Italy’s Federica Pellegrini became the first swimmer to win seven medals in a single event at the World Championships after a stunning victory in the women’s 200 metres freestyle final on Wednesday.
On a glittering night for Italy, Gabriele Detti won his first world title in a close finish in the men’s 800m freestyle, an emotional Chad le Clos of South Africa took gold in the men’s 200m butterfly and Britain’s Adam Peaty secured a breaststroke double with 50m gold.
Pellegrini last won a world title at the 2011 championships, but the determined Italian rolled back the years to clock one minute 54.73s.
The oldest in the field at 28, Pellegrini stormed back from fourth at the final turn to take gold ahead of Katie Ledecky of America and Australia’s Olympic bronze medallist Emma McKeon, who had led until the 150m mark.
In the process Pellegrini, who broke 10 world records before she was 21, scuppered the hopes of silver medallist Ledecky becoming only the second swimmer, after Michael Phelps, to win at least two world titles in four different individual events.
In the mixed 4x100m medley relay, USA set its second world record of the day to take gold.
The results:
Men:200m butterfly: 1. Chad le Clos (RSA) 1:53.33s, 2. Laszlo Cseh (Hun) 1:53.72, 3. Daiya Seto (Jpn) 1:54.21; 50m breaststroke: 1. Adam Peaty (GBr) 25.99, 2. Joao Gomes Junior (Bra) 26.52, 3. Cameron van der Burgh (RSA) 26.60; 800m freestyle: 1. Gabriele Detti (Ita) 7:40.77, 2. Wojciech Wojdak (Pol) 7:41.73, 3. Gregorio Paltrinieri (Ita) 7:42.44.
Women: 200m freestyle: 1. Federica Pellegrini (Ita) 1:54.73s, 2. Katie Ledecky (USA) & Emma McKeon (Aus) 1:55.18; Mixed 4x100 medley: 1. USA 3:38.56 (WR), 2. Australia 3:41.21, 3. Canada & China 3:41.25 .
