Aussies set world record, edge US in 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 a record time of 7 minutes, 41.50 seconds at the world championships on 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 rubber suit 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.
The Americans medaled in all five finals, with Caeleb Dressel and Olivia Smoliga winning golds.
Ledecky hadn’t competed since preliminaries on Monday. The following day she withdrew from the 200 freestyle heats and the 1,500 freestyle 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 23-time 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).”
Her meet had gotten off to a rough start when she was upset by Titmus in the 400 freestyle on the first night.
This time, Simone Manuel led off against the 18-year-old Aussie, with Titmus taking it out under world-record pace on the opening lap.
Ledecky put the U.S. in front before handing it off to Melanie Margalis, who led after 600 meters. That’s when Mclaughlin chased against Mckeon, who put the Aussies right back in front for good.
Ledecky’s lone remaining individual event is the 800 freestyle, with prelims on Friday.
“That went a lot better than I expected, so I’d say 95% sure that I’ll swim tomorrow,” she said.
Watching from the stands was Lilly King, who was disqualified from the morning heats of the 200 breaststroke and lost an appeal to be reinstated. The American was penalized for not touching the wall with both hands in a simultaneous motion in the first turn of the fourlap race.
It was a big blow for King, the outspoken doping critic aiming for a sweep of the breaststroke titles. She already won the 100 over Russian rival Yulia Efimova, who advanced to the 200 final as the fastest qualifier.
Dressel won swimming’s glamour event, the 100 freestyle, 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 seconds off the 10-year-old world record of 46.91 set by Brazil’s Cesar Cielo.
Dressel’s other golds came in the 50 butterfly, a non-olympic event, and the 4x100 freestyle relay. He took silver in the mixed 4x100 medley relay.
Smoliga won the 50 backstroke, a nonolympic event.