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Magic Marchand adds gold to world record as McIntosh wins again

aquatics31 July 2025 13:18| © AFP
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Swimming superstar Leon Marchand won 200m individual medley world gold on Thursday to go with his record as untouchable Summer McIntosh clinched a third title in Singapore.

The 23-year-old Frenchman Marchand embellished his status as the biggest thing in men's swimming on Wednesday by obliterating Ryan Lochte's world record that had stood since 2011.

Marchand's new mark of 1min 52.69sec in the world championships semifinals wiped more than a second off Lochte's 1min 54.00 and meant he added the 200m medley world record to his record in the 400m.

Twenty-four hours after the fastest swim of his life, Marchand climbed back in the pool and defied tiredness to take the world crown in 1:53.68, the second-quickest time ever.

Marchand was made to work hard for the win, with American Shaine Casas pushing him hard before finishing second in 1:54.30, with Hungary's Hubert Kos third in 1:55.34.

It gave Marchand, who won four individual golds in front of his home fans at the Paris Olympics a year ago, his first gold in Singapore.

"I felt so excited yesterday that I couldn't sleep," he said after sealing gold.

"So I think I lost a lot of energy yesterday night, but it was my goal to break the record, so I was really happy with it."

Marchand will also race in the 400m medley in Singapore this week.

Michael Phelps's record of five individual titles in a single world championships is under severe threat from Canadian phenomenon McIntosh.

The 18-year-old powered to her third gold out of three events with victory in the 200m butterfly, falling agonisingly short of the world record.

McIntosh touched the wall in 2:01.99, just failing to beat the world mark of 2:01.81 set by China's Liu Zige in 2009.

It was the second-fastest time in history.

"Overall, happy with the time and a PB (personal best), but I didn't reach my goal tonight," McIntosh said of missing the world record.

American Regan Smith was second in 2:04.99, with Australia's Elizabeth Dekkers third in 2:06.12.

Chinese 12-year-old Yu Zidi was narrowly fourth in 2:06.43.

It is the second time at the championships that the schoolgirl has just lost out on a medal.

McIntosh, the 200m butterfly Olympic champion, has already won the 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley in Singapore.

She will continue her assault on the world championships in the 800m freestyle, squaring off against American legend Katie Ledecky.

POPOVICI SPRINT DOUBLE

Romania's David Popovici completed the sprint double after winning the 100m freestyle final, having also triumphed in the 200m free.

Popovici won the blue-riband race in a championship-record 46.51sec, with Jack Alexy of the United States taking silver (46.92) and Australia's Kyle Chalmers bronze (47.17).

Popovici's time was the second-fastest ever and he had just too much finishing power for a field missing Olympic champion and world record holder Pan Zhanle of China.

There was a United States one-two in the women's 50m backstroke, with Katharine Berkoff (27.08sec) edging team-mate Regan Smith (27.25) for victory.

Mollie O'Callaghan brought Australia home ahead of arch rivals the United States to win a thrilling women's 4x200m freestyle relay final.

O'Callaghan, a five-time Olympic gold medallist, was barely able to stand afterwards.

China claimed bronze to delight the large number of Chinese fans in the arena and round off the fifth day of action.

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