US swimming champ Katie wins her third straight world 400m freestyle gold
An underwater camera shows USA's Katie Ledecky during the women’s 400m freestyle final of the FINA World Championships in Budapest yesterday. PIC/AFP
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Katie Ledecky of the United States made history yesterday by becoming the first woman to win a third straight 400m freestyle gold at the world aquatic championships.
The 20-year-old clocked three minutes, 58.34 seconds, setting a new championships record, with compatriot Leah Smith second at 3.20secs back and China's Li Bingjie, who is only 15, third at 04.91. Ledecky's time better the previous championship record which she set just hours earlier in Sunday morning's heat.
This is Ledecky's third straight world title over 400m after her wins at the Barcelona 2013 and Kazan 2015 world championships. Her time was nearly two seconds slower than the world record she set in winning the Olympic title last year.
It is the first of six freestyle events Ledecky is entering in Budapest and will swim again on Sunday in the 4x100m freestyle relay for the USA.
Chinese teenager Li looked glumly at the scoreboard after her bronze. “I was disappointed that I didn't break my own personal best, but I am happy with the medal,” said Li after her podium finish.
Meanwhile, China's Sun Yang won the men's 400m freestyle final in emphatic style at the world aquatic championships, as his bitter Rio Games rival Mack Horton trailed home a distant second.
Sun clocked 3min 41.38sec to claim gold well ahead of the Olympic champion Horton, who had previously dubbed his rival a dope cheat, as the Australian took silver some 2.47 seconds adrift.
Italy's Gabriele Detti took bronze at 2.55sec. It was sweet revenge for Sun, who splashed the water and gave a triumphant roar, having been beaten by Horton in the 400m final at last year's Rio Olympics.
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