GOLD COAST, Australia (AP) – The second coming of Michael Phelps gained momentum with another gold medal at the Pan Pacific championships on a night when teenager Katie Ledecky set yet another world record.
The old and the new faces of world swimming delivered on expectations Saturday, with 29-year-old Phelps following up on his relay gold by winning his first individual title since returning to international competition following 1 ½ years in retirement. The most decorated swimmer in history won the 100-meter butterfly in 51.29, edging long-time U.S. teammate Ryan Lochte.
In the next final, 17-year-old Ledecky won her fourth gold medal of the meet, taking 0.49 seconds off her world mark from the U.S. nationals to lower the record to 3 minutes, 58.37 seconds.