(Fukuoka) The men’s 4×100-metre freestyle relay put Canada in a strong position to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games during the pool portion of the FINA World Aquatics Championships on Sunday.
Composed of Josh Liendo, Ruslan Gaziev, Finlay Knox and Javier Acevedo, the Canadian team took fifth place in the event with a time of 3:12.05.
Australia capped off an impressive day with victory in 3:10.16. Italy was second in 3:10.49 and the United States third in 3:10.81.
Meanwhile, all eyes were on Summer McIntosh in the highly anticipated 400m freestyle event in which the 16-year-old swimmer, then world record holder in this event, competed.
McIntosh was in position to win a medal before the final meters. She stopped the clock at 3:59.94, earning her fourth place in a race featuring the fastest female swimmers in history.
Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus of Australia took the world record – and the gold medal – with a time of 3:55.38 seconds.
PHOTO STEFAN WERMUTH, REUTERS
Ariarn Titmus
Defending world champion Katie Ledecky of the United States finished second with a time of 3:58.73, followed by New Zealand representative Erika Fairweather with a time of 3:59.59.
“You can’t get 10 out of 10 in every race,” said McIntosh, the silver medalist at last year’s worlds.
“I’ll use today as a learning experience for the next days events, and of course for the Olympics,” added McIntosh, who held the world mark with a time of 3:56.08 recorded last March.
In addition, Margaret MacNeil qualified for the 100-metre butterfly final.