Streak over for Ledecky

Pellegrini wins 200 free in torrid finish

Associated Press

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Katie Ledecky reached for the wall. Someone else was already there.

For the first time ever at the world championships, Ledecky knows what it’s like to lose.

Bidding to become only the second female swimmer to win six golds at a single worlds, Ledecky settled for silver in the 200-meter freestyle Wednesday evening when Italy’s Federica Pellegrini surged to a victory on the final lap.

Pellegrini, the worldrecord holder, avenged a close defeat at the hands of Ledecky two years ago in Kazan, Russia.

This time, it was the Italian touching first in 1 minute, 54.73 seconds. Ledecky and Australia’s Emma McKeon tied for the silver at 1:55.18.

“I just didn’t really have it today,” Ledecky said. “I can’t complain really with the silver medal.”

While Pellegrini covered her mouth in delight and climbed atop a lane rope to celebrate, Ledecky stared blankly at the scoreboard. She had never seen a “2” beside her name at the world championships.

It was there in Budapest, where Ledecky’s unbeaten streak in the second-biggest swimming competition after the Olympics finally ended.

“I didn’t really feel at the end that I had that extra gear that I normally have,” said the 20-year-old Stanford student.

Ledecky had been 12 of 12 over the past three world championships, including three golds in this stately European capital.

But her most audacious schedule yet — six freestyle events covering distances ranging from 100 meters (on a relay) to 1,500 (the grueling metric mile) — finally caught up with her.

Missy Franklin remains the only female swimmer to win a half-dozen events at worlds, while Ledecky can take comfort in being the winningest female swimmer overall. Twelve golds leave her trailing only fellow Americans Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte in victories.

“It happens,” said Ledecky, who will be a heavy favorite in her last two events, the 4x200 free relay and the 800 free. “I know this race will really motivate me moving forward and the rest of the week.”

The 28-year-old Pellegrini became the first swimmer in the history of the championship to capture seven medals in a single event. Pellegrini’s incredible run in the 200 free began at the 2005 worlds in Montreal with a silver.

She was third in 2007 at Melbourne, and then had back-to-back victories, including a world-record performance at Rome in 2009 (1:52.98) that still stands from the rubbersuit era.

Pellegrini was runnerup at the past two worlds, finishing behind Franklin in 2013 at Barcelona and Ledecky two years ago.

On Wednesday, the Italian was back on top

Her closing 50 was a blistering 28.82 — nearly a full second faster than both Ledecky and McKeon — in what she called the last 200 of her career.

“Everything seemed to be in slow motion to me in the water,” Pellegrini said. “At 150 meters on the turn we were all there, so I closed my eyes.”