American swimmer Katie on course to win her fifth world championships reward in Budapest
US Katie Ledecky competes in a heat of the women's 800m freestyle during the swimming competition at the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, on July 28, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / FERENC ISZA
Freestyle queen Katie Ledecky yesterday cruised towards her fifth gold at the world championships as the fastest into the women's 800m final in Budapest yesterday.
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Despite only turning 20 in March, Ledecky is already the most decorated female swimmer in world championships' history. She earned the 13th title, spanning three championships, by anchoring the USA's quartet to victory in the women's 4x200m freestyle relay on Thursday.
Ledecky clocked eight minutes, 20.24 seconds in the 800m heats yesterday morning, the fastest into Saturday night's final as the defending champion.
"It was fine, it went to plan," said Ledecky. "I just had to get my lane for tomorrow, move on and have one more swim," she said.
"I'm excited. I always enjoy my last race at a meet, just giving it all and leaving it all in the pool." Ledecky already has five medals at these championships -- freestyle golds over 400m and 1500m, plus the 4x100m and 4x200m relays, as well as silver in the 200m freestyle. Fresh from victory in Thursday's 100m freestyle final, Caeleb Dressel, 20, was second fastest into the men's 50m freestyle semi-finals during a busy morning for the American.
Brazil's Bruno Santos was the fastest at 21.51sec with Dressel just 0.10 behind. Australia's Cameron MvEvoy was the seventh fastest through at 0.44. "It was good, I felt strong," said McEvoy. Sarah Sjostrom, the women's 100m butterfly gold medallist on Monday, is the name to beat over 50m by clocking 25.25, the fastest into Friday's semi-finals.
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