The 20th edition of the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, marked a historic event with 2,361 athletes from a record-tying 191 countries and the World Aquatics Refugee Team competing. Over 135,000 spectators witnessed the competition, with 320 hours of live video and 17 hours of highlights broadcasted worldwide.
The event was marked by exceptional performances, including the setting of 10 World Records. Among the highlights, France’s Leon Marchand broke Michael Phelps’ longest-held World Record in the men’s 400m Individual Medley. Australia’s Mollie O’Callaghan claimed five world titles and four World Records, and the USA’s Katie Ledecky secured her status as the greatest freestyle swimmer by winning her 15th and 16th individual world titles.
In addition to the swimming records, there were also significant achievements in diving, artistic swimming, high diving, open water swimming, and water polo. China continued its dominance in diving, though Australia’s Cassiel Rousseau broke a six-year streak in the men’s 10m Platform. Japan excelled in artistic swimming, with Yukiko Inui repeating her double gold win. Germany dominated the open water events, and in water polo, the Netherlands’ women and Hungary’s men claimed victory in thrilling penalty shootouts.
World Aquatics President Husain Al Musallam praised Fukuoka’s beauty and the incredible performances of the athletes, summing up the event as “very special.”
Source: World Aquatics
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