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Katie Ledecky, USA Win 4x100m Free Relay at 2017 World Aquatics Championships
July 23, 2017
The United States continued its great start at the World Aquatics Championships as the women's team took home first place in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.
The USA Swimming account celebrated the win:
It was already the second gold medal of the day for Katie Ledecky, who also won the 400-meter freestyle earlier Sunday.
The superstar is aiming for six gold medals in Budapest, which would tie a record for the most at a single world championship.
She could reach this mark with ease if her past success in any indication. Gracenote Olympic noted just how good Ledecky has been in the biggest events in her career:
While Ledecky did her part, she actually had the slowest U.S. leg at 53.83 seconds. Pat Forde of Yahoo Sports credited Mallory Comerford and Simone Manuel for their work at the start and end of the relay:
Manuel is the reigning Olympic gold medalist in the 100-meter freestyle, and she showcased her ability to pull away from the field on the final leg.
The team finished in a time of 3:31.72, just ahead of Australia's second-place run of 3:32.01. The Netherlands earned the bronze medal with a time of 3:32.64.
Sweden got everything it could out of star Sarah Sjostrom. She not only put her team in the lead on the opening leg, but she also set a world record in the process, per Nick Zaccardi of NBC Sports:
Her split of 51.71 seconds was easily the best of the day, but the country didn't have quite as much depth as the United States or other teams. Sweden finished behind Canada in fifth place.
However, this was a chance for the United States to celebrate its win after losing to Australia in this event during the Rio Olympics. Both Ledecky and Manuel were part of the finals squad that took silver, and Sunday's result allowed them to avenge their loss against Bronte Campbell and Emma McKeon two years later.