GWANGJU, South Korea, July 21 -- China's Olympic champion Sun Yang won his fourth straight world title in the men's 400m freestyle on the first day of the swimming events at the 18th FINA World Aquatics Championships here on Sunday.

The 27-year-old Chinese swimmer finished first in the 400m free final, clocking 3:42.44. It was his fourth consecutive gold medal in the event at the FINA worlds since 2013.

Mack Horton of Australia touched home as runner-up in 3:43.17, and Italy's Gabriele Detti finished in 3:43.23 for the bronze. China's Ji Xinjie ended the 400m free final in seventh place with 3:45.64.

Supported by a large contingent of Chinese fans, Sun met expectations as he won the first gold medal on the opening day of the swimming events at the worlds.

"I wanted to show myself today, step onto the podium and watch China's national flag rising," said Sun. "It is a great honor for me."

"The training was really tiring. Perhaps only athletes know their own efforts behind the medals. As a senior athlete, I feel proud of myself as I have kept fighting until now," said the triple Olympic champion.

U.S. swimming star Katie Ledecky's quest to claim her fourth straight world title in the women's 400m freestyle was thwarted by Australia's rising star Ariarne Titmus.

Titmus sealed first in the final with a time of 3:58.76, 1.21 seconds ahead of Ledecky, who had taken gold medals in the 400m, 800m and 1,500m free at the past three straight world championships from 2013 to 2017.

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