Northern Ireland’s Jack McMillan played his part in a first Great Britain medal at the World Aquatics Championships – helping secure gold in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

The Great Britain squad – Olympic champions in Paris last summer with McMillan one of four Northern Ireland athletes to celebrate golden glory – were anchored home by Duncan Scott in six minutes and 59.84 seconds ahead of China, with Australia taking bronze.

Matthew Richards swam the opening leg in Singapore, handing over to James Guy and then McMillan before Scott pulled clear as Great Britain reclaimed their world title with a winning margin of 1.07secs.

McMillan was born in Belfast and represented Bangor Swimming Club across his early days in the sport.

placeholder image — Jack McMillan (second from left) celebrates gold medal glory at the World Championships. (Photo by FRANCOIS-XAVIER MARIT/AFP via Getty Images)

For Team Ireland, Enniskillen’s Ellie McCartney reflected on her debut World Championships appearance as “an incredible experience” despite missing out on the medals over the 200m breaststroke final.

The 20-year-old finished seventh on the showpiece stage in Singapore on 2:25.22, having qualified for the main event by posting a lifetime best of 2:23.79.

McCartney was ranked 18th and can now draw positives from the experience of reaching a final on her first world appearance.

“It's an incredible experience,” she said. “I didn't have high expectations coming into the final, at the start of this year all I wanted to do is qualify for the world champs.

“Constantly this year, as the season progressed, we had to keep on moving that target and I never thought it would be a final.

"But we're here now...I have now swum a world long course final, it's something not many people have done.

“I mean tonight's swim may not have been the fastest I've ever been but I came into this meet seeded 18th and I finished seventh...progression is what it is and just moving forward through each of the rounds and, you know, I'll take a learning from this time and, hopefully, apply it to future competitions.”

Larne’s Danielle Hill is next out for Team Ireland on the penultimate day of the championships – competing today across the 50m freestyle.

One member of Team Ireland cutting short his World Championship run is Magheralin’s Daniel Wiffen.

It has been confirmed the double Olympic Games medal-winner will now be unable to defend his 1500m world title on medical grounds due to the ongoing effects of appendicitis in June.

“Just to let everyone know...I have medically withdrawn from the World Championships in Singapore due to the appendicitis that I suffered from in June,” said Wiffen in a statement. “Thank you for all the support in last night’s final (800m, eighth place).

"I wasn’t physically at my best, but I will be working towards getting back to full fitness and winning shape soon.”

Wiffen won double gold in Doha at the 2024 World Championships (800m, 1500m) then left Paris with Olympic gold (800m) and bronze (1500m).