Katie Ledecky

Australia's Ariarne Titmus Takes Gold in 400m Freestyle, Katie Ledecky Second

The Australian beat Ledecky in the swimming world championship in 2019

U.S. swimmer Katie Ledecky won silver in the women’s 400m freestyle, losing to her Australian rival Ariarne Titmus in a much anticipated show down.

China’s Li Bingjie took the bronze medal.

Titmus, who won the event in the 2019 world championships, won the gold medal with a time of 3:56.69. Ledecky came in at 3:57.36 and Li at 4:01.08.

"I fought tooth and nail and just gave it my all," Ledecky said immediately after the race. "I can't be disappointed with that."

Ledecky next swims on Monday in the women's 200m freestyle and the women's 1500m freestyle and on Thursday in the women's 800m freestyle.

She opened her appearance in Tokyo by winning the best time in the preliminary heats of the 400m freestyle.

Titmus, who swam in a different heat, has been faster than the American in recent races.

Ledecky, one of the most popular U.S. swimmers, qualified with a time of 4:00.45. Li came in at 4:01.57, and Titmus in 4:01.66. 

Ledecky won a surprise gold medal in the London Games in 2012, and went home from the Rio Summer Olympics with four gold medals and one silver.

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