Italy's gold medal winner Gregorio Paltrinieri waves during the ceremony for the men's 1500m freestyle final at the Swimming World Championships in Kazan, Russia, Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015. KAZAN, Russia — Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy won the 1,500m freestyle at the World Swimming Championships Sunday night in a race that shockingly went off without two-time defending champion Sun Yang of China.
Sun didn't appear during introductions and Lane 3 remained empty instead of being filled by reserve Pal Joensen of the Faroe Islands.
"Today I came here and during the warmup in the pool, I feel uncomfortable in the heart so I have to give up competition," Sun said through a translator at a news conference after the races ended. "I feel sorry because of that."
Earlier, FINA spokesman Pedro Adrega said Chinese team officials told him Sun felt a "chest sensation" during warmups.
"As there was not enough time to evaluate the situation or to check his medical condition, they decided to withdraw," he said.
Sun appeared at the end of the night to receive the best male swimmer award. He was subdued on the podium with female winner Katie Ledecky of the United States. Sun whispered in the ear of FINA president Julio Maglione as he accepted the trophy.
Sun was back at the biggest meet before next year's Olympics after serving a doping suspension last year.
He won the 400 and 800 freestyles in Kazan and was a strong favorite in the 1,500, which he won at the London Olympics. Sun finished second in the 200 free.
Paltrinieri took the lead from Ryan Cochrane of Canada at 500 meters and controlled the pace the rest of the way, touching in 14 minutes, 39.67 seconds. He finished second to Sun in the 800 and their rematch had been highly anticipated.
"I didn't know what to do or think," the Italian said. "It was really terrible without him.
"I've been training for two years on how to beat him, right down to the smallest details," Paltrinieri said. "I had to change everything."
Connor Jaeger of the United States finished second in 14:41.20. Cochrane, who was under world-record pace through 400 meters, was third in 14:51.08.?Cochrane said he saw Sun in the warmup pool before the race.
The United States received the best team trophy for the eight-day meet.
Katinka Hosszu of Hungary made a run at the world record in the women's 400 individual medley before falling short on the last freestyle lap. She won in 4:30.39, after being 3.81 under world-record pace after five laps.
Hosszu, nicknamed "Iron Lady" for her relentless event schedule, also won the 200 IM in world-record time.
Maya DiRado of the United States finished second. Emily Overholt of Canada was third.
The United States won the men's 4x100 medley relay two years after touching first and then being disqualified when Kevin Cordes dived in too soon on the breaststroke leg.
Ryan Murphy, Cordes, Tom Shields and Nathan Adrian won in 3:29.93.?Australia was second and France third.
The women's 4x100 medley relay was the last event, with China's team of Fu Yuanhui, Shi Jinglin, Lu Ying and Shen Duo winning in 3:54.41. Sweden was second and Australia finished third. The US was fourth.
Japan's Daiya Seto cruised to a 1.40-second victory for his second consecutive title in the 400 individual medley on the final night of swimming.
Seto led all the way and touched in 4:08.50 — 0.19 faster than he swam two years ago in Barcelona. Olympic champion Ryan Lochte didn't qualify in the event at the worlds, although he won the 200 IM earlier in Kazan.
David Verraszto of Hungary finished second in 4:09.90. American Chase Kalisz, second in Barcelona, was third in 4:10.05.
American Tyler Clary was fourth, just like in Barcelona.
Bronte Campbell of Australia won the 50 freestyle to go with her title in the 100 free. She touched in 24.12.
Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo of the Netherlands was 0.10 behind in giving up the title she won in Barcelona. Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden took third in 24.31.
Campbell's older sister, Cate, was fourth. Simone Manuel of the US finished last.
The Australians swept the women's sprint titles, along with the men's and women's 100-200 backstrokes.
Jennie Johansson earned a surprising win against a talented field in the 50 breaststroke, a non-Olympic event. The Swede won in 30.05.
Alia Atkinson of Jamaica took silver for her country's second-ever medal at the worlds. Yuliya Efimova of Russia finished third, drawing the loudest cheers at Kazan Arena, where Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was in attendance.
World record holder Ruta Meilutyte of Lithuania was fourth. American Jessica Hardy was fifth.
Camille Lacourt of France won the 50 backstroke, another event not part of the Olympic program. He finished in 24.23. American Matt Grevers was second and Ben Treffers of Australia third. — AP
