DOHA, Qatar (AP) — It was an evening of firsts on the World Aquatics Championships.
Siobhán Haughey of Hong Kong captured her first long-course world title within the girls’s 200-meter freestyle on Wednesday. Ditto for Japan’s Tomoru Honda, who claimed the largest victory of his profession within the 200 butterfly.
That’s not all.
Daniel Wiffen used a robust ending kick to seize the boys’s 800 freestyle — Ireland’s first medal ever on the world championships. And Sam Williamson gave powerhouse Australia its first swimming gold of the competitors in the 50 breaststroke.
For British star Adam Peaty, it was one other disappointment on the Aspire Dome after a protracted layoff to take care of psychological well being points. The world-record holder completed fourth within the 50 breast, simply lacking the rostrum after a third-place displaying within the 100 breast.
Haughey, a three-time champion on the short-course worlds, lastly touched first within the huge pool after years of shut calls.
She was the Olympic silver medalist in each the 100 and 200 free on the Tokyo Video games, along with a runner-up end within the 100 free eventually summer season’s world championships in Fukuoka.
Additionally, Haughey completed fourth within the 200 free — simply off the rostrum — at each the 2019 and 2023 worlds.
“This actually means so much to me,” she mentioned. “It’s good to lastly see the No. 1 subsequent to my title.”
Haughey added to a bronze medal she received a day earlier within the 100 breaststroke, a shocking end in an occasion she swam “only for enjoyable.”
She is going to face a a lot stiffer problem on the Paris Olympics, the place the 200 free will embrace Australian stars Mollie O’Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus, who have been among the many many no-shows for Doha.
“I really feel like I can do so much higher,” Haughey mentioned. “Paris is the primary goal, so hopefully tweak and fine-tune some issues the following few months and I can have a fair higher swim in Paris.”
The primary swimmer from Hong Kong to seize an Olympic medal was beneath world-record tempo by way of 150 meters and held on on the finish to win in 1 minute, 54.89 seconds. She completed properly off O’Callaghan’s mark of 1:52.85 set eventually yr’s worlds.
The silver went to New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather at 1:55.77, giving her one other medal after a victory within the 400 free. Australia’s Brianna Throssell took the bronze at 1:56.00.
Honda, who was silver medalist within the 200 fly on the Tokyo Olympics and bronze medalist within the occasion on the final two worlds, was first this time in 1:53.88.
“I’m so blissful,” Honda mentioned.
Italy’s Alberto Razzetti claimed the silver in 1:54.65, with the bronze going to Austria’s Martin Espernberger at 1:55.16.
Wiffen used a robust ending kick within the grueling 800 free to seize the historic gold for Eire in 7:40.94.
“I actually wished to win this one,” mentioned Wiffen, the short-course world report holder within the 800 free.
Elijah Winnington of Australia claimed the silver at 7:42.95, whereas Italy’s Gregorio Paltrinieri — the 2019 world champion within the occasion — light on the finish to accept bronze in 7:42.98.
Australia, which despatched a small workforce to Doha that didn’t embrace most of its prime stars, lastly reached the highest of the medal podium with Williamson’s victory within the 50 breast.
He touched first at 26.32 within the livid sprint from one finish of the pool to the opposite, adopted by Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi (26.39) and American Nic Fink (26.49).
“I’m actually confused,” Williamson mentioned. “Simply getting an opportunity to race these guys, they’re my heroes. It’s fairly particular.”
Peaty was a bit additional again at 26.77.
Fink returned for the ultimate occasion of the night time, serving to the U.S. to a dominating victory within the combined 4×100 medley relay.
Fink, Hunter Armstrong, Claire Curzan and Kate Douglass posted a time of three:40.22, almost 3 seconds forward of silver medalist Australia at 3:43.12. Britain took the bronze in 3:45.09.
On the midway level of eight days of swimming in Doha, the People lead the desk with 5 golds and 10 medals general.
HIGH DIVING
Rhiannan Iffland of Australia received her fourth straight world title in girls’s excessive diving.
The 32-year-old Iffland completed with 342.00 factors off the 20-meter tower at Doha Outdated Port.
Canada took the following two spots on the rostrum within the non-Olympic occasion, with Molly Carlson claiming silver at 320.70 and Jessica Macauley grabbing bronze at 320.35. American Kaylea Arnett completed fourth.
The lads’s ultimate, from the 27-meter tower, is Thursday. France’s Gary Hunt led after the primary two rounds.
WATER POLO
The USA and Hungary superior to the Friday ultimate in girls’s water polo.
Within the semifinals, the People knocked off Spain 11-9 and Hungary defeated Greece 13-11.
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