Montreal – Grant Hackett swam to a historic victory, then picked up a well-deserved trophy as top man at the world championships.
Hackett became the first swimmer to win four consecutive world titles in the same event, capturing another 1,500-meter freestyle Sunday.
“It’s obviously an awesome feeling to achieve something like that and to be the first person in history to do it,” the Australian said. “It’s over, I’ve completed it, and it’s very satisfying for me.”
Hackett won swimming’s version of the mile with a time of 14 minutes, 42.58 seconds. That was eight seconds off his world record but comfortably ahead of American Larsen Jensen, who outraced Great Britain’s David Davies for the silver.
Hackett captured his third individual gold medal – one more than American Michael Phelps – to go along with a silver and a bronze. The Aussie stretched out his record for world championship medals to 17.
“It was feeling a bit tough out there,” Hackett said. “It has been a big program, and I’m just happy with the results I got.”
Even though Phelps defeated Hackett in their only head-to- head meeting, the Australian was top dog in Montreal. He set a world record – there were nine in all during the meet – and received the FINA trophy as top male swimmer.
Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry, who won two golds and two silvers, was named the best female.
The United States, which led the medal count with 15 golds and 32 overall, received the award as top team. It was the Americans’ largest medal haul at the world championships since 1982.
“This meet has been incredible for everyone, world records here and there, and I think the U.S. team has done so well,” said 16-year-old Katie Hoff, who capped a brilliant meet by winning the 400 individual medley – her third gold medal.
Phelps finished with five gold medals and a silver. His last event was the morning preliminaries of the 400 medley relay, an event the Americans won in the evening with their most prominent swimmer relegated to the cheering section.
The U.S. quartet – Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Ian Crocker and Jason Lezak – closed out the championships in 3:31.85. Russia was second.
