McIntosh and Marchand Claim 400m IM Golds at 2025 World Aquatics Championships
Olympic champions Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand dominated the 400m individual medley events at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore.
Teenager McIntosh secured her fourth gold of the week with a championship record time of 4:25.78, finishing more than seven seconds ahead of silver medallist Jenna Forrester. The 18-year-old Canadian had earlier claimed gold in the 400m freestyle, 200m butterfly, and 200m medley, alongside a bronze in the 800m freestyle. McIntosh holds world records in the 200m and 400m medley, as well as the 400m freestyle, and won three golds and a silver at her Olympic debut last summer.
In the men’s event, France’s Marchand overcame a sluggish performance in the heats to claim gold in 4:04.73, almost four seconds ahead of Japan’s Tomoyuki Matsushita. The 23-year-old Paris 2024 champion had set a world record in the 200m individual medley earlier in the week but narrowly missed his 400m world record from 2023. Marchand also helped France win silver in the men’s 4x100m medley relay, with Great Britain finishing sixth.
The week also saw Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi win gold in the men’s 1500m freestyle, Olympic silver medallist Meg Harris claim the women’s 50m freestyle, and Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte retain her 50m breaststroke title. Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov won gold in the men’s 50m backstroke, while Australia’s Cassiel Rousseau triumphed in the men’s 10m platform diving event.
Great Britain endured a challenging week, taking just five medals, including only one gold in the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay. Performance Director Chris Spice acknowledged illness and a young team contributed to the results but emphasized the importance of focusing on development ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
GB Medal Winners:
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Gold: Matt Richards, James Guy, Jack McMillan, Duncan Scott – Men’s 4x200m freestyle relay
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Silver: Ben Proud – Men’s 50m freestyle
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Silver: Yasmin Harper & Scarlett Mew Jensen – Women’s 3m synchronized diving
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Bronze: Jack Laugher & Anthony Harding – Men’s 3m synchronized diving
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Bronze: Ranjuo Tomblin & Isabelle Thorpe – Mixed duet free artistic swimming
