93), ahead of France and the United States.
American distance swimmer Bobby Finke, who won bronze in the 1,500 meters, responded to criticism from home, which included pointed remarks from former swimming icons.
“I’m proud of what this team has accomplished despite the negativity,” Finke said. “If people have something to say, my DMs are open. This was a step forward toward LA 2028.”
With the meet now behind them, Team USA heads home with mixed results, but plenty of promise for the future.
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