World Aquatics Championships: Summer McIntosh Secures Fourth Gold Medal Triumph
In Singapore, 15-year-old Summer McIntosh made history at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships by winning four gold medals. This impressive feat places her among the elite group of swimmers who have achieved such a feat at a single world championship.
McIntosh's individual victories came in the 400m individual medley (with a championship record time of 4:25.78), 400m freestyle, 200m individual medley, and 200m butterfly events. She also earned a bronze in the 800m freestyle, totaling five medals at the championships[1][2][3][4].
Léon Marchand of France, on the other hand, completed a medley double by winning the men's 400m individual medley with a time of 4:04.73, while Tomoyuki Matsushita of Japan finished second[1]. Ilia Borodin of Russia finished third, just behind Matsushita[1]. A notable moment in the women's 400m individual medley saw Jenna Forrester and Mio Narita of Australia and Japan tie for the silver medal, finishing more than seven seconds behind McIntosh[1].
China's 12-year-old Yu Zidi finished fourth in the 400-meter individual medley, just half a second outside the medals[1].
McIntosh's performance at the World Aquatics Championships extended her total medal count to 13, including eight golds. This extends a "curse of three" by winning four gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships[2].
Speaking to CBC News about her performance, McIntosh expressed her happiness and hope to push for a total of five gold medals in future competitions. However, she fell short of matching Michael Phelps' record of five gold medals at a single World Championships with her bronze medal in the 800-meter freestyle[2].
Interestingly, Katie Ledecky is the only other woman to win as many golds at a single World Championships, besides McIntosh[2].
Sarah Sjöström of Sweden is the only woman to match McIntosh's tally of five medals at a single World Championships. Léon Marchand of France also won his second gold medal of the championships in the men's 400m individual medley[1].
[1] - [Source for bullet points 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13] [2] - [Source for bullet points 3, 4, 14, 15, and 16]
Summer McIntosh, after her historic four gold medal win at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships, aspires to compete in more sports and potentially push her total gold medal count to five. Swimming's elite group now includes athletes who have achieved such a feat at a single world championship, and McIntosh's performance sets the stage for her to explore and excel in other sports as well.
