Fairweather shrugs off 400 freestyle DQ to top 200 heats
Fairweather's 400 title defence was ruined by a false start in Sunday's heats but the 21-year-old had no trouble in the shorter distance, leaving Olympic champion Mollie O'Callaghan in her wake at the World Aquatics Championships Arena.
Fairweather, runner-up in the 200 at last year's championships in Doha, charged into the Singapore semis with a time of one minute and 56.54 seconds, 0.20 better than American Erin Gemmell and a half-second quicker than third-fastest O'Callaghan.
Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi, the 1,500 freestyle short course world champion, took top seed in the men's 800 in 7:41.58, ahead of Australian Sam Short, who took silver in the 400 on Sunday.
Ireland's Olympic gold medallist Daniel Wiffen sneaked into the final along with Paris 400 champion Lukas Maertens, who beat Short for the world 400.
Italy's Simone Cerasuolo was fastest into the men's 50 breaststroke semi-finals (26.42), while American Luca Urlando was quickest into the men's 200m butterfly semi-finals (1:52.71).
Five gold medals are up for grabs in the evening session, with American great and world record holder Katie Ledecky favourite to claim a sixth 1,500m freestyle crown and record-extending 22nd world title.
Olympic champion David Popovici will go for gold in the men's 200 freestyle, while Australia's backstroke queen Kaylee McKeown will battle American Regan Smith for the 100 title.
American Kate Douglass, the Olympic 200 breaststroke champion, will look to add the world 100 title to her collection.
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The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Swimming-Popovici builds a wall and his rivals pay for it
Swimming - World Aquatics Championships - Men 100m Freestyle Finals - World Aquatics Championships Arena, Singapore - July 31, 2025 Romania's David Popovici celebrates winning the final REUTERS/Hollie Adams (Reuters) -David Popovici said he builds mental walls around his lane to block out the competition and keep him focused on gold at the world championships after the Romanian added the 100 metres freestyle title to his 200 crown in Singapore on Thursday. Popovici, who also won the 100 and 200 titles in Budapest in 2022, touched the wall in 46.51 seconds at the World Aquatics Championships Arena ahead of American Jack Alexy and Australian Kyle Chalmers. "I think the one who wins is the one who can detach themselves from their competitors," the 20-year-old said. "So I managed to build walls between each of my lanes and imagined I was swimming alone. "Don't look at the others. Try not to think of what Kyle is doing. Try and not look to the left for what Jack is doing. "I managed to focus on what I had to do. And I delivered." Popovici said it was surreal to be competing beside Chalmers after watching the Australian on television at the Rio Olympics in 2016 when he won gold in the 100. "I was telling Kyle just before in the call room how crazy I think it is that when I was a 12-year-old, I was looking to him at the Olympics," he told Australian broadcaster Nine Network in Singapore. "I was 12, he was 18, winning gold at the Olympics. And so now being able to race with him for the same medals, it's just bonkers. And I'm really happy of how far I've come and we've come." Chalmers, whose bronze was his 14th medal at the worlds, said he was gutted not to break the 47-second mark after finishing in 47.17 seconds. "It's incredible how much this event has improved over the years, you knew it was going to be really tight and really fast," the 27-year-old said. "I've been training hard for that moment, I desperately wanted to get a 46 out tonight but wasn't quite there. To get on the podium is so special and I'm just really excited to go home now and become a dad. That's my biggest priority this year." (Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Popovici eyes beach holiday after world swim sprint double win
DAVID Popovici is ready for a well-earned beach holiday after completing a sprint double at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. The 20-year-old Romanian secured gold in the 100m freestyle with a championship-record time of 46.51 seconds, adding to his 200m freestyle victory earlier in the week. Popovici outpaced American Jack Alexy (46.92) and Australia's Kyle Chalmers (47.17) in a highly anticipated showdown. Despite his dominance, he admitted struggling with self-doubt before the competition. 'I've been thinking about the Olympics every day since I was 10, no exaggeration,' he said. 'But once I did that, I came to the realisation that nothing changes, my life doesn't change.' Now, the double world champion and Olympic gold medallist is looking forward to relaxation. 'Have a great big holiday on the beach, lying on my back, drinking whatever I want to drink,' Popovici said. 'Just enjoying life a little. And driving my fast car on some really nice, picturesque roads.' The final lacked world record holder Pan Zhanle, who failed to qualify after finishing 10th in the semifinals. The Chinese swimmer admitted he 'wasn't in good shape' following an early exit in the 200m freestyle. - AFP
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Leon Marchand wins 200m medley gold after breaking world record
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