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SPORTS Wednesday 26 July 2023
Ledecky wins gold in 1,500 at the swimming worlds to tie mark set

by Michael Phelps

By STEPHEN WADE phy clocked 52.22 and
AP Sports Writer Ceccon 52.27, with bronze
FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — for American Hunter Arm-
Katie Ledecky won the strong in 52.58.
1,500-meter freestyle with “It’s awesome to go against
ease on Tuesday at the a great field, and it’s awe-
World Aquatics Champion- some to get two Americans
ships in a landmark victory on the podium,” Murphy
which made her the most said. “The USA is off to a
decorated female swim- start. We’re starting to build
mer at the worlds with 20 some momentum and we
golds overall, 15 of which can just keep it rolling from
have come in individual here.”
events. The big shock was 18-year-
That ties Michael Phelps’ old Romanian David Popo-
record at the worlds for in- vici, who was a clear fa-
dividual gold medals. vorite in the 200 free. He
American Ryan Murphy finished fourth behind two
added the second Ameri- British swimmers Matthew
can gold medal on Tues- Richards in 1:44.30, and
day, winning the 100-me- Tom Dean in 1:44.32. South
ter backstroke. But as usu- Korean Hwang Sunwoo
al when the 26-year-old took bronze (1:44.42) with
Ledecky swims, she’s the Katie Ledecky of United States reacts after the women’s 1500m freestyle finals at the World Popovici finishing fourth in
story. Swimming Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. 1:44.90. “I’m glad it hap-
Ledecky has won seven Associated Press pened now and I’m sure it
Olympic golds, the first on top,’ whatever you call I’ve just tried to be really Ledecky will compete in has a meaning and I’m go-
coming more than a de- it. I’m just trying to build a locked in on my stroke,” the 800 on Saturday her ing to learn from it.”
cade ago in London. And really big cake, I guess.” Ledecky said, improving favorite race and is set to Ruta Meilutyte of Lithu-
she’s talking about racing That cake is getting bigger quickly post-pandemic. become the only person to ania captured gold in the
not just in next year’s Paris for one of the greatest free- “That was a really good win six titles at the worlds in women’s 100 breaststroke
Olympics, but perhaps also stylers the sport has ever performance from me very the same event. in 1:04.62, ahead of Tatjana
in Los Angeles in 2028. seen. pleased.” Murphy, a four-time Olym- Schoenmaker of South Af-
“I never dreamed of win- She won Tuesday in 15 min- Italy’s Simona Quadarella pic gold medalist and the rica and third-place Lydia
ning one Olympic gold,” utes, 26.27 seconds, the finished 17 seconds behind defending world cham- Jacoby of the U.S. World-
Ledecky said. “So after I did third quickest time of her Ledecky in 15:43.31, with pion in the 200 backstroke, record holder Lilly King was
it, it was like, ‘OK, the rest is career. Li Bingjie of China third in edged Italian Thomas Ce- fourth. The American fin-
icing on the cake, a cherry “The last couple of years 15:45.71. ccon by .05 seconds. Mur- ished in 1:06.02. q

Naoya Inoue stops Stephen Fulton and wins world titles in his 4th

weight class

TOKYO (AP) — Naoya Inoue Inoue finished moments year,” Inoue said through ble in his pro career, which champion in 2014, and
became a world cham- later, pummeling Fulton an interpreter. “However, began with a 108-pound he reigned in that division
pion in his fourth weight with punches in the corner unfortunately, I got injured, world title victory in only until 2018, when he be-
class Tuesday night when to force the referee to halt and I had to postpone his sixth professional fight. came a bantamweight
he stopped Stephen Fulton the bout. this fight. I am sorry to my He became a 115-pound champion.q
in the eighth round to claim The 30-year-old Inoue im- team and Fulton’s team,
the WBC and WBO super proved to 20-0 in world but thank you so much for
bantamweight titles. title fights with a whopping accepting this fight once
Inoue (25-0, 22 KOs) made 18 stoppages, improving again. I am so happy right
an impressive debut at 122 his standing as one of the now.”
pounds with a dominant world’s top pound-for- Inoue took charge against
performance against the pound boxers. Fulton with his superior
previously unbeaten Ful- Inoue held all four major speed and relentless jab
ton (21-1) at Ariake Arena. belts at 118 pounds after from the first round on-
Fulton had held both of his beating Paul Butler last De- ward, dominating the early
belts since 2021 and was cember, prompting him to rounds.
considered the top fighter move up to challenge Ful- The American fought back
in the division. ton. Their bout initially was more effectively in the
The Japanese star knocked scheduled for May 7, but middle rounds, but Inoue’s
down Fulton in the opening Inoue injured his hand in advantages became insur-
minute of the eighth round training camp, forcing a 2 mountable before he put Naoya Inoue of Japan, left, celebrates after beating Stephen
with a big left hand after 1/2-month delay. together yet another high- Fulton of the U.S. in the eighth round of a boxing match for
stunning him with a body “Everything I was thinking light-reel finish. the unified WBC and WBO super-bantamweight world titles in
jab and a punishing right. about was to fight him this Inoue has been unstoppa- Tokyo, Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
Associated Press