Swimming: Titmus, the Terminator, gives Ledecky’s first Olympic loss

Australian Ariarne Titmus — nicknamed the “Terminator” — lived up to her billing when she chased down Ledecky in the 400 freestyle

Tokyo: Caeleb Dressel got started on his quest for six gold medals in swimming, while Katie Ledecky found herself in a very unusual position, finishing second.

Dressel led off a U.S. victory in the men’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay Monday at the Tokyo Olympics, easing a bit of America’s sting from Ledecky’s first Olympic loss.

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Australian Ariarne Titmus — nicknamed the “Terminator” — lived up to her billing when she chased down Ledecky in the 400 freestyle to win one of the most anticipated races of the Summer Games.

Titmus, who trailed by nearly a full body-length at the halfway mark of the eight-lap race, turned on the speed to touch in 3 minutes, 56.69 seconds. It was the second-fastest time in history, surpassed only by Ledecky’s world record of 3:56.46 from the 2016 Rio Games.

The defending Olympic champion settled for the silver this time in 3:57.36 — the fourth-fastest time ever recorded and her best performance in three years.

Then the spotlight shifted to Dressel, who has been hailed as the successor to Michael Phelps.
Dressel put the U.S. out front, and the three who followed him in the relay made sure it stood up.

The 24-year-old, tattooed Floridian swam the first leg in a blistering 47.26. Blake Pieroni and Bowe Becker kept the Americans out front before Zach Apple turned in an anchor leg of 46.69 to leave no doubt at the end.

The U.S. won in 3:08.97, the third-fastest time in history. Italy took the silver in 3:10.11, with the bronze going to Australia in 3:10.22.

Perhaps the surest bet at the pool, Britain’s Adam Peaty repeated as Olympic champion in the men’s 100 breaststroke.

Peaty was the world-record holder and the first man to break both 58 and 57 seconds in his signature event. He posted the fifth-fastest time in history (57.37) to blow away the field.
Arno Kamminga of the Netherlands claimed the silver in 58.00, while the bronze went to Italy’s Nicolo Martinenghi in 58.33. Andrew was next in 58.84.

In the first final of the day, Maggie MacNeil captured gold for Canada in the 100 butterfly.
The reigning world champion touched first in 55.59, beating Zhang Yufei of China (55.64) for the top spot. Emma McKeon of Australia took the bronze in 55.72, edging the 18-year-old Huske by one-hundredth of a second.

Swimming results

Men’s: 100m Breaststroke: 1. Adam Peaty (57.37s), 2. Arno Kamminga (Netherlands), 3. Nicolo Martinenghi;

4x100m freestyle relay: 1. USA (3:08.97s), 2. Italy, 3. Australia.

Women’s: 100m Butterfly: 1. MacNeil Maraget 55.59s, 2. Zhang Yufei, 3. Emma McKeon (Aus);

400m freestyle: 1. Ariarne Titmus (Aus) 3:56.69s, 2. Kathleen Ledecky, 3. Li Binjie (China).

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