American Hunter Armstrong gets 2 more medals on final day of swim worlds. Israeli swimmer is jeered

Lewis Clareburt of the New Zealand reacts after winning the gold medal in the Men's 400m Individual Medley final at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — American swimmer Hunter Armstrong helped himself to two more medals on the closing day of the World Aquatics Championships in Qatar on Sunday, winning the men’s 4×100 medley relay with the United States team after taking the silver in the men’s 50 backstroke.

Armstrong, who swam the first leg, praised his teammates Nic Fink, Zach Harting and Matt King after the United States won in 3 minutes 29.80 seconds. The Netherlands took silver in 3:31.23 with Italy in bronze (3:31.59).

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“We start strong and we finish stronger,” Armstrong said. “We take pride in our medley relay.”

The Ohio native won golds earlier in the championships in the mixed 4×100 medley relay and men’s 100 backstroke.

Lewis Clareburt of New Zealand had a special victory celebration lined up for the men’s 400 medley.

After winning in a time of 4:09.72, the 24-year-old Clareburt did a brief imitation of the New Zealand rugby team’s Haka in the pool, opening his eyes wide and sticking out his tongue as he pushed an imaginary spear-like weapon above the water at the Aspire Dome in Doha.

British swimmer Freya Colbert won the women’s 400 medley in 4:37.14, ahead of Israeli swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko, who clocked 4:37.36 and was jeered by the crowd when she spoke. Italy’s Sara Franceschi was third in 4:37.86.

Lithuania’s Ruta Meilutyte won the women’s 50 breastroke title for the third straight time. She was pushed hard by China’s Tang Qianting — the women’s 100 breaststroke winner — who made a great start before Meilutyte caught her at the end. Benedetta Pilato of Italy took the bronze medal.

Sweden’s Sarah Sjoestroem also defended her title, and just missed out on beating her own world record of 23.61, when she won the women’s 50 free in 23.69. American Kate Douglass finished second in 23.91 and Poland’s Katarzyna Wasick was third in 23.95.

Daniel Wiffen of Ireland dominated the men’s 1,500 freestyle, setting a personal best time of 14:34.07.

“Thank you everyone for the support,” he told the crowd. “I was really dying in the middle.”

Germany’s Florian Wellbrock edged out Frenchman David Aubry for the silver medal.

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