Competitor Summer McIntosh secures another gold at the World Aquatics Championships, narrowly missing out on breaking the 200m butterfly world record.
In the pulsating atmosphere of the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, Canadian swimming sensation Summer McIntosh made history once again. McIntosh clinched her third gold medal of the competition, winning the women's 200-meter butterfly event with a personal best and championship record time of 2:01.99.
The 16-year-old's performance was a mere 0.18 seconds shy of the world record set by Liu Zige of China in 2009. McIntosh expressed disappointment in not breaking the world record, stating that she made mistakes in the final stages of the race.
Despite the setback, McIntosh remains optimistic about her chances of breaking the record in the future. She plans to refine her technique and race elements to achieve this goal.
McIntosh has more races ahead in the competition, with the 800m freestyle and the 400m individual medley still to come. Her success in Singapore brings her Olympic and World Championships medal tally to 29, including 17 golds.
Elizabeth Dekkers from Australia completed the podium with a time of 2:06.12, while Regan Smith from the USA finished second with a time of 2:04.99.
Meanwhile, French star León Marchand won gold in the 200m individual medley, but failed to improve on the world record he had set in the semifinals a day earlier. On the other hand, 12-year-old Yu Zidi from China finished just outside the medals in the 200-meter butterfly event with a time of 2:06.43.
McIntosh's victory marks a significant milestone in her career, signalling her status as a strong contender for breaking the world record in the near future. With her sights set on equalling Michael Phelps' record of winning five gold medals at a single World Championships, McIntosh is poised to continue pushing forward after this competition.
Sports enthusiasts across the globe are Hailing Summer McIntosh, a swimming phenomenon, after her inspiring performance at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. Although her time fell just 0.18 seconds short of breaking Liu Zige's world record in the Women's 200-meter butterfly event, McIntosh's ongoing dedication to perfecting her technique holds promise for future records.
