Ledecky on top of world for U.S.
On a night when Katie Ledecky returned to a more familiar spot — the top rung of the medal podium — the U.S. men’s team began passing the torch to a new generation at the world championships in Budapest, Hungary. Step aside, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. You’ve got a worthy successor in Chase Kalisz.
Sorry, Nathan Adrian. It’s Caeleb Dressel’s time to shine. Kalisz extended American dominance in the 200-meter individual medley yesterday with a bit of Olympic redemption, ably filling the void left by Phelps’ retirement and Lochte’s absence in Budapest.
The 20-year-old Dressel put the United States back on top in swimming’s glamour event, pulling away to a dominating win in the 100 freestyle while Adrian gladly settled for the silver.
“He crushed it,” said Adrian, the 100 gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics. “He’s going to be incredible for years to come.”
Ledecky earned her fourth gold of the championships by anchoring the U.S. victory in the 4x200 free relay, 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 returned to form on a team that also included Leah Smith, Mallory Comerford and Melanie Margalis. “I knew I would have a big race,” said Ledecky, who now has 13 golds in the world championship career, along with that lone silver. “I had an off-day yesterday. It happens. You just try to bounce back as best you can from it and move forward.”
Galaxy bring back Sigi
The LA Galaxy are running out of time to save their season, so they’ve brought back a familiar face to lead their playoff charge. The Galaxy fired coach Curt Onalfo just 20 games into his first season and re-hired veteran coach Sigi Schmid to run the struggling MLS powerhouse.
The Galaxy (6-10-4) sit ninth in the 11-team Western Conference after losing six consecutive games across all competitions in July, including an embarrassing 4-3 loss to the Revs last weekend.
Bob Bradley has been named the first coach of the Los Angeles Football Club, the MLS expansion franchise due to begin play next year. Bradley is the former coach of the U.S. men’s national team and the most accomplished American coach in international club soccer history.
He had long been rumored to be a target of the deep-pocketed LAFC ownership group, which hopes to make an immediate MLS splash when it enters the nation’s second-largest market to compete with the LA Galaxy, the fivetime MLS Cup champions.
LAFC will formally introduce Bradley today at the Natural History Museum in downtown Los Angeles, next door to the site of the club’s under-construction new stadium. . . .
Lionel Messi, the greatest soccer player in the world in the eyes of many, arrived in Miami with his FC Barcelona teammates to prepare for tomorrow’s El Clasico clash against rival Real Madrid in Hard Rock Stadium. It remains to be seen whether Messi will get a chance to go toe-to-toe with the only other man who could make a case for best in the world, Real’s Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronald’s status for the game was unknown. . . .
FIFA has fined Qatar’s soccer federation after national team players breached rules against political statements by displaying T-shirts of the country’s Emir at a World Cup qualifier.
No playoffs for Cannons
Matt Rambo’s fourth-quarter goal finished the scoring for host Charlotte as the Hounds (5-7) took a 16-12 Major League Lacrosse win over the Boston Cannons (3-8). The loss eliminated the Cannons from postseason contention. . . .
Marreese Speights is finally returning home — or close to it. The Orlando Magic announced the signing of the 6-foot-10 veteran center from St. Petersburg, Fla. In addition to Speights, the Magic also announced the signing of veteran guard Arron Afflalo and free agent center Khem Birch. ...
Andrei Markov is leaving the NHL after 16 seasons with the Montreal Canadiens to play in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League. Markov hopes to represent Russia in the Olympics next February in South Korea.