Ledecky, Lochte earn golds for US at world swimming meet

Lochte described Ledecky, who is bidding to win her fourth women’s freestyle title of the championships in the 800m at the weekend, as “phenomenal”.

Just before 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the “Star-Spangled Banner” rang out across Kazan Arena, and for once, an American flag rose to the rafters with someone other than Katie Ledecky standing beneath it on the top level of the medal stand. Here instead, and none too soon, was an old familiar face. She was still in front through the third lap before fading to eighth. “I’m looking forward because we have a year to go to the Olympics in Rio, in my country”.

“This evening is the night I will never forget”, Ning said through a translator.

“It seems whenever she sets foot in the water she either wins gold or breaks a world record – she’s a beast”. The recent high school graduate shows no signs of slowing down in Kazan, where she still has the 400 and 800 freestyles remaining.

“That’s the best place I’ve ever got, a world silver medal”, McEvoy said.

“It’s an honour to go down in history with one of the world’s great swimmers – Grant Hackett”, said Lochte. “That confidence has fueled my swims this week”.

There was further American success at the competition in Kazan, Russia.

She beat Etiene Medeiros of Brazil with another Chinese athlete, Liu Xiang, claiming third.

Having qualified second fastest from the heats, the Commonwealth bronze medallist won his semi-final in 2:08.72 to progress in fifth overall.

American Katie McLaughlin led the first three laps but faded to sixth.

French Olympic champion Florent Manaudou dominated the men’s 50m butterfly with a winning mark of 22.97, with Brazil’s Nicholas Santos coming in second in 23.09, followed by Hungary’s Laszlo Cseh with bronze in 23.15. He hung on and touched first in 1:53.48.

“I tried to take it out really hard”.

“I’m definitely really humbled and to say you have made history in any sport is one of the coolest things”.

Lochte has also won five Olympic gold medals (11 total) in three Summer Games appearances.

“I know I need to keep working on the race”, Cseh said.

Yet after finishing outside the medals in the 200m freestyle, his medley gold – the 16th world title of his glittering career – demonstrated why the 31-year-old is still a major force in the pool. He’s competing at the U.S. nationals in Texas this week.

His former Gator team-mate Ryan Lochte claimed a fourth consecutive title.

Cameron McEvoy of Australia was right behind him at 47.95 to pick up silver and veteran Argentine Federico Grabich finished with the bronze after swimming a 48.12. Kevin Cordes (USA) 26.86.

Russia’s Vladimir Morozov was disqualified for a false start in the semifinals, and defending champion James Magnussen of Australia is home with a shoulder injury. He sat on the lane line in shock at the announcement. “I expected a better time”.

Britain’s Chris Walker-Hebborn, Peaty, Siobhan O’Connor and Fran Halsall won the mixed relay in 3:41.71, a world record in the new event.