Singapore, Jul 31 (AP) Léon Marchand from France is aiming to break his own world record in the 200-meter individual medley at the swimming world championships in Singapore on Thursday.
If you missed it, Marchand just set the new record on Wednesday during the semifinals at the worlds, clocking in at 1 minute, 52.69 seconds, obliterating the previous mark of 1:54.00 held by American Ryan Lochte since 2011.
Marchand's victory seems almost inevitable; the only question is the margin of his win. Having already secured four gold medals a year ago at the Paris Olympics, Marchand will share the spotlight on Day 5 with Canada's Summer McIntosh.
McIntosh is competing for her third medal in Singapore, this time in the 200 freestyle, facing tough competition from Australia’s Elizabeth Dekkers and American Regan Smith. She has already claimed gold in the 200 IM and 400 freestyle.
McIntosh is on a quest to capture five individual golds in Singapore, following her three individual Olympic golds in Paris.
Yu Zidi, the promising 12-year-old Chinese swimmer, is the eighth-fastest qualifier and is looking to make it to the podium, having previously placed fourth in the 200 IM.
There are three more finals on the day's lineup, with the Americans in contention. The U.S. team has secured only three golds in Singapore so far, as they've been battling a stomach bug picked up during their training camp in Thailand. Head coach Greg Meehan has expressed optimism about the team's improving health.
In the men's 100 freestyle, American Jack Alexy and Romanian David Popovici emerged as the fastest qualifiers. Popovici, who has already taken the gold in the 200 free in Singapore, was also the gold medalist in the 200 at Paris and earned bronze in the 100.
Regan Smith from the U.S. has posted the fastest time in the 50 backstroke, closely followed by Britain’s Lauren Cox, American Katharine Berkoff, and China's Wan Letian.
The day's last final will feature the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay.
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