The 24-year-old American swimming star captured his third gold medal of the Games when he ran a time of 49.45, slashing five-hundredths of his own world record. Kristof Milak in silver place set a European record with 49.68, but was still beaten by 23 hundredths of a second.

– I look forward to more duels against him. “I think we can push each other to a better time and maybe get under 49 seconds,” said the 21-year-old Hungarian.

Half an hour later, Dressen recorded the best time in the semifinals of the 50 meter freestyle with 21.42, but plans to clear the standings with six gold medals in as many events were dashed in the mixed team 4 x 100 meter medley event. , an event that was first on the Olympic program.

A strategic mistake ensured that. The Americans placed Dressel on the anchor leg in the 100-meter freestyle, while every other team selected a woman on that leg. When Dressel plunged into the pool, the U.S. was in last place eight seconds behind the leader, and it was impossible to catch up.

– Not acceptable

Dressel posted the clear best time (46.99), and swam five seconds faster than the winning team’s anchor, but was unable to get the team any further into 5th place.

– Fifth place is unacceptable for the United States. It hurts, Dressel said.

Great Britain won with a world record time of 3:37.58. The team consists of Kathleen Dawson, Adam Peaty, James Guy and Anna Hopkin.

The United States was also the only country to choose a breaststroke athlete, and Lydia Jacoby lost eight seconds to Britain’s Peaty, at least five seconds to the other athlete.

Dressel is set for two new finals on Sunday. With six gold medals, he will become the fourth swimmer, and fifth athlete in any sport, with so many gold medals in one Olympics. Michael Phelps did it twice, six in 2004 and eight in 2008.

Ledecki’s revenge

Katie Ledecky took revenge on Australia’s Ariarne Titmus after two early Olympic losses, swimming to gold in the 800m freestyle in 8.12.57 after leading all the way.

Titmus won the 200 and 400 meter freestyle, but had to settle for silver even though he set an Australian record of 8.13.83. Both are in their own class.

– I can see it all the way. “I knew I had to get some distance before the last lap, because I couldn’t stand against his sprint,” Ledecky said.

He won this exercise for the third time in a row at the Olympics. Her medal tally in Tokyo was two gold and two silver, and she was the first female swimmer with six individual Olympic gold medals in a career.

Kaylee McKeown wins Australian gold in the women’s 200m backstroke. It was the sixth gold medal for an Australian female swimmer.

(© NTB)