Day 17 at the World Aquatics Championships - Singapore 2025 marked the start of the swimming competition — and it didn’t disappoint. Four world titles were decided in the pool, with Australia completing a clean sweep in the men’s and women’s 4x100m freestyle relays. Summer McIntosh added another title to her name with gold in the women’s 400m freestyle, while Olympic champion and world record holder Lukas Märtens powered to victory in the men’s 400m freestyle. In diving, China swept the Mixed 10m Synchronised and Men’s 1m Springboard finals claiming gold in both events. At the high diving platform, the Men’s 27m event delivered drama and a new world champion in James Lichtenstein of the USA. See below for reflections on the day!
Swimming
Men’s 400m Freestyle
Lukas MARTENS (GER) - Gold
On the pressure of competing as Olympic champion:
“There was a lot of pressure. Also as a world record holder, it was not easy to fight these guys. But I tried my best, I gave out everything, and I’m really happy and proud to be a world champion. Now, Germany has a new world champion, and that’s not usual I think. Really proud.”
Samuel SHORT (AUS) - Silver
On finishing on the podium:
“It’s good to be back on the podium. It was a pleasure racing the Olympic champion, world record holder and world champion. So I knew he was gonna be a tough opponent. I’m super pumped to come out here and I could hear the crowd from inside the tunnel. I’m really proud of how hard I pushed myself and got the silver medal and to get back on the podium, it’s a long meet to come.”
Women’s 400m Freestyle
Summer MCINTOSH (CAN) - Gold
On swimming a double and winning the 400m free for the first time:
“While preparing mentally for this world championships, I think tonight is my biggest night of the whole meet. So to come out with a gold medal and a really good, strong semi-final in the 200IM, I'm really happy. I've never done a double like that, and I think 400m free, at past World Championships and Olympics, I haven't been at my best, and I haven't been where I wanted to be. So to finally stand in the centre of the podium is promising for the rest of the meet.”
On feeling adrenaline, not nerves:
“I was very relaxed, just based off how I've been feeling this past couple of months, and especially in warm-up today, I felt really strong. The 200IM semi-final, it was so much fun in the ready room, just chilling. Honestly, this makes me want to do more doubles, and it was definitely an interesting kind of stimulus.”
LI Bingjie (CHN) - Silver
On beating Katie LEDECKY (USA) to the finish:
“It was a surprise for me. I wasn’t expecting to be able to overtake Katie (LEDECKY, USA). I went about the race according to my strategy. In the last 100m, I saw that the gap between myself and her wasn’t too big, so I thought, ‘Let’s give it a go’.”
Katie LEDECKY (USA) - Bronze
On the result:
“I would’ve liked to be a little faster. I was a little faster earlier this year, so there’s always that slight bit of wanting to be better than that. But I can’t complain with the medal. Fourth place was a 3:58 so that could have easily been me.”
Men’s 4x100m Freestyle relay
Kyle CHALMERS (AUS) - Gold
“I trust these guys so much, and knew that they were going to do something special. To be able to be the fourth swimmer and stand there and watch those three legs unfold, I was very excited.”
On where he went after his race:
“I’m very lucky my grandparents got to come to be in the stands tonight. They’ve watched me race internationally I think once before, and that was at the 2015 junior world championships here. So it was special seeing them up there in the stands – two of my greatest supporters – and my mum was also up there. It means so much being able to share that moment with people that have been with me every step of the way and love me so much.”
Kai TAYLOR (AUS) - Gold
On what was going through his mind after seeing the time and result:
“It’s unreal, so happy to be here with these boys. Felt so much team bonding and (I’m) stoked. Australia’s got a big week ahead of them.”
Maximillian GIULIANI (AUS) - Gold
On their performance:
“It’s super exciting. It’s my first time being part of a 4x100m freestyle relay and it’s a 100 per cent strike rate so far at world championships, which is amazing."
Flynn SOUTHAM (AUS) - Gold
On whether watching the women’s team win gold gave them motivation:
“Absolutely, just seeing the girls come out and kill it, we were in the marshalling area together just going, ‘Just replicate what they do.’ And we’ve come together and we’ve done it.”
Women’s 4x100m Freestyle relay
Mollie O’CALLAGHAN (AUS) – Gold
On how this gives Australia the momentum heading into the week:
“I think it’s amazing, we have a pretty rookie-dominated team at the moment, so it’s nice to see the younger swimmers lift up. After the Olympics, we had a lot of people take breaks and retire, and it’s great to see (the new athletes) getting the experience and putting down so much effort and determination into this meet.”
Olivia WUNSCH (AUS) - Gold
On swimming the anchor leg and what was going through her mind:
“I just wanted to win the race. I had a few things I wanted to work on from this morning’s race. The back end was certainly one of those, so I wanted to really build it strategically and then power over the top. The rest of that is just a race, and definitely getting up for the relays next season, so (that was) just a lot of fun.”
Meg HARRIS (AUS) - Gold
On watching Olivia WUNSCH’s last leg of the race:
“I was screaming out, I’ve never actually screamed that hard before. It was a very exciting race to watch.”
Milla JANSEN (AUS) - Gold
On stepping up to the senior team:
“We’ve kind of grown up together, and it’s amazing we’re in this relay together since we’ve always dreamed about it.”
Diving
Mixed 10m Synchro
ZHU Yongxin (CHN) – Gold
On their new partnership:
“We’ve only been working together for a little more than a month, maybe almost two months. Coach gave us some tips on how to work well with each other, find a rhythm that will help our partnership. A mixed event is a competition that involves two divers, not just yourself. You need to keep encouraging each other. ”
On competing on the world stage:
“Going from a spectator in the stands to competing myself, I told myself that this is a rare chance that was given to me. I must make the most of this opportunity. This has been a target for me, a dream, so I’ll keep doing what I can to improve.”
Men’s 1m Springboard
ZHENG Jiuyuan (CHN) - Gold
On winning gold:
“I’m very happy because this is my fourth world championships. I’ve been on the podium before but never at the top (for an individual event). I have to give myself credit for persevering and continuing to work hard in this event. I also have to thank the coaches and my family for believing in me.”
Osmar OLVERA IBARRA (MEX) - Silver
On his Chinese competitors:
“The Chinese level is always great. They are the best in the world and I need to fight with them.”
YAN Siyu (CHN) - Bronze
On winning the bronze medal:
“It’s a rare experience to have, and it’s the first time in my life (that I’ve won a world championships medal). In this team, getting a chance to even compete is already a rare opportunity. If we don’t cherish and value these chances, it would be disappointing. However, I did manage to take my opportunity, even though I want to be the first-placed.”
High Diving
Men’s 27m Platform
James LICHTENSTEIN (USA) – Gold
On how changes he made to training paid off:
“It’s the first time we’ve ever done a competition like this, so I kind of paced myself. Didn’t do as many dives, so I was really fresh for today. It’s amazing, incredible. A dream come true for sure.”
On the unique camaraderie among high divers:
“It’s just the respect for the sport. We’re jumping from 27 metres, you know, 90 feet. At any point, a small mistake can take you out of competition, literally. So just having that respect, like, hey, we are doing one of the most dangerous sports, and there always needs to be that respect. So it’s like mutual respect as well. Like, hey, you’re crazy enough to do this, so am I, you know, so that’s what kind of forms the bond for all of us.”
Constantin POPOVICI (ROU) – Bronze
On winning bronze:
“I feel good, I’m happy. You know, everybody is wishing for gold… the best place possible. A lot of us could have taken gold today. A lot of us could have been out of the podium. That’s how it is in the competition. Like swimming, you can miss by a few seconds or here, a few points. I’m really grateful for this year’s bronze.”