Two days. Two gold medals.
Summer McINTOSH starts a perfect start at the swimming world championships in her attempt to win five individual gold medals, an achievement that is only achieved by the American legend Michael Phelps.
The 18-year-old Canadian took the 200-meter individual medley on Monday and clocked 2: 06.69. The victory corresponded to the gold she won on Sunday in the 400 Freestyle. Alex Walsh of the United States claimed the silver in 2: 08.58 with bronze to Mary-Sophie Harvey of Canada in 2: 09.15.
The winning time left McINTOSH’s world record of 2: 05.70. And she was not satisfied.
“Tonight inside, my goal was to get my hand on the wall first,” said McINTOSH. “So to get that done is good. I am not very happy with my time. But to be honest, at a world championships, my goal is just to go as soon as possible as I can against my competitors. Still happy with the gold and hope to keep track of my streak next time.”
Yu Zidi, a Chinese 12-year-old, was fourth in 2: 09.21, just missed a medal while she surprised the swimming world with her time. She also has to compete in the 400 IM and 200 butterfly, probably her strongest events.
McINTOSH will chase three more golden in the 400 IM, 800 free and the 200 butterfly in the next six days in Singapore.
Gretchen Walsh broke through on Monday with the first gold in Singapore for the United States and took the 100 butterfly in 54.73.
The silver medal winner a year ago in Paris, Walsh was just outside her world record time of 54.60 that was set earlier this year. Roos Vanotterdijk van Belgium took silver in 55.84 and Alexandria Perkins of Australia claimed bronze in 56.33.
Walsh acknowledged in an interview after the race at the poolside that the American team had been hit with an attack by what team officials called ‘acute gastroenteritis’.
It was picked up in a training camp in Thailand prior to arrival in Singapore. American officials have confirmed the outbreak, but have given few details and have not mentioned a swimmer, nor say how many have been affected.
“With the disease that is going on – I have confronted it in recent days – my body has just been vulnerable and I think I should give myself grace,” said Walsh. “Fortunately I had the morning to recover and rest, and I used that, and that helped me to go enormously tonight, so I tried to make the best of it.
“It was not easy, and I am just very proud of myself,” Walsh added, excited to be less than 55 seconds. “It took a lot of guts. I just wanted to go outside and do it for my team, just represent the flag well. It came out somewhere, but I am really, very happy.”
Walsh’s older sister Alex was almost even with McINTOSH after 150 meters, swam with a strong breaststroke to make it a race.
“I was really enthusiastic about the breaststroke,” she said. “I could see her and I knew that I gain a little bit because breaststroke is my best stroke. I was really enthusiastic and clearly came home on the freestyle, that’s certainly where my greatest weakness is ().”
Two other finals have completed Monday’s schedule.
Qin Haiyang, the world champion in 2023, defeated Paris Olympic winner Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy in the 100 breaststroke. Qin clocked 58.23 to give China his first gold in Singapore with the Italian swimmer who ended in 58.58. Denis Petrashov of Kyrgyzstan took bronze in 58.88.
“I was injured and it was not easy to return to my best,” said Haiyang. “I am at best at 70%. I am probably lucky. This certainly helps with my self -confidence.”
In the 50 Butterfly of the gentlemen, Maxime Grousset of France could not be Ponti from Switzerland. Grousset clocked 22.48 with Ponti finish in 22.51. Thomas Ceccon from Italy took bronze in 22.67.
In the four semi -final, Paris Olympics led bronze medal winner Luke Hobson of the United States 200 free qualification (1: 44.80), with Parisian David Popovici of Romania in fourth place (1: 45.02).
Hubert Kós van Hungary led a very fast gentlemen 100 backstroke in 52.21. The American Regan Smith led the ladies 100 backstroke (58.21) for two -time Australian Olympic champion Kaylee Mckeown (58.44).
Kate Douglass from the United States swam a personal record in the 100 breaststroke (1: 05.49) and will be the best seed in Tuesday’s final.
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