French superstar Leon Marchand did just enough to advance to the 400 IM final at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships on Sunday, 3 August.
The four-time Olympic champion, who set a new world record en route to the 200 IM title earlier this week, looked calm as he smiled and waved to the cheering crowd while walking out under a spotlight at Singapore’s World Championships Arena.
After hauling in early race leader Matsushita Tomoyuki at the halfway point, 400 IM world record holder Marchand took his foot off the gas, presumably with one eye on this evening’s final.
Olympic silver medallist Matsuchita touched home in the fastest overall time in qualifying with 4:10.39, while Marchand, who looked from side to side to check his competition on the breaststroke leg, clocked 4:13.19 to take seventh, with the top eight progressing.
Things were more clear-cut for Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh, who secured the top finish overall in the women’s 400 IM qualifying heats.
The 18-year-old, who already has three golds in Singapore from the 400m freestyle, 200 IM and 200m butterfly, looked dialled in as she approached the blocks, following her frustrations with a bronze-medal finish in last night’s 800 freestyle final.
McIntosh, the 400 IM world record holder and reigning Olympic champion in the event, dominated proceedings, finishing almost a full second clear of her nearest rival in Heat 3, stopping the clock in 4:35.56.
She progresses to this evening’s final alongside 12-year-old Yu Zidi of the People’s Republic of China and Katie Grimes of the US.
Elsewhere, the United States topped the men’s and women’s 4×100 medley relay qualifying heats.