US finishes on top, despite early struggles

SINGAPORE — The United States, which had a frustrating world championships, ended on a high note Sunday with a world record in the women's 4x100m medley relay in the final event of the eight-day tournament.

The US team swam a time of 3 min, 49.34 sec, breaking its own previous mark of 3:49.63 set a year ago at the Paris Olympics.

The US finished with nine gold medals and 29 overall, ahead of Australia with eight gold and 20 overall.

France and Canada were next in the gold-medal count with four golds, all of which for the latter were won by 18-year-old star Summer McIntosh.

The Americans struggled early on, battling a case of "acute gastroenteritis" supposedly picked up at a training camp in Thailand. The malady clearly affected the team's up-and-down performances in Singapore.

"This is the best way to end the meet," Gretchen Walsh said. "And I feel like we had such a good opportunity having this stacked group of women closing it out on a relay like this.

"We're going to leave Singapore with a smile on our faces," she added.

Regan Smith, Kate Douglass and Walsh swam the first three legs with Torri Huske taking the anchor.

The Americans had only five gold medals through six days, but won four in the last two, as team health clearly improved.

Finke defends his team

Bobby Finke, the 1,500m freestyle champion for the US at the Paris Olympics, took a bronze in the same event on Sunday. But, he also had a message for critics back home.

They included former American swimmers Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte who were scathing on social media.

Three-time Olympic gold-medalist Rowdy Gaines was also vocal about the team's performance, calling for changes at USA Swimming. The governing body has been without a CEO for a year.

"I'm proud of the USA team and what we've been able to accomplish, despite all the people back at home saying whatever they want to say," Finke said. "But, you know, I'm proud of these boys. If someone's angry, my direct messages are open. Do what you want.

"I'm proud of the team and what we've been able to do here. It's a big stepping point for the 2028 LA Olympics."

Sunday's closing day featured eight finals and victories for seven different teams.

Leon Marchand of France left the worlds on Sunday with what he came for — two individual gold medals.

Marchand won the 400m individual medley (IM), but didn't break his own world record. The Frenchman won in 4:04.73, just off the world mark he set two years ago in Fukuoka, Japan (4:02.50).Tomoyuki Matsushita of Japan took silver (4:08.32), while Ilya Borodin of the Neutral Athletes took bronze in 4:09.16.

Marchand, earlier in the championships, shattered the 200m IM mark of 1:54.00 set 14 years ago by Lochte, finishing in 1:52.69.

Marchand said his performances showed that he still has the hunger to succeed on the long road toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"It's not perfect, because it's never perfect, but it's more than I expected, especially the world record in the 200m medley," said the 23-year-old.

"It shows that I still have a passion for swimming, that I love it.

"It's still what I like the most, and that I want to continue doing."

Agencies