(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Sun Yang of China claimed the first pool gold in a grudge contest at the swimming world championships in Budapest yesterday while American star Katie Ledecky doubled in what she hopes will be a dream week.
Sun produced a devastating performance to retain his 400-metre freestyle title from 2015 in 3 minutes 41.38 seconds, a decisive 2.47 seconds ahead of Australian Olympic champion Horton. Italy's Gabriele Detti was third, a further 8 hundredths adrift.
Upon touching up Sun turned in Horton's direction to celebrate, splashing the water, and went to collect a Chinese flag from supporters rather than leaving poolside with his competitors. The Aussie had labelled Sun a drugs cheat before the 2016 Olympics, in reference to a three-month doping ban the Chinese served in 2014.
Ledecky was dominant in the women's 400m freestyle, retaining her title by some 3.2 seconds. The multiple Olympic champion did not threaten her own world record but clocked a comfortable 3:58.34 minutes, a championship record, to take gold ahead of compatriot Leah Smith. China's Li Bingjie was third.
The women's 4x100m later gave Ledecky a second gold on the opening day of pool events. Trailing after legs from Mallory Comerford and Kelsi Worrell, Ledecky closed in on the leading Swedes and anchor Simone Manuel took victory in 3:31.72 minutes ahead of Australia and the Netherlands.
Sweden had led largely thanks to their own star, Sarah Sjostrom, setting a 100m freestyle world record of 51.71 seconds in the first leg, shattering Australian Cate Campbell's 52.06 seconds from last year.
The men's 4x100m also went to the Americans in 3:10.06 minutes as anchor Nathan Adrian held off a furious challenge from Brazil after Caeleb Dressel, Townley Haas and Blake Pieroni built a lead.
Hungary took bronze to the delight of their raucous home fans. Sun started slowly as Briton James Guy and 2008 Olympic champion Park Tae Hwan of South Korea held the early lead. But by 150m he had moved to the front and slowly but surely ground down the opposition. Horton, who had lacked the form of his victorious Olympic year, also moved up through the pack but trailed Sun by clear water as the 300m mark approached. The gap never looked like reducing and Sun easily held on for his eighth world title along with three Olympic golds.
He will also compete in the 200m, 800m and 1,500m throughout the meet.
'I trained a lot and I must admit I am getting older, and suffer some injuries, Sun said. 'We will see during the week how it works and I will concentrate on one race after the other.
Despite the apparent bad blood between the two men, Horton applauded Sun during the medal presentation and congratulated him with a handshake and a brief clap on the back.
'The biggest disappointment was the time, said Horton, playing down losing to his rival. 'I wasn't as fast as I can be. 'I tried to be stronger in the front end, but I was just too soft, I think. I need to be harder on myself.
Throughout the week, the 20-year-old Ledecky is hoping to raise her tally to six freestyle golds as she aims to retain the 200m, 800m and 1,500m titles, and the 4x200m relay won in Kazan two years ago. 'For me, the 400m freestyle is my favourite event, and I am satisfied with the second place as I had not ever swum together with Katie Ledecky in an individual event at the world championships, Smith said.
'It was a new experience.
In semi-final action, home hopeful Katinka Hosszu topped the women's 200m individual medley for the loudest cheers of the session — until she was usurped by the relay medal. The strong favourite Sjostrom topped the women's 100m butterfly while Dressel paced the men's 50m fly.
And British Olympic champion Adam Peaty was largely unchallenged in topping the men's 100m breaststroke in a championship record 57.75 seconds. South Africa's Cameron van der Burgh, Olympic champion in 2012, was a late scratch to apparently focus on the shorter 50m race.
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