Summer McIntosh beats Katie Ledecky to claim world title in women's 400m freestyle

Canadian swimming phenom Summer McIntosh beat American star Katie Ledecky to win gold in the women's 400-metre freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore on Sunday.

The 18-year-old from Toronto clocked a time of three minutes 56.26 seconds to claim her ninth career medal at long-course worlds, tying Penny Oleksiak and Kylie Masse for the most by a Canadian.

China's Li Bingjie edged Ledecky for silver, out-touching the decorated Olympian by 0.3 seconds in 3:58.21.

Though she holds the 400 free world record, McIntosh had failed to win gold in the event in the Olympics or previous world championships.

Toronto's Summer McIntosh wins 1st worlds 400m gold medal

McIntosh reclaimed the world record at the Canadian trials last month with a time of 3:54.18, beating the mark of 3:55.38 set by Australia's Ariarne Titmus at the 2023 worlds.

She won her semifinal in the women's 200m individual medley about 25 minutes later on Sunday — the second of her five individual events in Singapore. McIntosh is looking to become the second swimmer in history to win five solo titles at a single long-course world championships, after Michael Phelps in 2007.

"I've never done a double like that," McIntosh told CBC Sports' Devin Heroux. "I think the 400 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.

"I think I'm at my best. I'm in the best shape of my life. So now I just have to act on that and put it into all my races."

Canada's Summer McIntosh wins 200m IM semifinal, Mary-Sophie Harvey finishes 2nd

McIntosh, the reigning Olympic champ in the 200m medley, posted the