Ledecky returns, but U.S. loses relay
GWANGJU, South Korea — The Americans got ailing Katie Ledecky back. They just couldn’t overcome a world record by the Australians.
Ledecky returned after two days out of the pool while being sick to swim in the 4x200meter freestyle relay. She rallied the U.S. to the lead on her second leg, but it wasn’t enough to defend the title from 2017.
Australia won in 7 minutes, 41.50 seconds at the world championships Thursday.
Ariarne Titmus, Madison Wilson, Brianna Throssell and Emma McKeon took down the old mark of 7:42.08 set by China at the 2009 worlds in Rome during the height of the rubbersuit era. The United States took silver in 7:41.87, also going under China’s old mark. Canada earned bronze.
It was still a big night at the pool for the U.S. team.
The Americans medaled in all five finals, with Caeleb Dressel and Olivia Smoliga winning golds.
After swimming her fourlap leg, Ledecky sat down in a chair behind the blocks. She got up to cheer on Katie McLaughlin during the anchor leg.
Ledecky hadn’t competed since preliminaries Monday. The following day, she withdrew from the 200 free heats and the 1,500 free final because of symptoms that included dehydration and vomiting.
“We don’t know exactly what caused this all,” she said. “I wouldn’t have pulled out if it wasn’t serious or if I wasn’t concerned and scared and worried about my health.”
In the middle of a sleepless night, Ledecky’s phone pinged with a text from Michael Phelps. The retired 23time Olympic gold medalist heard about her illness half a world away and was checking in.
“That meant a lot,” Ledecky said. “That gave me a little bit” extra.
Ledecky’s lone remaining individual event is the 800 free, with prelims Friday.
Dressel won swimming’s glamour event, the 100 free, for his third gold and fourth medal overall.
Dressel touched in 46.96 seconds, the only man to dip under 47 seconds in the final. He was only 0.05 of a second off the 10yearold world record of 46.91 set by Brazil’s Cesar Cielo.
“It took 100% effort and I had someone right there on my tail for me to race,” Dressel said. “I kind of shut off thinking about the race, so that helped a lot and having Kyle right there.”
Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers of Australia settled for silver in 47.08. Vladislav Grinev of Russia took bronze in 47.82.