The U.S. collected six medals—two gold, one silver and three bronze—to kick off the first night of finals at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. 

Katie Ledecky made it back to the top of the podium in the women’s 400-meter free with her 16th world championship gold medal and 19th medal overall, setting a new championship record with a 3:58.15. She last won the event in 2017 and followed up with silvers at both the 2019 World Championships and 2020 Olympic Games. Canada’s Summer McIntosh challenged Ledecky for the gold but came up just short, finishing with a 3:59.39 for silver. American Leah Smith posted a 4:02.08 to take the bronze. 

“I love what I do, I love going to practice and training, I love the people that I get to be around every day,” Ledecky said in regard to being so consistent. “It’s difficult training but I love it and that’s what keeps me moving forward.” 

Smith picked up another bronze behind Ledecky and was pleased with her swim. 

“It means a lot, that’s my third podium at worlds with Katie in the 400 and it just doesn’t get old,” Smith said after the race. “It’s such an honor and I’m really excited that we were able to get two Americans on the podium on the first night, and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the meet.” 

The U.S. picked up two more medals in the men’s 400m IM, with Carson Foster taking silver in 4:06.56 and 2020 Olympic champion Chase Kalisz picking up bronze in 4:07.47. Kalisz has now medaled in the event at the past four world championships. France’s Leon Marchand set a new European and championship record of 4:04.28 to take gold, not far off the long-standing world record of 4:03.84, set by Michael Phelps at the 2008 Olympics. 

“It was better than I thought it was going to be,” Kalisz said. “That’s the fastest I’ve been in a long time and I’m incredibly proud of Carson. It’s cool to see Leon go such a fast time and get so close to that notorious record. I got to train with Leon a little bit at altitude and he’s such a hard worker, no one is more deserving. That was a fun race to be a part of.” 

The American quartet of Caeleb Dressel (47.67), Ryan Held (46.99), Justin Ress (47.48) and Brooks Curry (47.20) kept the U.S.’s world championship gold medal streak alive in the men’s 4x100m free relay, besting the field by about a second and a half with a 3:09.34 for their third-straight gold. Australia (3:10.80) and Italy (3:10.95) completed the podium. 

“It’s always a pleasure [to race], it’s a great opportunity to step up with three close guys and win one for the United States,” Held said after the event. “It’s incredible the talent this team has, 10 guys probably could have stepped up on this relay and won. To have everyone go sub-48, nearly mid-47s, is awesome.” 

Meanwhile, the U.S. women earned bronze in the women’s 4x100m free relay, with Torri Huske (52.96), Erika Brown (53.30), Kate Douglass (53.61) and Claire Curzan (52.71) combining for a 3:32.58. Australia (3:30.95) and Canada (3:32.15) finished atop the podium in gold and silver medal position, respectively. 

In the men’s 400m free final, Americans Kieran Smith and Trey Freeman finished seventh and eighth, respectively. Smith, the 2020 Olympic bronze medalist, posted a 3:46.43 with Freeman a tenth behind in 3:46.53. Australia’s Elijah Winnington took gold in 3:41.22, with Germany’s Lukas Martens (3:42.85) and Brazil’s Guilherme Costa (3:43.31) in silver and bronze medal position.

In semi-final action, Huske (56.29, first) and Curzan (56.93, third) advanced to tomorrow’s final in the women’s 100m butterfly. Dressel (22.79, first) and Michael Andrew (22.87, second) will be the top two seeds in the men’s 50m fly final. 

Nic Fink will represent the U.S. tomorrow in the men’s 100m breast final after qualifying second in 58.55. Michael Andrew finished just outside the top eight competitors with a ninth-place 59.63.  Alex Walsh (2:08.74, first) and Leah Hayes (2:09.82, second) lead the way as the top two qualifiers in the women’s 200m IM. 

For more on the 2022 FINA World Championships, visit www.usaswimming.org/2022Worlds.