L-R: Ling Bingjie of China, Katie Ledecky of the United States, and Ariarne Titmus of Australia celebrate on the podium after their women's 800m freestyle final during the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 29, 2023. /CFP
China's Li Bingjie and Zhang Yufei broke Asian records during the World Aquatics Championships in Japan's Fukuoka on Saturday.
Olympic champion Katie Ledecky of the United States retained the women's 800m freestyle title after beating Li by 4.44 seconds.
After defending her 1,500m crown, 26-year-old Ledecky clocked eight minutes and 8.87 seconds for a comfortable victory in the 800m freestyle final.
Li, 21, broke the Asian record in 8:13.31, and Australia's Ariarne Titmus, the 400m freestyle winner, took bronze in an Oceanian record of 8:13.59.
L-R: Zhang Yufei of China, Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden, and Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. hold their medals after the women's 50m butterfly final during the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 29, 2023. /CFP
In the women's 50m butterfly final, Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden claimed the gold medal in 24.77 seconds while China's Zhang claimed the silver in 25.05, setting a new Asian record.
Gretchen Walsh of the U.S. finished third in 25.46.
L-R: Regan Smith of the U.S., Kaylee McKeown of Australia and Peng Xuwei of China celebrate on the podium after the women's 200m backstroke final during the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 29, 2023. /CFP
Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown of Australia completed her clean sweep of all three women's backstroke golds at the championships.
McKeown, who has already won 50m and 100m, dominated the 200m race from the start, hitting the wall in 2:03.85, 0.71 seconds shy of her own world record of 2:03.14.
American Regan Smith, the 2019 world champion, finished second in 2:04.94. China's Peng Xuwei took bronze in 2:06.74.
Australian Cameron McEvoy (R) competes on his way to winning alongside American Jack Alexy in the men's 50m freestyle final during the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 29, 2023. /CFP
In the men's 50m freestyle final, Cameron McEvoy claimed the gold as the 29-year-old won the 11th swimming gold medal for Australia during the championships in an Oceanian record of 21.06 seconds.
Jack Alexy of the U.S. finished second in 21.57, and Britain's Benjamin Proud took bronze in 21.58.
Maxime Grousset of France wins the men's 100m butterfly final during the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 29, 2023. /CFP
In the men's 100m butterfly final, Maxime Grousset of France cruised to victory in a time of 50.14 seconds.
Canada's Josh Liendo finished second in 50.34 seconds and American Dare Rose placed third in 50.46.
Swimmers of Team Australia celebrate on the podium after winning the mixed 4X100m freestyle relay final during the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, July 29, 2023. /CFP
Team Australia set a new world record in the mixed 4X100m freestyle relay after clocking a time of 3:18.83.
Team USA finished second in 3:20.82, followed by Team Great Britain's new European record of 3:21.68.
Team Hungary celebrate on the podium after winning the men's water polo final in Fukuoka, Japan, July 29, 2023. /CFP
Team Hungary became champions in the men's water polo.
After 4-2, 1-2, 2-3, 3-3 in four quarters, Team Hungary won the final in a penalty shootout that ended in 14-13 over Team Greece. Team Spain took the bronze.
(With input from agencies)