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SPORTS Thursday 25 July 2019

Viva Federica: Pellegrini wins 8th world medal in 200 free

By BETH HARRIS Aussie’s 29.51. “I am too old winning the 200 butterfly. ca was out under world-re- ish team of Georgia Da-
AP Sports Writer for this,” Pellegrini joked. Milak touched in 1:50.73 to cord pace through the first vies, Adam Peaty, James
GWANGJU, South Korea Titmus, who stunned lower the mark of 1:51.51 lap before Milak gained Guy and Freya Anderson
(AP) — Federica Pellegrini Ledecky in winning the 400 that Phelps set at the 2009 the lead after 150 meters. earned bronze.
began the countdown to The crowd clapped along
the end of her stellar career to the Italian national an-
in style. them for a second time
The Italian defeated a field when Gregorio Paltrinieri
of younger competitors, won the 800 free in 7:39.27.
minus ailing Katie Ledecky, Henrik Christiansen of Den-
to win the 200-meter free- mark earned silver and Da-
style at the world swim- vid Aubry of France took
ming championships on bronze.
Wednesday night. Sun was never a factor in
Pellegrini, who turns 31 next the event he’s won three
month, is competing at her times and finished sixth. He
final worlds. She’s aiming was cheered by fans from
to make a fifth Olympics in his country as he came on
Tokyo next year before re- deck and waved to the
tiring. crowd as he walked off.
She overtook 18-year-old There was none of the boo-
Australian Ariarne Titmus ing that rained down on
down the stretch to earn him a night earlier when
her fourth career gold — Sun won the 200 free after
and record eighth con- Danas Rapsys of Lithuania
secutive medal — in her finished first and then got
signature event. The Italian disqualified for a false start.
touched in 1 minute, 54.22 On the medals podium,
seconds. Sun was shunned by co-
“I’m not sad, I’m so happy,” bronze medalist Duncan
Pellegrini said. “I’m so hap- Scott of Britain. Sun told
py because it’s an amaz- Scott, “You lose, I win” be-
ing world championships, fore they walked off. FINA
an amazing 200 and I hope sent warning letters to both
next year, my last Olympic swimmers.
championship, and after “Both competitors had an
that a new life.” inadequate behavior on
Sun Yang was back in the this occasion, which is not
pool but with none of the acceptable,” FINA said,
rancor from the previous citing a specific rule in its
night when he was booed constitution that the world
and shunned on the med- governing body’s execu-
als podium. The Chinese Italy’s Federica Pellegrini celebrates after winning the women’s 200m freestyle final at the World tive board had met to
star with a history of doping Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, Wednesday, July 24, 2019. tweak shortly after the con-
failed to medal in the 800 Associated Press frontation.
free. Sun also was ignored by sil-
Pellegrini joined Katinka free, took silver in 1:54.66. worlds in Rome. “Unbelievable race, real- ver medalist Mack Horton
Hosszu of Hungary and Sar- “She’s a true champion, “When I turned back and ly,” said Le Clos, an old rival of Australia on the podium
ah Sjostrom of Sweden as world record holder,” Tit- saw the time, all the pres- of Phelps. “Probably one of after the Chinese star won
the only women to win an mus said of Pellegrini. “For sure, all the tension just got the greatest races ever.” the 400 free.
event at least four times at her to beat me, I’m OK.” off my back and all the joys Daiya Seto of Japan fin- Horton and Scott, along
worlds. Sjostrom earned bronze in came out,” Milak said. ished 3.13 seconds behind with other swimmers, are
“It’s amazing,” she said. 1:54.78. She received oxy- Phelps set the mark for the for silver in 1:53.86. Le Clos angry at FINA for allow-
Pellegrini’s dominant run gen on the pool deck after first time in 2001 and no one settled for bronze in 1:54.15. ing Sun to compete in
began in 2005 in Montreal, the race and later said she had taken it from him until Australia rallied to win the Gwangju ahead of a Sep-
where she took silver. She had a headache. Milak. mixed 4x100 medley relay, tember hearing before
earned bronze in 2007 and Ledecky hasn’t been at the “It is absolutely fantastic. with Cate Campbell run- the Court for Arbitration in
then won in 2009, setting a pool since Monday. She After that swim I don’t think ning down American Sim- Sport. Sun faces allegations
world record that still stands withdrew from the 200 free anybody can go close one Manuel on the last lap. of clashing with drug testers
from the high-tech suit era, heats and the 1,500 free to him,” fellow Hungarian Mitch Larkin, Matthew Wil- and destroying samples at
and again in 2011. final on Tuesday with an ill- Laszlo Cseh said. son, Emma McKeon and his home last year. He fac-
She was runner-up in 2013 ness. The American star is The 19-year-old swimmer Campbell won in 3:39.08. es a lifetime ban if found
in Barcelona and in 2015 being monitored by doc- became the first teenager Caeleb Dressel swam a blis- guilty.
in Kazan, where Ledecky tors, but no diagnosis has to win a world title in the tering butterfly leg to haul Peaty cruised to victory in
won, before winning two been disclosed. event since Phelps at age the Americans from fourth the 50 breaststroke, a non-
years ago in Budapest. While Pellegrini is winding 18 in 2003. to first before turning it over Olympic event. He won in
Pellegrini worked her way things down, Kristof Milak of “It’s an amazing feeling,” to Manuel for the anchor 26.06 seconds, adding to
from seventh on the open- Hungary is getting started said Milak, who climbed leg. But she couldn’t stave his 100 breast title.
ing lap to fourth and then with a bang. out of the pool and took off a charging Campbell. Brazilians Felipe Lima
second before overcom- He broke Michael Phelps’ two deep bows as the Ryan Murphy, Lilly King, and Joao Gomes Junior
ing Titmus with a last time world record by nearly crowd cheered. Dressel and Manuel took took silver and bronze,
split of 28.90 seconds to the eight-tenths of a second in Chad le Clos of South Afri- silver in 3:39.10. The Brit- respectively.q