Discussion transpires around the pool following Phelps and Lochte's criticism of their world championship performances
The US swimming team put on a stellar performance at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, which concluded on August 3. Despite an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that affected a large number of team members at a pre-championships camp in Thailand, the team topped the medal table with a total of 29 medals: nine gold, eleven silver, and nine bronze.
The team's success was evident from the start, with the US team topping the heats in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, edging out France with a time of 3:21.48. Standout athletes such as Katie Ledecky, Regan Smith, and Bobby Finke delivered strong performances throughout the championships.
Ledecky, a six-time Olympic gold medallist, cruised into the semi-finals of the 50m breaststroke, while Finke qualified for the 1,500m freestyle final, finishing fifth-fastest in 14min 45.70sec. The US women’s 4x100m medley relay team set a new world record in their event.
Two of the team's rising stars, Torri Huske and Gretchen Walsh, also made their mark. Despite falling ill, both swimmers qualified for the 50m freestyle semi-finals, finishing 13th- and 14th-fastest respectively. Huske, who took bronze in the 100m free on Friday, clocked 24.72 in the 50m semi-finals. Walsh, who won 100m butterfly gold despite feeling "fragile", reported feeling "pretty good" and "almost 100 percent better" after illness.
Meanwhile, Ryan Lochte, a six-time Olympic gold medallist, shared an image on Instagram depicting a funeral for United States Swimming. Michael Phelps, who has won 23 gold and 28 Olympic medals, questioned whether this was the wake-up call the team needed. However, no official updates were provided regarding these posts.
The competition in Singapore is set to conclude on Sunday. As of the current competition, the United States leads the medals table with five golds and 20 medals overall. The team is seen as a strong contender for the home 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
[1] [2] [3] [4] (Sources for further reading)
- The United States Swimming team showcased their dominance in sports by topping the heats in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay and setting a new world record in the women’s 4x100m medley relay at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
- Torri Huske, one of the team's rising stars, delivered strong performances throughout the championships, qualifying for the 50m freestyle semi-finals and securing a bronze medal in the 100m free, despite falling ill during the competition.
