Katie Ledecky passes Michael Phelps for most individual golds at world championships

Katie Ledecky of the U.S. competes during the women's 800m freestyle final at the World Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Saturday, July 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

FUKUOKA, Japan — Here's why Katie Ledecky is one of the greatest freestyle swimmers in the history of the sport. She's never quite satisfied.

The 26-year-old American won the 800-freestyle on Saturday at the World Aquatics Championships to become the first swimmer to win six golds in the same event at the worlds. It was also her 16th individual world title, breaking a tie with legendary Michael Phelps for the most golds at the worlds.

She's also a seven-time Olympic gold medalist and the record holder in both the 800 and 1,500.

But that winning time -- 8 minutes, 08.87 seconds, which is the seventh quickest she'd even swum -- wasn't quite good enough in her favourite event.

"I'm just always trying to think of new ways to improve. I mean I've already got everything turning in my head right now. I kind of wanted to be better than I was tonight," she said, twirling her right hand beside her right ear, trying to stir up ideas.

"I'm pretty tough on myself," she said. "But I think I have found the balance of being tough on myself but also having that grace."

The 800 was Ledecky's second individual gold following her win in the 1,500 free on Tuesday. She also took silver in the 400 free. Li Bingjie of China took silver in 8:13.31, and Ariarne Titmus of Australia got the bronze in 8:13.59.

"It's fun to leave a meet with your favourite event, and I just wanted to leave it all in the pool," Ledecky said.

It was only the fourth gold for the United States in the seventh of eight days in the pool. Meanwhile, Australia has been piling it on with 13 golds, matching its best in the worlds. Australia also won three more golds on Saturday.

The Americans lead the overall table with 31 medals (16 silver), Australia has 20 and China 13.

Kaylee McKeown of Australia made history of her own with gold in the women's 200 backstroke. McKeown's victory gave her a sweep of all three backstroke events after earlier wins in the 50 and 100. She became the first swimmer ever to sweep all three backstrokes at the worlds.

It all made up for disqualification earlier in the meet in the 200 IM.

"You can't change the rules," she said. "I got ruled out. It's just the cards I was dealt with and I couldn't do much more than that. So I just had to carry myself the best I could and channel all my anger and turn a huge negative into a positive."

Regan Smith of the United States picked up the silver in 2:04.94, while Peng Xuwei of China got the bronze in 2:06.74.

Sarah Sjoestroem of Sweden continued her dominance with gold in the women's 50-metre butterfly. The 29-year-old won in 24.77 and has now won the event five consecutive times at the worlds. The win brought Sjoestroem's individual medals at the worlds to 20, equalling Phelps' mark.

Sjoestroem also broke her own record in the 50 freestyle, going 23.61 in a semifinal heat. Her old record was 23.67 set in 2017.

"There are not too many secrets," Sjoestroem said to her longevity. "Just do the work every day, go to practice, and stay humble."

Zhang Yufei of China, who took gold in the 100 fly, claimed the silver in 25.05, while American Gretchen Walsh got the bronze in 25.46.

Japanese fan favourite Rikako Ikee finished seventh (25.78) in the 50 fly but was greeted warmly by the home crowd.

The 23-year-old Ikee won six gold medals at the 2018 Asian Games and was to be a favourite in the Tokyo Olympics. But she was diagnosed with leukemia in February of 2019. Her comeback continues to resonate with both the Japanese public and her fellow competitors.

Cameron McEvoy of Australia led all the way to capture the gold in the men's 50 free in 21.06. It was his first individual gold in the worlds or Olympics.

American Jack Alexy collected his second silver of the worlds in 21.57 to go with his silver in the 100 free. Benjamin Proud of Britian, last year's world champion, took the bronze in 21.58.

Dressell won the event in Tokyo but did not qualify for the American team, taking a little break from the sport. McEvoy's time was quicker than Dressell's winning time in Tokyo -- 21.07

Maxime Grousset of France won gold in the men's 100 fly in 50.14. The 24-year-old took the early lead and held on for the victory. Josh Liendo of Canada earned the silver in 50.34, while American Dare Rose made the podium with the bronze (50.46).

Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania equalled the world record of 29.30 in her semifinal in the women's 50 breaststroke.

Australia won the 4x100 mixed freestyle relay in a world record of 3:18.83. The Americans took the silver in 3:20.82, with Britain getting the bronze in 3:21.68. The relay is not an Olympic event.