Pellegrini upstages Ledecky
Katie Ledecky said defeat in the women's 200m freestyle final on Wednesday will motivate her "for a couple of years", after Italy's Federica Pellegrini snatched gold at the world championships.
Pellegrini touched the wall first at one minute, 54.73 seconds with American Ledecky, the reigning world and Olympic champion, and Australia's Emma McKeon sharing silver as they both clocked 1:55.18.
The 28-year-old Pellegrini, who also won the world title over 200m at home in Rome in 2009 and Shanghai in 2011, said this was the last 200m freestyle of her career as she eyes retirement.
"It is an amazing medal. I thought I would get on the podium, but not the gold medal -- I thought Ledecky would win it ," said Pellegrini, who finished fourth in last year's Olympic final in Rio de Janeiro.
"Before the last 50 metres, I thought I was in the same position as Rio, I didn't know where I would get the energy. This is the last 200 freestyle of my career."
Having become the first female swimmer to win 12 world titles with victory in the 1500m freestyle final on Tuesday, Ledecky had been the favourite in the 200m final, but lost on the wall.
This is the first time in 13 finals, spanning three world championships and four years, that Ledecky has not finished with a gold medal and she says the defeat will motivate her for years to come.
"I knew it was going to be a tough field, but I can't complain with the silver," said the 20-year-old Ledecky.
"I don't know what it was, I'll have to review the race video and see what I could have done better.
“That will light some fire under me for the next couple of years."
Meanwhile, the United States broke the mixed 4x100m medley world-record at the world aquatic championships on Wednesday while Cameron McEvoy was the fastest from the men's 100m freestyle heats.
The US quartet of Ryan Murphy, Kevin Cordes, Kelsei Worrell and Mallory Comerford clocked 3mins 40.28secs in the heats to break the previous mixed medley relay record of 3:41.71 set by Great Britain two years ago in Kazan.
The relay record is in danger of falling again in Wednesday night's final with Australia, Great Britain and Canada all qualifying behind the USA.
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