Simona Quadarella of Italy and Hwang Sun-Woo of South Korea claimed gold medals in the women’s 1500m and men’s 200m freestyle events respectively, while the United States dominated the backstroke with Claire Curzan and Hunter Armstrong winning the 100m races at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha on Tuesday.

Quadarella regains 1500m freestyle title in Ledecky’s absence

Quadarella, a 25-year-old Italian, regained the 1500m freestyle world title that she had won in Gwangju, South Korea, in 2019, when the dominant women’s middle-distance swimmer, Katie Ledecky of the United States, was absent due to illness. Ledecky, who has won every major 800m and 1500m event since then, skipped Doha ahead of the Paris Olympics, giving Quadarella a chance to shine again. Quadarella seized the opportunity with a dominating swim, finishing in 15 minutes and 46.99 seconds, 9.63 seconds ahead of Li Bingjie of China, who took the silver medal. Isabel Gose of Germany was just behind Li in third place. None of the other finalists broke 16 minutes.

“It was a very hard race, but I am very happy with the result. I knew I had to swim fast from the start and keep the pace until the end. I felt confident and strong. This gold medal means a lot to me and gives me motivation for the future,” Quadarella said after the race.

Hwang snatches 200m freestyle gold in thrilling finish

Hwang, a 20-year-old South Korean, made the most of the absence of world record holder David Popovici of Romania to win the men’s 200m freestyle in a thrilling finish. Hwang, who had won silver in Budapest in 2022 and bronze in Fukuoka in 2023, clocked 1:45.05 for his first world title in the event. Hwang trailed American Luke Hobson on the third 50-meter stretch, but surged ahead in the final meters to touch the wall first. Danas Rapsys of Lithuania also finished strong to take the silver medal, 0.3 seconds behind Hwang. Hobson settled for the bronze medal, 0.51 seconds behind the winner.

“It was a very close race, but I never gave up. I pushed hard to the finish and it paid off. I am very proud to win this gold medal for my country and for myself. This is my dream come true,” Hwang said.

Curzan and Armstrong lead the US backstroke sweep

Curzan, a 19-year-old American, led from start to finish to win the women’s 100m backstroke in a time of 58.29 seconds. She was 0.83 seconds ahead of Australian 18-year-old Iona Anderson, who took the silver medal. Ingrid Wilm of Canada won the bronze medal with a time of 59.18 seconds.

Curzan, who had won silver in the 100m butterfly on Sunday, added another medal to her collection with a commanding performance. She said she was happy with her race and grateful for the support of her teammates.

“I felt good in the water and I executed my race plan well. I am very happy to win this gold medal and to represent my country. It’s an amazing feeling to be on the podium with the flag and the anthem. I want to thank my coaches, my family, and my friends for their support,” Curzan said.

Armstrong, a 22-year-old American, followed Curzan’s lead by edging his university teammate, Hugo Gonzalez of Spain, by 0.2 seconds to win the men’s 100m backstroke. Armstrong clocked 52.68 seconds for the gold medal, while Gonzalez took the silver medal in 52.88 seconds. Ryosuke Irie of Japan won the bronze medal in 53.01 seconds. Armstrong, who had finished fourth in Fukuoka, improved his position and time to claim his first world title in the event. He said he was thrilled to share the podium with his friend and rival Gonzalez.

“It was a very tight race, but I am glad I came out on top. It was an honor to race against Hugo, who is a great swimmer and a great friend. We train together and we push each other to be better. I am very happy for him and myself. This is a dream come true for me,” Armstrong said.

Tang wins maiden 100m breaststroke title, Haughey takes bronze

Tang Qianting, a 19-year-old Chinese swimmer, won her maiden world title in the women’s 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:05.27. She was 0.55 seconds ahead of Tes Schouten of the Netherlands, who took the silver medal. Siobhan Haughey of Hong Kong, who is known for her freestyle prowess, won the bronze medal with a time of 1:05.92. Tang, who had won the 100m breaststroke at the World Short-Course Championships in 2021, repeated her success in the long-course pool with a confident swim. She said she was surprised and delighted by her victory.

“I didn’t expect to win this gold medal, but I am very happy and excited. I tried to swim my best and focus on my technique. I am very satisfied with my time and my performance. This is a very special moment for me,” Tang said.

Haughey, who had triumphed with two impressive silver medals in the 200m and 400m freestyle events in Tokyo, showcased her remarkable adaptability by securing a distinguished bronze medal in the breaststroke discipline. She expressed her delight in participating in an alternative competition and took great pride in her outcome. "I am fond of pushing my limits and experimenting with novel endeavors." The breaststroke does not constitute my primary specialty, however, it delightfully enraptures me. I am delighted to clinch this exquisite bronze medal and proudly showcase Hong Kong on the grand stage. It is an immense privilege and a remarkable accomplishment for me," Haughey exclaimed.