American idols on song at PanPac

TOKYO: America’s big hitters flexed their muscles at the Pan Pacific swimming championships as Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Dressel and Chase Kalisz all won gold for Team USA.

Not to be outdone, hosts Japan captured two titles through Rikako Ikee and Yui Ohashi but their American rivals continued to rule the roost, ruthlessly signalling their intent two years out from the 2020 Olympics.

Hot favorite Ledecky stormed to victory in the women’s 400m freestyle, recording the sixth- fastest time ever to make up for the American’s disappointment in the 200m.

The five- time Olympic gold medallist flirted with her own world record before touching in 3: 58.50 with Australia’s Commonwealth Games champ Ariarne Titmus also ducking under four minutes to take silver.

“I know how to swim this race like the back of my hand,” said Ledecky, who eased to victory in the 800m freestyle earlier in the week but was stunned by Canada’s teen sensation Taylor Ruck in the 200m.

“I just took confidence from that. It didn’t feel good, the 200m, but I’m not swimming angry, I’m swimming happy.”

Dressel, who last year became only the second swimmer to win seven gold medals at a single world championships after Michael Phelps in 2007, flexed his muscles in the men’s 100m butterfly as he powered to victory in a Pan Pacific- best 50.75.

“I was happy with that,” Dressel told AFP after breaking Phelps’s old championship record.

“I can’t ask for anything more,” added the American, beaten by Australia’s Kyle Chalmers in Friday’s 100m freestyle final.

“I had no idea what the record was. That wasn’t on my mind—you shouldn’t be racing for time, you should be racing to get your hands on the wall first.”

Fellow American Jack Conger (51.32) took silver and Brazil’s Vini Lanza (51.44) bronze.

Dressel returned to help the United States win the 4x100m freestyle relay -- only for the team to be disqualified for swimming out of order, gifting the gold to Brazil.