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SPORTS Friday 28 July 2023
Leon Marchand and Summer McIntosh are sure to star in the pool

at Paris Olympics

By STEPHEN WADE “As soon as I touched the
AP Sports Writer wall in the 200, this thought
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — flashed in my head, which
Watch out for these two was: I need to train better.
young swimmers when you I need to train more,” he
take in next year’s Paris said. “And more important-
Olympics: 21-year-old Leon ly, I need to be more con-
Marchand of France and sistent. That’s the glue that
16-year-old Summer McIn- holds it together.”
tosh of Canada. The other end of the emo-
Marchand won his third tion spectrum was Chalm-
gold medal at the swim- ers, who won Olympic gold
ming world championships, in the 100 free in Rio de
taking the 200-meter indi- Janeiro when he was 18.
vidual medley on Thursday Now’s he’s finally added
in 1 minute, 54.82 seconds. the world title, which com-
Add this to his earlier gold pletes the the gold set.
in the 200 butterfly, and his He referred to going
world record in the 400 IM through shoulder surgery,
the last individual record heart surgery and “some
held by Michael Phelps. pretty bad mental health
Marchand obliterated it by times” in his seven-year re-
more than a second, finish- turn to gold.
ing in 4:02.50. Leon Marchand of France competes during the men’s 200m individual medley final at the World “In 2016 I was an 18-year-
“It was amazing, and I’m Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Thursday, July 27, 2023. old and I probably
very proud of it,” said Associated Press didn’t know what I had
Marchand, who pushed 200 free. tosh’s first two races were vici finished in 47.83. achieved,” he said. “For
British teammates Dun- McIntosh won the 200 but- disappointing, but she did Popovici was fourth earlier me, I’ve had to work so
can Scott to silver (1:55.95) terfly in 2:04.06, repeating lose her world record in the in the meet in the 200 free. hard for seven years and
and Tom Dean to bronze her title from last year’s 400 free to Ariarne Titmus of He suggested he might sacrifice so much. I wanted
(1:56.07). worlds. She also set a world Australia. have raced too much, and to make sure that the early-
“It was a very painful race, junior record. She is only 16, Another one to watch is will need to train harder to on wasn’t a fluke.
but exciting,” Marchand remember. 18-year-old David Popovici stay on top. Getting there “There were times I thought
added. “Almost killed me, Elizabeth Dekkers of Austra- of Romania. But he was dis- was the easy part. I’d never get back to swim-
but it was good.” lia took silver in 2:05.46 and appointing at the worlds in “I feel good. I feel good ming fast,” he added.
Marchand trains at Arizona Regan Smith of the United southwestern Japan. that it’s over,” he said. “Af- Kaylee McKeown led from
State University under Bob States earned bronze in Popovici is the world-re- ter I take some time off for start to finish to pick up gold

Bowman, who coached 2:06.58. cord holder in the 100 free myself and clear my head in the women’s 50-meter
Phelps to 23 Olympic gold “Going into tonight I just with a time of 46.86, but in reflect on this very busy and backstroke. The 22-year-
medals. wanted to see how hard I that race on Thursday he weird year I’m going back old Australian got off to a
McIntosh won her first gold could push and how much was sixth behind winner to the pool. And fortunately fast start and held on to
after coming up short in two I could hold on in the sec- Kyle Chalmers of Australia for me, what hasn’t gone prevail in 27.08. Smith won
earlier races where some ond half,” said McIntosh, (47.15), silver medalist Jack perfectly here is trainable. another medal and took
billed her as a favorite. She who won by a full body Alexy of the United States I’m going to be just fine.” silver in 27.11, and Lauren
was fourth in the 400 free- length. (47.31), and Maxime Grous- Popovici’s 200 was a red Cox of Britain got bronze in
style and took bronze in the It’s unfair to say that McIn- set of France (47.42). Popo- flag. 27.20. q

Frances Tiafoe launches a charitable fund

at the tennis center where he grew up

By HOWARD FENDRICH or under — for not celebrat- I've always been passion-
AP Tennis Writer ing a good shot properly, ate about. I love people. I
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — explaining the importance love helping people," the
Frances Tiafoe stood with of yelling and punching the 25-year-old Tiafoe said. "I'm
his hands on his hips and air. a product of this place.
feigned disappointment A semifinalist at the U.S. I'm a guy who was given
Thursday after his part- Open last year and now a chance — who wouldn't
ner during a doubles drill ranked in the ATP Top 10, have really had one — and
dumped an overhead into he took part in the clinic look what I was able to do
the net. Moments earlier, with dozens of kids after a with it. I feel like more peo- Tennis player Frances Tiafoe participates in a youth tennis clinic,
on the same courts at the ceremony to announce ple need to be given that, Thursday, July 27, 2023, in College Park, Md. Associated Press
Junior Tennis Champions the launch of The Frances especially in this area, and
Center (JTCC) where he Tiafoe Fund in conjunction especially people who look Sierra Leone in the 1990s maintenance man there.
learned the game not far with the USTA Foundation, like me. I know how much during a civil war there. So that's where, and why,
from the nation's capital, the charitable arm of the influence I have in this area, They moved to Maryland, Frances and his twin broth-
Tiafoe jokingly chastised sport's national federation. so I'm happy to start it here where his dad helped con- er, Franklin — who took part
another of his temporary "I've wanted to do this for in D.C." struct the JTCC in College in Thursday's on-court drills,
teammates — all aged 10 a long time. It's something His parents emigrated from Park, then worked as a too — picked up tennis.q