Canada was held off the podium in the women’s 4×100-metre freestyle relay final at the world aquatics championships in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday.
Penny Oleksiak, Chantal Van Landeghem, Sandrine Mainville, and Kayla Sanchez finished fourth with a time of three minutes 33.88 seconds.
The United States, featuring Olympic standouts Katie Ledecky and Simone Manuel, came in at 3:31.72 to take gold. Australia was second at 3:32.01, while the Netherlands earned bronze with a time of 332.64
Canada won bronze in the same event at the Rio Olympics on the strength of Van Landeghem, Mainville, Taylor Ruck and Oleksiak. Michelle Williams swam in the preliminary heat at the Games.
“We all raced our hearts out. I think last summer raised our expectations a bit. We wanted to be on the podium but I’m proud of the girls. We’ll go on the race video and see what we can improve for the rest of the meet,” Van Landeghem said.
“We’re all right around our best splits ever and it’s only Day 1 so there’s still lots of racing to do. I think everyone’s excited to keep going.”
Oleksiak, who was making her debut at the worlds, earlier qualified fifth to grab one of the eight spots available for Monday’s 100m butterfly final with a time of 57.07. Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden posted the fastest time at 55.07, 1.30 ahead of Oleksiak.
Record day for Pickrem
In other action, Sydney Pickrem broke her own Canadian record in the 200m individual medley with a time of 2:09.17 to qualify in third for Monday’s final.
“It was pretty good. A best time is a best time, you can’t be upset with that,” said Pickrem, who eclipsed her previous mark of 2:09.56 which she established at the Canadian team trials in April.
“The plan is to descend my 200s. We’re in the right direction so hopefully I keep getting better [Monday] night. I’m being more consistent. I’m excited to try and get under that 2:09 mark.”
Sydney Pickrem on breaking Canadian record: ‘It’s moving me in the right direction1:05
Erika Seltenreich-Hodgson was also competing for Canada in the 200m individual medley, but finished 11th and did not qualify for the final.
The Canadian men’s 4×100 freestyle relay team finished sixth in the final which was won by the United States. Australia and Italy were disqualified.
Ledecky continues dominance
Earlier, Ledecky claimed her first gold medal of the world championships, cruising to a dominating win in the women’s 400m freestyle, though she failed to break her own world record.
As expected, the 20-year-old American pulled away on the very first lap and was essentially racing the clock the rest of the way. She finished in 3:58.34 seconds — more than three seconds ahead of U.S. teammate Leah Smith. China’s Li Bingjie took the bronze.
Katie Ledecky dominates in women’s 400m freestyle final4:45
Ledecky has set such a high standard that her time was a bit of a letdown. She finished nearly two seconds off the world record (3:56.46) she set at the Rio Olympics.
“It was a good first night for Team USA,” Ledecky said. “I’m happy with my two swims and how it all went.”
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