Lochte wins fourth straight world 200m IM title

Ryan Lochte of the U.S. poses with his gold medal after winning the men's 200m individual medley final at the Aquatics World Championships in Kazan, Russia 2015 August 6 – REUTERS

KAZAN, Russia: American swimming great Ryan Lochte became only the second man to win titles in the same individual event in four consecutive world championships when he triumphed in the 200 metres individual medley on Thursday (6 August).

The five-time Olympic champion emulated the feat of Australian Grant Hackett, who won four 1,500 metres titles in a row between 1998 and 2005.

Victory for Lochte was secured in the final length as a powerful surge off the wall, using a new rotational technique he has introduced only over the last three months, saw him overtake long-time leader Thiago Pereira.

Lochte, who first landed the 200m IM title in Rome in 2009 and has now won at least one gold at the last six editions of the championships stretching back to Montreal 10 years ago, won in one minute 55.81 seconds.

The Brazilian Pereira claimed silver in 1:56.65 while Shun Wang, of China, took bronze.

“It’s an honour to go down in history with one of the greatest swimmers in history, Grant Hackett, and it is something I will remember for the rest of my life,” said Lochte. “I’m definitely really humbled and to say you have made history in any sport is one of the coolest things.”

Following a poor US trials, Lochte has competed in fewer events at these championships than at any time in the last 11 years.

Yet after finishing outside the medals in the 200m freestyle, his medley gold - the 16th world title of his glittering career - demonstrated why the 31-year-old is still a major force in the pool. It also brought relief to the US team, which had been forced to defend their poor medal return at the championships.

“I’m definitely really humbled to get that win and hopefully I got the ball rolling for Team USA,” added Lochte.

Sure enough, the US then won their second title of the evening when 18-year-old Katie Ledecky won her fourth gold of the week in the 4 x 200m freestyle, adding to her three individual victories. Ledecky and Sweden’s Ida Marko-Varga went into the anchor leg neck and neck before the American predictably forged to victory in 7 minutes 45.37 seconds.

With three days of racing left, the two golds propelled the United States past Australia and Great Britain to the top of the medal table, with five golds and 11 medals in total.