World Aquatics Championships 2023: Leon Marchand, Kaylee McKeown named top swimmers of Fukuoka 2023
The Frenchman and Australian had three individual gold medals each as the championships ended on Sunday. USA were named the best team after totaling 38 medals.
Swimming
Triple individual gold medallists Leon Marchand and Kaylee McKeown were named best male and female swimmers of the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, on Sunday (30 July).
The best team award went to the USA, who topped the table with a total of 38 medals - seven gold, 20 silver and 11 bronze.
Australia had the most gold medals with 13 - matching their best haul at a single championships.
Marchand opened the meet with a bang, shattering Michael Phelps’ record in the 400-metre individual medley on the first day - then the longest-standing mark in the world.
He then went on to add the 200 fly and IM titles.
“I’m very satisfied of my world championships,” Marchand said. “It’s not perfect, there is always room for improvement, but it makes all the work realised since the world championships 2022 concrete.”
Contrary to the Frenchman, McKeown’s campaign started on a downer, being disqualified in the women's 200m IM semis for what was deemed an illegal turn coming out of the backstroke.
But the Australian bounced back big time, becoming the first female in worlds history to complete the 50, 100 and 200 treble in any stroke. She also helped the Dolphins to silvers in the women’s and mixed medley relays.
“I’m happy with what I’ve done this week but I have team-mates like Ariarne Titmus and Mollie O’Callaghan who broke some world records this week,” McKeown said.
“I never thought in a million years I would be named (best female swimmer). It’s pretty cool and it’s an awesome privilege that I have now.”