Canadian Summer McIntosh, 15, won another gold medal as Italy beat the United States in the men’s 4×100 medley relay on Saturday on the final night of the World Swimming Championships.
The Americans gave the United States their 45th medal of the week, extending the record the country already held by winning the 4×100 medley relay on Saturday. Regan Smith, Lilly King, Torri Huske and Claire Curzan finished 0.47 seconds ahead of Australia and 1.23 seconds behind Canada.
“Yes, I’m very tired,” Huske admitted after winning her sixth medal during a busy week.
Canada bid farewell with 11 metals in its most successful World Cup.
Veteran Gregorio Paltrinieri also won an electrifying 1,500m freestyle event and Italy finished with five gold medals.
Paltrinieri stayed away from the new world record as he took a wide lead over his rivals before eventually setting a championship record of 14 minutes and 32.80 seconds.
“I knew they were coming, but I had a big lead and that was enough for me,” Paltrinieri said.
McIntosh capped a successful week for Canadian swimming with her second world title. She clocked 4:32.04 in the women’s 400-meter individual medley.
Afterward, McIntosh said she hadn’t focused on the position, but was more concerned with how she performed in the competition.
“I achieved it and met my expectations regarding times and goals. I mean, I swam the whole distance and pushed my body as hard as I could. So overall, I’m happy,” McIntosh said.
After a mix-up, American Justin Ress was confirmed as champion in the 50 meter backstroke.
Ress’ joy after winning the race in 24.12 seconds was cut short after he was disqualified for being submerged at the end. His teammate Hunter Armstorng, who finished two hundredths of a second behind, took victory, while 17-year-old Pole Ksawey Masiuk took silver and Italian Thomas Ceccon took bronze.
FINA later overturned the disqualification.
“It’s probably the worst way a race could go,” Ress admitted.
Sweden’s Sarah Sjöström won the 50m freestyle, for her tenth gold medal at the World Championships.
Italy didn’t have it all after Lithuania’s Rūta Meilutytė stunned world record holder Benedetta Pilato by a tenth of a second to win the 50m breaststroke in 29.70 seconds.
The Italians celebrated again as Ceccon, Nicolo Martinenghi, Federico Burdisso and Alessandro Miressi set a European record of 3:27.51 to win the 4×100 medley, 0.28 seconds ahead of the United States.
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