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SINGAPORE: World record holder Kaylee McKeown underlined her status as the undisputed queen of backstroke swimming as she added the 200 meters gold to her triumph in the 100 at the world championships in Singapore on Saturday.

Once again it was American Regan Smith looking to take down McKeown, only to be reeled in on the last lap as the Australian dominator clocked 2:03.33, the third fastest swim of all time.

It was nearly a second better than Smith (2:04.29), who had taken silver behind McKeown in the 100 and 200 at the Paris Olympics and was runner-up to her again in the 100 in Singapore.

Just like in Paris, McKeown’s win came straight after compatriot Cameron McEvoy stormed to his second 50 freestyle title in 21.14 seconds, becoming the oldest Australian swimming world champion at the age of 31.

Fastest off the blocks, McEvoy once again denied Ben Proud (21.26) gold, having beaten the Briton to the Olympic title by a fingertip in Paris exactly a year ago.

A new dad since Paris, McEvoy thanked his wife Maddi and gave a shout-out to his baby boy Hartley.

“It’s a very different life,” he said.

“I’ve got to navigate it, I’ll figure it out. But it’s cool to have that at home and still be here doing what I love.”

Gretchen Walsh kept the US team medal haul ticking upwards with a dominant victory in the 50 butterfly, adding to her 100 title in Singapore.

Touching the wall in 24.83 seconds, Walsh was nearly half a second better than runner-up Alex Perkins, who set an Australian record of 25.31.

SINGAPORE: United States great Katie Ledecky beat Summer McIntosh in a titanic three-way battle to win a thrilling 800m freestyle world title in Singapore on Saturday.
Ledecky won her seventh career gold in the event but she was challenged like never before, touching the wall in a championship-record 8min 05.62sec -- a fingertip ahead of Australia's Lani Pallister (8:05.98) and McIntosh (8:07.29).
It was Canadian sensation McIntosh's first defeat of the championships and ended her bid to match Michael Phelps as the only swimmer ever to win five individual golds at a single world championships.
The 18-year-old has already won three golds this week in Singapore.
Ledecky, 28, had too much staying power for her younger rival, with Pallister also in gold-medal contention until the final lunge for the line.
"They pushed me all the way," said Ledecky, a four-time Olympic champion in the event.
"I'm just really happy I could put that together. I just kept telling myself to trust my legs."
The race was billed as a potential changing of the guard, with McIntosh in red-hot form.
She had also threatened Ledecky's world record earlier this year.
Pallister was determined to insert her name into the conversation as well, as the Australian kept pace with Ledecky and McIntosh in a fast start.
The lead changed hands several times but Ledecky, swimming between her two rivals, looked best-placed to strike for home.
In the end it was the American celebrating with her country's flag on the pool deck after an epic race.
"I think I just came into tonight trying to enjoy it as much as I can," said Ledecky.
"I don't feel like I have much to lose at this point in my career.
"I just try to enjoy it every time I get to walk out in front of a crowd like this."