Stars battle for world titles with eyes on Rio

BERLIN: With one eye on Rio de Janeiro, swimming’s stars begin the battle on Sunday (tomorrow) for world championship medals in Kazan to prove their form heading into the 2016 Olympics.
As ever, the USA bring a star-studded team to the Tatarstan capital, 800 kilometres east of Moscow, with marquee names including Olympic champions Missy Franklin, Katie Ledecky, Ryan Lochte and Nathan Adrian.
Treble world record-holder Ledecky is the only American to top the 2015 world rankings in her events, with the year’s best times in the 400m, 800m and 1,500m freestyle.
Ledecky was responsible for breaking two of the six world records which fell in the Barcelona pool when the world championships were last held two years ago.
Franklin won six gold medals in Barcelona, but has something to prove in Kazan after failing to win an event at a Santa Clara meet in June — her only world championships tuneup.
The Australian challenge will be led by two defending world champions in freestyler Cate Campbell and breaststroker Christian Sprenger, who will resume his battle with South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh over 50m and 100m.
Campbell will defend her 100m freestyle title and, if all goes to plan, she will line up for the final alongside her sister Bronte.
The sisters are likely to be in action on Sunday in the women’s 4x100m relay before the heats for the women’s 100m freestyle next Thursday.
Netherlands’ Femke Heemskerk along with Cate Campbell has posted the joint fastest time for 2015 and along with Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojom, the Dutch swimmers will be pushing the Australian sisters all the way.
“We always have lots of tough battles from the Europeans and you can’t underestimate anyone at a world championships, especially one year from an Olympic Games,” said Cate Campbell.
“Everyone wants to stake a claim.”
Of the teenage talent to watch, 19-year-old Australian Mack Horton has posted the world’s fastest 400m and 800m freestyle times.
Teenage breaststroke sensation Ruta Meilutyte, who won the 2012 Olympic 100m breaststroke as a 15-year-old, is now 18 and the Plymouth-based teenager will be looking to defend her world title.
He set both the 50m and 100m breaststroke world records at the Barcelona championships in 2013.
At the other end of the age spectrum, 35-year-old Grant Hackett returns after an almost seven-year hiatus.
Sun Yang leads China’s bid to repeat the five golds they won in Barcelona and he will start his campaign in the 400m freestyle heats on Sunday.