Aussies set record in beating Katie, U.S. women

RIO DE JANEIRO — Australia turned to the best sister act in swimming to hold off an American team anchored by Katie Ledecky.

Give the gold — and a world record — to Cate and Bronte Campbell.

The Campbells carried their squad to victory in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay Saturday night at the Rio Olympics, with little sister Bronte snatching the lead from Dana Vollmer on the third leg and big sister Cate pulling away from Ledecky on the final down-and-back for a time of 3:30.65. The Aussies broke their own mark of 3:30.98 set two years ago.

The powerful Americans managed three silvers on the day, but couldn’t reach the top step on the podium.

Simone Manuel and Abbey Weitzeil did their best in the relay, giving the U.S. a lead at the midway point. But Bronte Campbell was more than a second faster than Vollmer, who had competed about an hour earlier in the semifinals of the 100 butterfly, and Ledecky was no match for Cate Campbell, the world-record holder in the 100 free.

The U.S. had to settle for silver in an American-record time of 3:31.89, extending a gold medal drought in the event that goes back to the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Still, it gives Ledecky a strong shot at capturing five medals in Rio. She’s favored in the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle events, and could take another gold in the 4x200 free relay.

“It made it so much more fun to have a relay as the first event,” Ledecky said. “We couldn’t be happier with our silver medal and American record.” Canada claimed the bronze. Also, Australia’s Mack Horton took down Sun Yang of China in the 400 free without giving his bitter rival so much as a passing glance. The wins by Horton and the women’s relay team capped an impressive first night for the Aussies, who captured only one swimming gold medal in London four years ago.