Canadian Summer McIntosh, 16, gets second gold medal at swimming worlds in Japan
Canadian Summer McIntosh, 16, gets second gold medal at swimming worlds in Japan
Summer McIntosh of Canada competes during the women’s 400m medley final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Medalists, from left to right, Katie Grimes of the U.S., silver, Summer McIntosh of Canada, gold, and Jenna Forrester of Australia, bronze celebrate during the medal ceremony for the women’s 400m medley at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Medalists, from left to right, Katie Grimes of the U.S., silver, Summer McIntosh of Canada, gold, and Jenna Forrester of Australia, bronze celebrate during the medal ceremony for the women’s 400m medley at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. celebrates with her team mates after winning the women’s 4x100m medley relay final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Abbey Harkin of Australia competes during the women’s 4x100m medley relay final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Gold medalist Team U.S., top, silver medalist Team China, seated left, and bronze medalist Team Australia celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men’s 4x100m medley relay at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Abbey Harkin of Australia, front, and Lily King of the U.S., rear, dive as they compete during the women’s 4x100m medley relay final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Shayna Jack of Australia shows her silver medal during the medal ceremony for women’s 50m freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Team United States celebrate after winning the men’s 4x100-meter medley relay at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Team United States celebrate after winning the men’s 4x100-meter medley relay at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Gold medalist Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui celebrates during the medal ceremony for men’s 1500 freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Bronze medalist Samuel Short of Australia celebrates during the medal ceremony for men’s 1500 freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Gold medalist Summer McIntosh of Canada waves at the camera during the medal ceremony for the women’s 400m medley at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Summer McIntosh of Canada reacts after winning the women’s 400m medley final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Summer McIntosh of Canada competes during the women’s 400m medley final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Summer McIntosh of Canada competes during the women’s 400m medley final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Medalists, from left to right, Katie Grimes of the U.S., silver, Summer McIntosh of Canada, gold, and Jenna Forrester of Australia, bronze celebrate during the medal ceremony for the women’s 400m medley at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Medalists, from left to right, Katie Grimes of the U.S., silver, Summer McIntosh of Canada, gold, and Jenna Forrester of Australia, bronze celebrate during the medal ceremony for the women’s 400m medley at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Medalists, from left to right, Katie Grimes of the U.S., silver, Summer McIntosh of Canada, gold, and Jenna Forrester of Australia, bronze celebrate during the medal ceremony for the women’s 400m medley at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Medalists, from left to right, Katie Grimes of the U.S., silver, Summer McIntosh of Canada, gold, and Jenna Forrester of Australia, bronze celebrate during the medal ceremony for the women’s 400m medley at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. celebrates with her team mates after winning the women’s 4x100m medley relay final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. celebrates with her team mates after winning the women’s 4x100m medley relay final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Abbey Harkin of Australia competes during the women’s 4x100m medley relay final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Abbey Harkin of Australia competes during the women’s 4x100m medley relay final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Gold medalist Team U.S., top, silver medalist Team China, seated left, and bronze medalist Team Australia celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men’s 4x100m medley relay at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Gold medalist Team U.S., top, silver medalist Team China, seated left, and bronze medalist Team Australia celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men’s 4x100m medley relay at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Abbey Harkin of Australia, front, and Lily King of the U.S., rear, dive as they compete during the women’s 4x100m medley relay final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Abbey Harkin of Australia, front, and Lily King of the U.S., rear, dive as they compete during the women’s 4x100m medley relay final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Shayna Jack of Australia shows her silver medal during the medal ceremony for women’s 50m freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Shayna Jack of Australia shows her silver medal during the medal ceremony for women’s 50m freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Team United States celebrate after winning the men’s 4x100-meter medley relay at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Team United States celebrate after winning the men’s 4x100-meter medley relay at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Team United States celebrate after winning the men’s 4x100-meter medley relay at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Team United States celebrate after winning the men’s 4x100-meter medley relay at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Gold medalist Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui celebrates during the medal ceremony for men’s 1500 freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Gold medalist Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui celebrates during the medal ceremony for men’s 1500 freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Bronze medalist Samuel Short of Australia celebrates during the medal ceremony for men’s 1500 freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Bronze medalist Samuel Short of Australia celebrates during the medal ceremony for men’s 1500 freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Gold medalist Summer McIntosh of Canada waves at the camera during the medal ceremony for the women’s 400m medley at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Gold medalist Summer McIntosh of Canada waves at the camera during the medal ceremony for the women’s 400m medley at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Summer McIntosh of Canada reacts after winning the women’s 400m medley final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Summer McIntosh of Canada reacts after winning the women’s 400m medley final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Sunday, July 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh should be a star at next year’s Paris Olympics, and she showed why Sunday on the closing day of the swimming world championships in Japan.
The 16-year-old McIntosh won her second gold of the event, taking the 400-meter individual medley after winning the 200 butterfly gold on Friday.
That made up for a slow start for the young Canadian, who finished fourth in the 400 free, where she held the world record until Australia’s Ariarne Titmus took it back. She also took bronze in the 200 free, at least getting a medal.
“Going into tonight I just wanted to see how hard I could push myself,” McIntosh said.
She did just that. Her time of 4 minutes, 27.11 seconds was the third fastest ever, not far off her world record of 4:25.87. She was also the defending world champion. American Katie Grimes took the silver in 4:31.41, with Jenna Forrester of Australia picking up the bronze in 4:32.30.
“It was definitely motivating,” McIntosh said of her first few days. “I try to turn everything that goes wrong into motivation somehow.”
Asked about Paris, she replied: “Right now I’m just thinking about a little break.”
McIntosh should be joined by other young stars in Paris like 21-year-old Frenchman Leon Marchand and Australia’s 22-year-old Kaylee McKeown. Marchand and McKeown each won three individual golds.
The Americans also closed fast.
After winning only four gold medals during the first seven days, they picked up three on the eighth and final day for a total of seven golds and 38 overall. The gold total is still their lowest in a worlds going back for around 20 years. They won only eight in the 2015 worlds.
Australia finished with 13 gold and 20 overall, and China had five gold and 16 overall.
“This is the cherry on top,” said American Regan Smith, part of the winning 4x100 women’s medley relay. “I love racing with these girls and I love relays so much and brining home a gold in the last event for Team USA means so much to me and all of us.”
The Americans finished in 3:52.08, followed by Australia (3:53.37) and Canada (3:54.12).
The United States also won the men’s 4x100 medley in 3:27.20, ahead of China (3:29.00) and Australia (3:29.62), and added another gold with Hunter Armstrong in the 50-meter backstroke (24.05).
Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden made history with her victory in the women’s 50-meter freestyle. The gold gave Sjostrom 21 medals in individual races in the world championships, surpassing Michael Phelps who had 20.
Sjostrom, who set the world record in the semifinals on Saturday, powered home in the final 25 meters for the win, clocking 23.62. Shayna Jack of Australia picked up the silver in 24.10, while Zhang Yufei of China earned the bronze in 24.15.
Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania set a world record on the way to winning gold in the women’s 50-meter breaststroke in 29.16. She equaled the old world mark of 29.30 the night before in the semifinals.
Meilutyte grabbed the early lead and was never challenged. American Lilly King claimed the silver in 29.94, while Benedetta Pilato of Italy picked up the bronze in 30.04. She shared the old record of 29.30 with Meilutyte.
Ahmed Hafnaoui of Tunisia added the men’s 1,500-meter free gold to the 800 free he won earlier in the worlds, prevailing in an epic battle with American Bobby Finke that went down to the wire.
The 20-year-old Hafnaoui, the defending 400 free Olympic champion, captured the gold in 14:31.54, with Finke clocking 14:31.59 for silver. Sam Short of Australia rounded out the podium with the bronze in 14:37.28.
The mark was just off the world record by Sun Yang of China, 14:31.02, set in 2012. Sun has been suspended for a doping violation.
“Bobby (Finke) is so fast at the end of the race. he pushed us to do the 14.31,” Hafnaoui said. “It was so close to the world record. I mean I enjoyed the race and thanks Bobby for pushing me.”
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