Doha, February 18 (QNA) - The World Aquatics Championships - Doha 2024 closed today following 17 days of World Record-breaking performances, dramatic finishes and penalty shootouts.

Over 2,600 athletes from 201 countries and the World Aquatics Refugee Team competed across six sports and 75 medal events as the 21st edition of the flagship global aquatics event took place in Doha.

Swimmers bookended eight days of racing with record-setting performances. On the opening night of swimming in the Aspire Dome, nineteen-year-old Pan Zhanle lowered the 100m freestyle World Record to 46.80 as he led off the 4x100m freestyle relay for the Peoples Republic of China to gold.

Swimming icons starred in Doha as well, with Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden completing the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly golden double again in Doha as she earned her record-extending 13th and 14th individual World Championship titles.

The depth and performance of the swimming field were further demonstrated by the 11 Continental Records set in Doha. Twenty-nine countries won swimming medals in Doha, making for the deepest medal table in World Aquatics Championship history.

In diving, China continued its dominance as the country’s divers won gold in nine of the sports 13 events on offer in Doha. Athletes from 55 nations performed over 3,100 dives during the nine-day competition as the athlete performances helped their National Olympic Committees (NOCs) earn positions at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Women’s water polo saw the United States return to the top step of the podium, winning their eighth world title overall the USAs fifth title in the past six editions of the event with a tense 8-7 victory over Hungary in the final. Croatia secured their third world title in men's water polo, capping off their tournament journey with a thrilling penalty shootout victory over Italy, winning 15-13.

In artistic swimming, a stunning week of competition saw China earn gold in seven of 11 events as they went on to earn the overall winner award. Doha also played a vital role in determining the teams and duets that qualified to compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Sharon van Rouwendaal of the Netherlands was the standout performer in open water swimming, winning both the individual women’s 5km and 10km events. Logan Fontaine of France won the men’s 5km individual as the Paris 2024 host nation earned the maximum number of open water Olympic starting positions possible two men and two women for the upcoming Games. In the open water Mixed 4x1500m Relay, Australia anchor Kyle Lee stormed to a photo finish win over Italy.

Tension was in the lofty air of high diving as Aidan Heslop of Great Britain staged a second-day comeback to win gold from the men’s 27m tower. Meanwhile, Australia's Rhiannan Iffland reaffirmed her dominance in women's high diving, clinching her fourth consecutive world title from the 20m tower. Ifflands come-from-behind victory was sealed with a breathtaking performance on the fourth and final dive of the championships. (QNA)