Ledecky smashes world record

Barcelona - American teenager Katie Ledecky slashed six seconds off the world record to win gold in the women's 1500m freestyle at the world championships in Barcelona on Tuesday.

The 16-year-old, who also took the 400m freestyle title on Sunday, touched in a time of 15 minutes 36.53 seconds to destroy the previous best of 15:42.54 set by compatriot Kate Ziegler in 2007.

Lotte Friis of Denmark led for much of the race at the hilltop Palau Sant Jordi, with Ledecky lurking on her shoulder, but could not match the American's late burst and finished with silver in 15:38.88, also inside Ziegler's mark.

Lauren Boyle of New Zealand was third in 15:44.71 ahead of Spain's Mireia Belmonte Garcia in 15:58.83.

"It was really tough, my hardest race ever," Ledecky told reporters.

"I knew we were going pretty fast and I figured that whoever came out on top was probably going to get the world record.

"I had to be careful not to push it too early or push it too late and just touch the wall first."

World Championships results on Tuesday (finals only):

Men:

200m freestyle:
1. Yannick Agnel (FRA) 1:44.20
2. Conor Dwyer (USA) 1:45.32
3. Danila Izotov (RUS) 1:45.59
4. Ryan Lochte (USA) 1:45.65
5. Kosuke Hagino (JPN) 1:45.94
6. Robert Renwick (GBR) 1:46.52
7. Cameron McEvoy (AUS) 1:46.63
8. Thomas Fraser-Holmes (AUS) 1:47.11

100m backstroke:
1. Ashley Delaney (AUS) 53.74
2. Camille Lacourt (FRA) 53.42
3. Jeremy Stravius (FRA) 53.23
4. Matt Grevers(USA) 52.97
5. David Plummer (USA) 53.10
6. Ryosuke Irie (JPN) 53.41
7. Kosuke Hagino(JPN) 53.68
8. Gareth Kean (NZ) 53.81

Women:

100m backstroke:
1. Missy Franklin (USA) 58.42
2. Emily Seebohm (AUS) 59.06
3. Aya Terakawa (JPN) 59.23
4. Elizabeth Pelton (USA) 59.45
5. Yuanhui Fu (CHN) 59.61
6. Simona Baumrtova (CZE) 59.84
7. Daryna Zevina (UKR) 1:00.16
8. Belinda Hocking (AUS) 1:00.29

100m breaststroke:
1. Ruta Meilutyte(LTU) 1:04.42
2. Yuliya Efimova(RUS) 1:05.02
3. Jessica Hardy (USA) 1:05.52
4. RikkeMoller Pedersen(DEN) 1:05.93
5. Breeja Larson (USA) 1:06.74
6. Viktoriya Solnceva(UKR) 1:06.81
7. Marina GarciaUrzainqui(ESP) 1:07.08
8. Jennie Johansson(SWE) 1:07.41

1500m freestyle:
1. Katie Ledecky (USA) 15:36.53 (WR)
2. Lotte Friis (DEN) 15:38.88
3. Lauren Boyle (NZ) 15:44.71
4. Mireia Belmonte Garcia (ESP) 15:58.83
5. Danlu Xu (CHN) 16:00.44
6. KristelKobrich Schimpl (CHI) 16:01.94
7. Boglarka Kapas (HUN) 16:06.89
8. Chloe Sutton (USA) 16:09.65