Katie Ledecky, U.S. men shine at the world championships.
BUDAPEST, Hungary — 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.
Step aside, Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte. You have a worthy successor in Chase Kalisz.
Sorry, Nathan Adrian. It is Caeleb Dressel’s time to shine.
Kalisz extended American dominance in the 200-meter individual medley Thursday with a bit of Olympic redemption, ably filling the void left by Phelps’ retirement and Lochte’s absence in Budapest.
“Big congrats to my little bro!!!” Phelps wrote on Instagram to his former training partner at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club. “Love ya dude!!!”
Dressel, 20, put the United States back on top in swimming’s glamor event, pulling away to a dominating victory 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.”
More gold for Ledecky
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 her 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.”
The U.S. was just 0.13 seconds ahead when Ledecky took over for Margalis. The Americans finished in 7 minutes, 43.39 seconds with a comfortable 1.57 second margin over China. Australia took the bronze.
“Diving in when our anchor is a multitime worldrecord holder just gives you the most confidence you can have,” said Smith, who led off.
Also Thursday, Olympic champion Mireia Belmonte of Spain stayed on top in the women’s 200 butterfly, finishing strong to deny Katinka Hosszu another gold before the home crowd. Hungary’s “Iron Lady” was leading 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 Me deir os 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.
Streak continues
Kalisz extended American rule of the 200 IM with his first major international championship. The Americans have won the event at eight consecutive world championships, not to mention at the last four Olympics — with Phelps or Lochte winning every time.
“The U.S. 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 .”
But Kalisz is still miffed about a silver medal in the 400 IM at Rio — a setback that ended America’s Olympic dominance of that event stretching to the 1992 Barcelona Games.
“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.”