China’s Sun wins 3rd straight world title in 400 freestyle

It was the first of four individual freestyle events Sun is tackling at the championships.

China’s Sun Yang celebrates after winning the gold medal during the men’s 400m freestyle final at the Swimming World Championships in Kazan, Russia, Sunday, August 2, 2015.

The 23-year-old, the event’s reigning world and Olympic champion, clocked three minutes 44.99 seconds as Britain’s James Guy, Canada’s Ryan Cochrane and world bronze medallist Connor Jaeger of the USA also booked their berths.

World record holder Adam Peaty eased into the 100m breaststroke final, as did Ross Murdoch, whilst Ben Proud was second in his semi-final to make it into the 50m butterfly medal race.

Katie Ledecky, the brilliant 18-year-old who graduated from high school in June, had a far easier final to negotiate as the American coasted to gold in the women’s 400m freestyle. It was a fast race.

There was disappointment for Australian teenager Mack Horton as the 2015 world leader in the event finished 11th in the 400m heats to miss the final by 18 hundredths of a second. “But I can’t be happier to win a medal at the World Championships – I’m over the moon with that one”. She broke the previous record of 55.98 set by Dana Vollmer of the United States at the 2012 London Olympics.

Australia won the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, with the Netherlands and the United States taking silver and bronze respectively.

Only their 2011 campaign was better when they claimed an immaculate ten from ten and they can match their tally in Sunday’s men’s 10m platform final in Kazan.