Team China poses for photo after the women's 4X100m medley relay final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
DOHA, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The World Aquatics Championships in Doha concluded on Sunday with a total of eight gold medals awarded on the final day of competition.
Australia's Isaac Cooper clinched his inaugural individual world title in the men's 50m backstroke, clocking 24.13 seconds. American Hunter Armstrong finished second, trailing by 0.2 seconds, and Poland's Ksawery Masiuk took the bronze.
In the women's 50m breaststroke, Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte successfully defended her title with a time of 29.40 seconds. China's Tang Qianting, who had set a new Asian record in the semifinals, once again lowered that record to finish second in 29.51 seconds. Italy's Benedetta Pilato secured the bronze.
Ireland's Daniel Wiffen dominated the men's 1,500m freestyle, seizing his second gold medal in Doha with a time of 14 minutes and 34.07 seconds, leaving Florian Wellbrock of Germany trailing by 10.54 seconds in second place. France's David Aubry finished third.
"I'm so happy to come away with a personal best and two world titles," said Wiffen, who was also nominated alongside the U.S.'s Claire Curzan as the best swimmers of Doha 2024.
Sweden's Sarah Sjoestroem added to her illustrious career by claiming her 14th individual World Championship title in the women's 50m freestyle, clocking 23.69 seconds. Kate Douglass of the United States secured the silver, earning her fifth medal in Doha, while Poland's Katarzyna Wasick took the bronze.
"It gives me a lot of confidence coming up to Paris," said the Swede.
New Zealand's Lewis Clareburt grabbed the men's 400m medley title in 4:9.72. Britain's Max Litchfield finished second, 0.63 seconds behind, and Daiya Seto of Japan rounded out the top three finishing third.
Freya Colbert of Britain won the women's 400m medley in 4:37.14, followed by Israel's Anastasia Gorbenko and Sara Franceschi of Italy.
The United States, with Hunter Armstrong, Nic Fink, Zach Harting and Matt King, dominated the men's 4x100m medley relay in 3:29.8 seconds, followed by the Netherlands and Italy.
In the women's race, the Australian team of Iona Anderson, Abbey Harkin, Brianna Throssell and Shayna Jack won in 3 minutes and 55.98 seconds, followed by Sweden and Canada. ■
Gold medalist team Australia (C), silver medalist team Sweden (L) and bronze medalist team Canada pose for photograph during the awarding ceremony of the women's 4X100m medley relay final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Team Australia celebrate after winning the women's 4X100m medley relay final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Michelle Coleman of Sweden competes during the women's 4X100m medley relay final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Katarzyna Wasick of Poland poses for photo after the awarding ceremony of the women's 50m freestyle final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Sarah Sjoestroem (C) of Sweden, Kate Douglass (L) of the United States and Katarzyna Wasick of Poland pose for photo during the awarding ceremony of the women's 50m freestyle final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Kate Douglass of the United States starts during the women's 50m freestyle final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Gold medalist Daniel Wiffen (C) of Ireland, silver medalist Florian Wellbrock (L) of Germany and bronze medalist David Aubry of France pose for photograph after the awarding ceremony of the men's 1500m freestyle final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
David Aubry of France competes during the men's 1500m freestyle final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Danile Wiffen of Ireland competes during the men's 1500m freestyle final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
Florian Wellbrock (below) of Germany competes during the men's 1500m freestyle final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Danile Wiffen of Ireland competes during the men's 1500m freestyle final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Gold medalist Freya Constance Colbert (C) of Britain, silver medalist Anastasia Gorbenko (L) of Israel and bronze medalist Sara Franceschi of Italy pose for photograph during the awarding ceremony of the women's 400m individual medley final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
Freya Constance Colbert of Britain reacts after the women's 400m individual medley final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Freya Constance Colbert of Britain competes during the women's 400m individual medley final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
Gold medalist Freya Constance Colbert (C) of Britain, silver medalist Anastasia Gorbenko (L) of Israel and bronze medalist Sara Franceschi of Italy pose for photograph after the awarding ceremony of the women's 400m individual medley final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Zach Harting of the United States competes during the men's 4X100m medley relay final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Du Yu)
Gold medalist team USA (below), silver medalist team the Netherlands (L) and bronze medalist team Italy pose for photograph during the awarding ceremony of the men's 4X100m medley relay final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Lewis Clareburt of New Zealand competes during the men's 400m individual medley final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Gold medalist Lewis Clareburt (C) of New Zealand, silver medalist Max Litchfeild (L) of Britain and bronze medalist Seto Daiya of Japan pose for photograph after the awarding ceremony of the men's 400m individual medley final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
Lewis Clareburt of New Zealand competes during the men's 400m individual medley final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Seto Daiya of Japan competes during the men's 400m individual medley final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Lewis Clareburt of New Zealand competes during the men's 400m individual medley final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
Isaac Cooper of Australia competes during the men's 50m backstroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Isaac Cooper of Australia celebrates after the men's 50m backstroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Luo Yuan)
Gold medalist Isaac Cooper (C) of Australia, silver medalist Hunter Armstrong (L) of the United States and bronze medalist Ksawery Masiuk of Poland pose for photograph after the awarding ceremony of the men's 50m backstroke final of swimming event at the World Aquatics Championships 2024 in Doha, Qatar, Feb. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Xue Yuge)
