McIntosh Wins Fourth Gold, Sets 400m IM Championship Record

Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh capped off a stellar performance at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, winning her fourth gold medal with a dominant victory in the women's 400m individual medley, setting a new championship record of 4:25.78—nearly eight seconds ahead of her closest competitors. At just 18 years old, McIntosh joins the ranks of legends like Michael Phelps and Sarah Sjostrom as one of only three swimmers to win five individual medals at a single world championships. Her medals include golds in the 400 IM, 200 IM, 200 butterfly, and 400 freestyle, plus a bronze in the 800 freestyle, making her the most decorated individual female athlete of the meet. The United States also set a world record in the women’s 4x100 medley relay, securing the top spot on the medals table with nine golds, just ahead of Australia. French swimmer Leon Marchand, dubbed the 'French Phelps,' overcame a slow heat to win the men’s 400 IM final, while Tunisia’s Ahmed Jaouadi claimed gold in the men’s 1,500 freestyle. The championships highlighted both established stars and emerging talents, including 12-year-old Chinese swimmer Yu Zidi, who impressed by qualifying third for the women's 400 IM final.