BUDAPEST: Olympic silver medallist Katie Ledecky powered to victory in the women's 400 metres freestyle event on the opening day of the swimming World Championships in Budapest on Saturday to capture a record-extending 16th gold medal in the competition.
Katie Ledecky, 25, was already the most successful female swimmer coming into the World Championships and now has 19 medals in total. Only her male compatriots Michael Phelps (26 titles) and Ryan Lochte (18) have won more gold medals.
Ledecky took full advantage of the absence of reigning world and Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus of Australia to reclaim her title with a time of three minutes and 58.15 seconds, finishing ahead of Canadian 15-year-old Summer McIntosh, who took silver. American Leah Smith was third, nearly four seconds behind her compatriot. Agencies
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