Katie Ledecky just keeps winning at the world swimming championships.
Ryan Lochte is back on top, too, and together he and Ledecky carried the United States to its first two-gold medal night of the eight-day meet Thursday.
Ledecky anchored a 3.04-second comeback victory in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay for her fourth gold. Lochte won a record fourth consecutive title in the 200 individual medley.
"We had a great night," Ledecky said. "We're really getting some momentum and showing what we can do."
Missy Franklin led off the relay for the Americans, and Leah Smith and Katie McLaughlin kept them within striking distance of Sweden, which was under world-record pace for much of the 16-lap race.
Ledecky dived in and quickly pulled even with Swedish anchor Ida Marko-Varga. The American teenager opened a slight lead at 700 meters and extended it to a body length before powering home in 7 minutes, 45.37 seconds.
"I knew I could bring it home and get this thing done," said Ledecky, who climbed out of the pool and into an embrace with her teammates. "We had a blast out there. We were so relaxed."
It was the third straight victory in the 4x200 relay for the U.S. at the worlds.
Italy earned silver in 7:48.41. China took bronze in 7:49.10. The Swedes faded to fourth.
Ledecky won the 200 free on Wednesday, to go with victories in the 400 and 1,500 freestyles. She set two world records in the longest distance race for women.
"She's phenomenal. She's a beast," Lochte said of his 18-year-old teammate. "Between my win and her world records, hopefully it got Team USA on a roll."
