The American women’s squad concluded the 2025 World Aquatics Championships with a flourish, establishing a new global standard in the 400 medley relay during the concluding event.
Regan Smith, Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske achieved a world-record time of 3:49.34 to conclude the competition. This triumph provided the United States with their ninth gold medal, narrowly surpassing Australia’s eight for the highest count in Singapore. The U.S. also accumulated 11 silver medals and nine bronze, totaling 29 medals, significantly exceeding Australia’s 20.
Early in the competition, the United States team encountered difficulties when several of its swimmers contracted a stomach ailment, leading to performances below expectations or withdrawals from events. U.S. icons Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte voiced concerns over the Americans’ performance — prior to the Americans securing three gold medals on Saturday and then another on Sunday with the women’s world-record relay.
Canadian sensation Summer McIntosh arguably delivered the most impressive world championships performance by a female swimmer, securing her fourth gold medal in Singapore after winning the women’s 400m individual medley in 4:25.78.
McIntosh’s time marked the fourth-fastest in history. Twelve-year-old Yu Zidi from China secured fourth place.
McIntosh arrived in Singapore aiming to emulate Phelps as the only swimmers to secure five golds in an individual world championships. Her attempt concluded when Katie Ledecky triumphed over her in the women’s 800m freestyle on Saturday.
McIntosh, who finished third in the 800 free, also emerged victorious in the women’s 400m freestyle, 200m IM, and 200m butterfly.
French luminary Leon Marchand clinched gold in the men’s 400m individual medley, clocking 4:04.73, well ahead of second-place Tomoyuki Matsushita of Japan (4:08.32), though short of Marchand’s own WR.
Marchand had previously established a WR in the 200 IM in Singapore, becoming the first individual to sweep both the 200 IM and 400 IM in three world championships.
American Lilly King, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, concluded her competitive career with a fifth-place finish in the women’s 50m breaststroke.
American Bobby Finke earned bronze in the men’s 1500m freestyle on Sunday. The U.S. secured third place in the men’s 4×100 medley relay.
