Ledecky wins 800m freestyle, US set relay world record, more gold for China’s divers
Chen Yiwen and Chen Jia finish first and second in women’s 3m springboard diving, while Ledecky takes seventh world title in thriller
Katie Ledecky won a seventh 800 metres freestyle title, the United States set a world record to take 4x100m freestyle mixed relay gold, and China continued to dominate diving at the World Aquatics Championships on Saturday.
The US’ Ledecky had to give her all to secure a 23rd career world title as she was pushed to the limit by Australian Lani Pallister and Canadian star Summer McIntosh from start to finish.
Ledecky edged Pallister by a mere 0.32 of a second as she clocked a championship record of eight minutes 5.62 seconds, missing her world record by just 1.5 seconds.
McIntosh, who briefly led with 100m to go, earned bronze in her first major 800m duel with Ledecky, 1.67 seconds back. McIntosh had won the 400m freestyle, 200m medley and 200m butterfly gold in Singapore.
“It was incredibly fast; they pushed me all the way,” nine-time Olympic champion Ledecky said.
China’s Li Bingjie was fifth with a time of 8:15.59 on a day when the country’s swimmers finished empty-handed.