Team USA Tops Medals, Breaks Record in Singapore/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Team USA closed the 2025 World Swimming Championships with a stunning women’s medley relay world record. Despite health setbacks, the U.S. topped the medal table with nine golds. Canadian star Summer McIntosh and France’s Leon Marchand also stood out.
USA Swim Worlds Quick Looks
- U.S. women’s 4×100 medley team sets new world record
- Americans finish with nine golds, 29 total medals
- Canada’s Summer McIntosh claims four individual golds
- France’s Leon Marchand wins two individual golds
- Team USA overcame illness from Thailand training camp
- Bobby Finke defends teammates amid criticism from U.S. swim legends
- 12-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi impresses with near-podium finishes
- Final day saw golds for seven different nations
- Neutral Athletes win men’s medley relay and 50 backstroke
- McIntosh narrowly misses world record in 400 IM
Deep Look: USA Shines Late at 2025 Swim Worlds With Record Relay and Medal Table Victory
SINGAPORE (AP) — After a turbulent week battling illness and inconsistent performances, the United States swim team ended the 2025 World Swimming Championships in spectacular fashion. On Sunday, the U.S. women’s 4×100-meter medley relay team shattered their own world record in the final event of the eight-day meet, clinching both a morale-boosting victory and the top spot on the medal table.
The American quartet—Regan Smith, Kate Douglass, Gretchen Walsh, and Torri Huske—clocked a time of 3 minutes, 49.34 seconds, beating their previous world record of 3:49.63 set during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“This is the best way to end the meet,” said Gretchen Walsh. “We’ve got a stacked team, and to close it out like this is amazing. We’re leaving Singapore with a smile.”
The U.S. team totaled nine gold medals and 29 overall, outperforming Australia, which earned eight golds and 20 total medals. Canada and France tied in gold medal count with four each. Leading Canada’s campaign was 18-year-old Summer McIntosh, who secured four individual golds—just one shy of her ambitious five-gold target.
Illness Almost Derailed the Americans
The U.S. team was hampered early in the meet by a bout of acute gastroenteritis, reportedly contracted during their training camp in Thailand. The illness led to subpar performances through the first six days of competition, when the Americans had won only five golds. However, a strong final two days turned the tide, with four golds secured as team health rebounded.
Finke Stands Up for Team USA
American distance swimmer Bobby Finke, bronze medalist in the 1,500 meters, had strong words for critics back home, including Olympic legends Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, who voiced dissatisfaction on social media.
“I’m proud of the USA team and what we’ve been able to accomplish despite all the noise,” Finke said. “If someone’s mad, my DMs are open. But this is a big step toward LA 2028.”
Star Swimmers Emerge
Two swimmers stood out as headline-makers across the week:
- Leon Marchand of France left Singapore with two individual gold medals, adding a win in the 400 IM (4:04.73) to his earlier 200 IM triumph, where he set a new world record (1:52.69), smashing Ryan Lochte’s 14-year-old record.
- Summer McIntosh captured four golds—400 IM (4:25.78), 200 IM, 400 freestyle, and 200 butterfly—and a bronze in the 800 freestyle. She narrowly missed breaking her own 400 IM world record (4:23.65).
McIntosh became only the second woman ever to win four individual golds at a single world championships.
Emerging Talent: Yu Zidi Impresses
In a storyline that captured hearts, 12-year-old Yu Zidi of China nearly reached the podium in three individual events, placing fourth in each. She did, however, earn a bronze for her relay contribution in the preliminaries. She competed in the 200 fly and both IM events, showcasing astonishing potential at such a young age.
Final Day Highlights
The final day saw eight finals and seven nations claiming gold. Notable results included:
- Kliment Kolesnikov (Neutral Athletes) won the men’s 50 backstroke in 23.68, narrowly missing his own world record (23.55).
- Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania took gold in the 50 breaststroke (29.55), ahead of China’s Tang Qianting and Italy’s Benedetta Pilato.
- Meg Harris (Australia) claimed the women’s 50 freestyle (24.02), with China securing silver and bronze.
- Ahmed Jaouadi (Tunisia) added the 1,500 freestyle title to his earlier 800-meter gold.
- The men’s 4×100 medley relay was won by the Neutral Athletes (3:26.93), followed by France and the U.S.
Looking Ahead to LA 2028
While the U.S. was plagued by early setbacks, the team’s resilience and late surge speak volumes as they begin their march toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. With young stars like McIntosh, emerging global talents like Yu Zidi, and familiar powerhouses like Marchand, the international swimming scene is entering a new, dynamic chapter.
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