Ledecky rebounds to take 400 freestyle
Win made up for third in 200 freestyle, a rare miss for Olympic champion
TOKYO— Americans Katie Ledecky and Caeleb Dressel rebounded from unexpected losses at the Pan Pacific Championships.
Ledecky, the Olympic and world champion and world record-holder in the 400 freestyle, won that race in three minutes, 58.50 seconds, the sixth-fastest time at the distance. She has the 10 fastest times in the event.
The win made up for finishing third on Thursday in the 200 freestyle, a rare loss for the reigning Olympic champion in the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle.
“It didn’t feel good, the 200, but I’m feeling better each session,” said Ledecky, who acknowledged many of the Americans have had trouble beating jet-lag.
Australian Ariarne Titmus finished second in 3:59.66, breaking the four-minute barrier in a fabric suit.
“I knew I was going fast and I knew I’d be pushed,” Ledecky said. “I just was racing. I wasn’t thinking about time. I know how to swim that race like it’s the back of my hand.”
Dressel, who won seven gold medals last year at the world championships, is billed as the next star in the post-Michael Phelps era.
He was beaten Friday in the 100 freestyle, but came back Saturday to win the 100 butterfly in 50.75, just 0.25 off his season’s best, which is also the best in the world this year.
Japan produced several key victories, underlining the Olympic hosts will be ready in the pool in two years.
The big star was 18-year-old Rikako Ikee, who won the 100 butterfly in a blistering time of 56.08. It was the fastest time in the world this year, even ahead of the dominant racer at this distance — Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden, the Olympic champion, world champion, and world record-holder.
Sjostrom’s world mark is 55.48, and Ikee is closing in.
“I’m not thinking too much about the world record,” she said through an interpreter. “If I do, I think my body will stiffen up and I won’t be able to race as well.” Ikee finished second on Thursday in the 200 freestyle, ahead of Ledecky in a race won by Taylor Ruck of Canada.
The meet in the pool wraps up Sunday, with the outdoors distance swims set for Tuesday.