5-star Ledecky powers on

Aquatics World Championship: US star sweeps freestyle titles; Seebohm, Sjostrom strike again

 Katie Ledecky broke her own 800M freestyle world record on Saturday by claiming an historic fifth gold medal at the world swimming championships to complete the sweep of freestyle titles.

Ledecky, 18, clocked 8:07.39 seconds to shave 2.61 seconds off the record she set last year and win gold with New Zealand's Lauren Boyle setting a new Oceania record of 8:17.65 to take silver at 10.26 back. Britain's Jaz Carlin earned bronze at 10.76.

She is the first swimmer to win the freestyle sweep of 200, 400, 800 and 1500M world titles, while she also won gold in the 4x200M freestyle relay.

le Clos retains gold

South Africa's Chad le Clos beat Hungary's Laszlo Cseh on the wall to retain his 100M butterfly gold and avenge his defeat over 200M.

Le Clos clocked 50.56 seconds for a new African record as Cseh took silver at 0.31 back while Singapore's Joseph Schooling swam an Asian record of 50.96 at 0.40.

Manaudou on top

France’s Olympic champion Florent Manaudou claimed the world crown when he won the men’s 50M freestyle gold.

Manaudou clocked 21.19 seconds with Nathan Adrian of the United States, the Olympic 100M champion, taking silver at 0.33 seconds as Brazil's Bruno Fratus earned bronze at 0.36.

 Seebohm’s double

Australia's Emily Seebohm won the women's 200M backstroke gold to complete the double having already won the 100M title.

Seebohm clocked a new Oceania record of two minutes, 05.81 seconds with Olympic champion Missy Franklin of the USA taking silver at 0.53 seconds as Hungary's Katinka Hosszu earned bronze at 1.03.

Franklin had led at the halfway stage, but a spurt in the final 50 metres gave Seebohm her third worlds gold in Kazan having helped Australia win the 4x100M freestyle relay last Sunday.

In another race, the United States set a world record in the final of the mixed 4x100M freestyle.  The American team of Ryan Lochte, Nathan Adrian, Simone Manuel and Missy Franklin set a combined time of three minutes 23.05 seconds to win the gold medal.

Their time bettered the previous world record of 3:23.29 set by Australia last year.
Later in the day, Sweden's Sarah Sjostrom won the women's 50M butterfly final to complete her double having already won the 100M title.

Sjostrom clocked 24.96 seconds in the 200M final, to set a new championship record, with Denmark's Jeanette Ottesen taking silver at 0.38 seconds back.
China's Lu Ying swam a new Asian record of 25.37 seconds to claim bronze at 0.41.


Results: Men: 50M Freestyle: Florent Manaudou (Fra) 21.19, 1; Nathan Adrian (US) 21.52, 2; Bruno Fratus (Bra) 21.55, 3.

100M Butterfly: Chad Le Clos (SA) 50.56, 1; Laszlo Cseh (Hun) 50.87, 2; Joseph Isaac Schooling (Sin) 50.96, 3.

Women: 800M Freestyle: Katie Ledecky (US) 8:07.39 WR (8:11.00, 2014), 1; Lauren Boyle (NZ) 8:17.65, 2; Jazmin Carlin (Gbr) 8:18.15, 3.

200M Backstroke: Emily Seebohm (Aus) 2:05.81, 1; Missy Franklin (US) 2:06.34, 2; Katinka Hosszu (Hun) 2:06.84, 3.

50M Butterfly: Sarah Sjoestroem (Swe) 24.96, 1; Jeanette Ottesen (Den) 25.34, 2; Lu Ying (Chi) 25.37, 3.

Mixed: 4 x 100M Freestyle Relay: US 3:23.05 WR (Australia, 3:23.29, 2014); Netherlands 3:23.10, 2; Canada 3:23.59, 3.