Summer McIntosh continued her dominant run at the swimming world championships in Singapore, winning the 200-metre individual medley on Monday for her second gold in as many days. The 18-year-old Canadian clocked 2:06.69, adding to the 400 freestyle title she won on Sunday. She is aiming to win five individual gold medals, a feat only achieved by American legend Michael Phelps.
Alex Walsh of the United States took silver in 2:08.58, while Canada's Mary-Sophie Harvey claimed bronze in 2:09.15. McIntosh's time was off her world record of 2:05.70, and she expressed mixed feelings. 'Going in tonight, my goal was to get my hand on the wall first,' she said. 'I'm not super happy with my time. But honestly, at a world championships, my goal is just to go as fast as I can against my competitors.'
Chinese 12-year-old Yu Zidi finished fourth in 2:09.21, continuing to impress. She will compete in the 400 IM and 200 butterfly, likely her strongest events. McIntosh will chase three more golds in the 400 IM, 800 freestyle and 200 butterfly over the next six days.
Gretchen Walsh won the first gold for the United States, taking the 100 butterfly in 54.73. The silver medalist from Paris was just off her world record of 54.60. She revealed that the US team had been affected by acute gastroenteritis, picked up at a training camp in Thailand. 'With the illness that's been going on – I faced it back the last couple days – my body has just been fragile,' she said. 'It was not easy, and I'm just really proud of myself.'
In other events, Qin Haiyang of China won the men's 100 breaststroke in 58.23, defeating Olympic champion Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy. Maxime Grousset of France took the men's 50 butterfly in 22.48. Semi-finals saw Luke Hobson of the US lead the 200 freestyle qualifying, while Hubert Kós of Hungary topped the men's 100 backstroke and Regan Smith led the women's 100 backstroke.
