Ageless Ledecky wins 1,500m freestyle for 22nd world gold

Singapore, July 30: Katie Ledecky cruised to a dominant 1,500m freestyle gold in Singapore on Tuesday to claim the 22nd world title of her storied career.

The American great touched the wall in 15min 26.44sec, ahead of Simona Quadarella of Italy in 15:31.79 and Australia's Lani Pallister in 15:41.18.

The masterful win moved all-time great Ledecky four short of Michael Phelps's career tally of 26 world gold medals.

It also gave her the sixth world 1,500m freestyle title of her career and she paraded around the arena afterwards with the American flag.

"I love this race. This race was the race that I broke my first world record in in 2013," said Ledecky, 28, who has won nine Olympic golds. "Lots of great races and memories over the years at worlds. I’m happy I could do it in Singapore."

Likewise, Paris Olympics champion David Popovici claimed a thrilling 200m freestyle gold at the swimming world championships -- then revealed he had very nearly pulled out.

The popular 20-year-old Romanian timed it perfectly to reel in US rival Luke Hobson in the closing stages and take the title in 1min 43.53sec.

Hobson was forced to settle for silver (1:43.84) with Japan's 18-year-old Tatsuya Murasa taking bronze (1:44.54).

Similarly, Australia's Kaylee McKeown beat nerves and great rival Regan Smith in a humdinger to win the 100m backstroke world gold, narrowly missing the world record.

McKeown fought back to power to the wall in a championship record 57.16sec, with Smith having to once more settle for second, just 0.19sec behind. 

Katharine Berkoff, also of the United States, took bronze in Singapore.

Silver medallist Smith clocked her third-fastest swim ever -- and all with acute gastroenteritis having swept through the majority of the US squad in Singapore.(AFP)