Dressel and Kalisz emerge as new USA stars at World Championships
Caeleb Dressel put the United States back on top in swimming’s glamour event. Chase Kalisz proved to be a worthy successor to Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.
Call it a changing of the guard for the American men.
For Katie Ledecky, on the other hand, it was a more familiar result — another gold medal after the biggest defeat of her career.
Ledecky earned her fourth gold of the world championships by anchoring U.S.A victory in the 4x200meter freestyle relay yesterday, taking over with a slight lead before powering away to win by a full body length.
About 24 hours after settling for silver in the 200 free, when she was passed on the final lap by Italy’s Federica Pellegrini, Ledecky reclaimed the more familiar top spot on the medal podium along with teammates Leah Smith, Mallory Comerford and Melanie Margalis.
The winning time was 7 minutes, 43.39 seconds. China took the silver and Australia the bronze.
Dressel shines in 100m
The 20-year-old Dressel emerged as America’s newest sprinting star in 100 free, holding off longtime team stalwart Nathan Adrian.
Dressel got off to a blistering start and won in a relative rout in the down-and-back race, touching in 47.17. Adrian surged from behind over the final strokes to claim the silver in 47.87, edging France’s Mehdy Metella — the fastest qualifier from the semifinals and swimming between the two Americans — by just two-hundredths of a second.
Dressel climbed up on a lane rope and pounded the water with both fists.
Adrian glided quickly from two lanes over to embrace the new world champion.
“I’m very excited about that,” Dressel said. “But more importantly, Americans went 1-2. I think that’s more exciting than any time that could be shown on that board.”
It was the biggest U.S.A triumph in the 100 free since Adrian won gold at the 2012 London Olympics.
Kalisz continues USA dominance in the 200m individual medley
Kalisz, meanwhile, extended American rule of the 200 individual medley, rallying to claim his first major international championship. The Americans have won the event at eight straight world championships, not to mention at the last four Olympics — with Phelps or Lochte winning every time.
“U.S.A has always been dominant in IMs, and that’s been one of our proudest traditions,” Kalisz said. “Michael and Ryan have been the centerpiece of that for almost 15 years now.”
But Kalisz is still miffed about a silver medal in the 400 IM at Rio, a setback that ended America’s dominance of that event.
“It took a toll on me for a few months,” he said. “The second I turned it around into motivation was kind of when I started making leaps forward. I think of that moment every single day. I never forget it. It’s probably my biggest motivator.”
The American reign of the 200 IM began with Phelps’ coming-out at the 2003 worlds in Barcelona.
Lochte had won the last two world titles.
Neither is course.
Phelps retired for the second time after the Rio Games, while Lochte missed out on a chance to qualify for the U.S.A team because of a suspension for his embarrassing antics at last summer’s Olympics.
Kalisz made sure the Americans in Budapest, of didn’t miss a beat, finally breaking through on a big stage. In addition to that disappointing silver from the Olympics, he also had a bronze and a silver in the 400 IM at the two previous worlds. Now, finally, a gold is his. It was a huge surprise. Kalisz was only fifth after the opening butterfly lap but stormed back to win in 1:55.56. Japan’s Kosuke Hagino claimed the silver, with the bronze going to China’s Wang Shun.
“If you had told me that this would be my first world title, I would have definitely laughed at you,” Kalisz said. “Four months ago, I was over three seconds slower. I know that I was going to be able to go faster than that time, but to get to the level where I am right now ... like I said, I probably would have laughed.”
Other events yesterday
In other events yesterday, Rio champion Mireia Belmonte of Spain stayed on top in the 200 butterfly, finishing strong to deny Katinka Hosszu another gold before the home crowd. Hungary’s “Iron Lady” was on top at the midway point, sending the packed house at Duna Arena into a frenzy, but Belmonte blazed past her to win in 2:05.26.
Germany’s Franziska Hentke grabbed the silver, leaving Hosszu to settle for bronze.
Also, Brazil’s Etiene Medeiros took gold in the women’s 50 backstroke, which isn’t an Olympic event. The silver went to China’s Fu Yuanhui, while Aliaksandra Herasimenia of Belarus earned the bronze.