FUKUOKA, Japan (Reuters) – Matthew Richards of Britain finished strongly to capture the gold medal ahead of compatriot Tom Dean in the men’s 200 metres freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships on Tuesday with a solid time of one minute, 44.30 seconds.
Olympic champion Dean finished 0.02 seconds behind to take silver and Hwang Sun-woo of South Korea snatched bronze from a stacked field, while 2022 world champion David Popovici of Romania missed out on a podium spot.
Seven-times Olympic champion Katie Ledecky will be the firm favourite for the women’s 1,500m freestyle, with the American going over 13 seconds faster than Italy’s Simona Quadarella – the next best in the heats.
Ledecky, who is gunning for a fifth world title over the distance, was dethroned by the record-breaking Ariarne Titmus in the 400m freestyle event on Sunday.
Kaylee McKeown, Australia’s triple Olympic gold medallist, endured a nightmare after being disqualified from the women’s 200m medley and the 22-year-old will aim to make up for her disappointment in the 100m backstroke final later.
But victory will not come easy with defending world champion Regan Smith of the United States going faster in the preliminary races and Katharine Berkoff breathing down the Australian’s neck to set up an intriguing final.
McKeown will need to channel the form that secured her the world record of 57.45 seconds at the Australian Olympic trials in 2021 to swell her country’s gold medal tally.
Italy’s Thomas Ceccon will aim to add another gold to his collection after sealing the men’s 50m butterfly title on Monday when he takes to the Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall pool to defend his 100m backstroke crown.
The moustached 22-year-old boasts the world record of 51.60 seconds set in Budapest a year ago.
World record holder Lilly King faces a tough challenge in the women’s 100m breaststroke final that concludes the third day’s action, with the American second overall after the semi-finals which fellow 26-year-old Ruta Meilutyte dominated.
Lithuania’s Meilutyte, who won gold at the London Games 11 years ago, is targeting a first world title in the event since her 2013 success in Barcelona and went even faster during the heats breaking the 1:05 mark for the first time in a decade.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)
