FINA World Championships Budapest 2022, as it happened: Day one - Ledecky wins 400m free, two Championship records set

The 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022 are underway! The first day of action on 18 June saw nine sets of swimming heats and five finals. There was also artistic swimming including the first medal event of the Championships.

Olympics.com carried live updates the entire day from Budapest, which you can re-live as they happened below.

And why not check out all the results from the five swimming finals?

All times Central European Time (UTC/GMT +2 hours). Most recent updates first.

8:50pm - Hosszu "really happy with my swim" in front of home crowd

Hungarian swimming legend Katinka Hosszu qualified eighth for the women's 200m IM final, and later explained that she has not been feeling at full fitness for the past year.

"I've told the Hungarian people that I've not been at 100 per cent fitness after Tokyo 2020. I wasn't even sure if I was coming back or what, but obviously when I heard that Worlds were going to be in Budapest then I had to be here. So I'm really happy with my swim.

"Mostly Hungarian people are appreciative of my performances and the way I think I carried the Hungarian flag in many competitions in my career. I have explained a lot of things that happened to me in my documentary and I feel much closer to the Hungarian people that I used to.

"I've come back (to swimming) for myself, and for Hungary."

We'll leave you on that note from Day 1 but we'll be back bright and early from 8:30am tomorrow for more updates from the second day of swimming action.

8:42pm - Reaction from France's Marchand

Leon Marchand, the new second-fastest man ever in the 400m IM, has been speaking at a post-race press conference. Here's a selection of what he had to say:

"It's very special for me because my dad supports me every day," Marchand said when asked about following in his father's footsteps 24 years after his dad won a silver medal at Worlds. "He's given me so much advice about swimming, about everything. I'm just very happy to bring him this medal and to keep this swimmer family (tradition) going."

What advice has he given you?

_"_He told me very early that swimming is hard and to be able to be at this level today you have to train a lot. I think it's been five, six years that I've dedicated my life to swimming so I think that's a good gift for me and for my family because they have to wake me up every day and bring me to practice so it's pretty cool.

"I trained with Chase (Kalisz) for a month before coming here in Colorado at altitude and he's just a great teammate. I'm very grateful to have him in this (training) team at the moment. It was very fun to race him as a few years ago I was like, 'this is a legend' but now I can beat his record and have fun with these guys as they are so fast.

"The first goal of this meet was to be way better in the butterfly and backstroke which I did with 1:58 and I know that in breaststroke I am maybe the fastest in the world which is my main stroke actually. This morning I was trying to stay easy because I knew I had the afternoon. My goal was to be 4:06, 4:07, and I swam 4:04 so I don't know what to say."

7:57pm - MEDAL MOMENT - Australia win women's 4x100 free relay again

Straight on to the last final of the evening, the women's 4x100 free relay.

Hungary in lane 8, Brazil in lane 1, Netherlands in lane 7, China in lane 2, Great Britain in lane 6, Canada in lane 3, USA in lane 5, Australia in lane 4.

A quick start for Brazil, China, and Canada.

Torri Huske, leading off for USA, is inside the WR split at 50m. Australia take the lead before the first changeover though, barely. Still inside world record time.

The Aussies hold the world record, set at last year's Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. And they are still inside the split at 200m, and are ahead of the Americans by nearly a second.

Team USA has some work to do here to close this gap. Just outside the world record split at 250 as Canada move into second place with Margaret Mac Neil.

Penny Oleksiak will anchor the Canadians, but it's still the Aussies ahead at the final change by 1.34 seconds.

Shayna Jack is the Australian anchor. Can she hold this lead? Yes, the advantage is growing at 350.

Australia win gold in 3:30.95, from Canada and USA.

7:48pm - MEDAL MOMENT - Dressel leads off as USA win men's free relay gold

Time for the first of the relay finals, the men's 4x100 free.

Serbia are in lane 8, Brazil in lane 1, Italy in lane 7, Canada in lane 2, Great Britain in lane 6, Hungary in lane 3, Australia in lane 5, USA in lane 4.

Off they go with Brazil, Serbia, and USA the fastest off the blocks. Caeleb Dressel is leading off for the Americans and has already opened up a massive lead.

Dressel fades hard towards the end of his leg though and the US hold only 0.2 seconds of an advantage at the first change over Canada.

Hungary, roared on by the crowd, have overtaken the Canadians on the second leg.

The Americans still lead at halfway from Hungary and Canada. Team USA are not far off the world record split.

Italy with a strong third leg have moved into second place at 250. The final change takes place with USA just inside the world record split. They have a huge lead.

The world record is slipping away now so the question is who will take silver and bronze behind the Americans. Any of four or five teams could take it.

USA wins gold from Australia and Italy.

3:09.34 the provisional time.

Of course, we wait to see if there are any DQs on changeovers. All clean. So the podium is confirmed.

7:38pm - MEDAL MOMENT - Marchand smashes 400m IM championship record

The men's 400m individual medley final is next.

Brendon Smith of Australia in lane 8; Lewis Clareburt of New Zealand is in lane 1; Honda Tomoru of Japan in lane 7; Balazs Hollo of Hungary gets a huge cheer as he's introduced in lane 2; Seto Daiya of Japan, one of the favourites, in lane 6; Olympic champion Chase Kalisz of USA in lane 3; USA's Carson Foster in lane 5; and top qualifier Leon Marchand of France is in lane 4.

Kalisz holds the Championship Record; Michael Phelps' world record is 14 years old.

Seto is quickest off the blocks with Honda as they start with the fly – they are also the two fly specialists. Honda turns first at 50 and holds the lead through the fly as they go into the backstroke.

Marchand has closed the gap on this lap as has Foster, and it's the American who's opened up a slight lead through 150.

The American still leads as they head into the breaststroke. Marchand has pushed ahead of Foster and has a half a body length on Foster at the 250 turn. Really strong from the Frenchman on this breaststroke lead and he is under world record time. Wow!

The final turn comes and Marchand is a second ahead of Phelps' time. Are we about to see history?

This is the oldest world record still existing in swimming, from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. This is a huge lead for the Frenchman and it's now a time trial against the clock.

Leon Marchand wins gold in a new Championship record time of 4:04.28! Wow! That's also the fastest a European man has swum the event. The only man ever to go quicker is Phelps.

Foster and Kalisz complete the podium.

"I really felt this good this morning, I didn't know I would be that fast at night! I was just trying to focus on myself, this is the first time I'm favourite in a final and I think I did pretty well, I'm just happy with it," Marchand says.

7:21pm - Semi-final results

Meanwhile, here are the eight qualifiers from the semis for the men's 100m breaststroke – without injured world record holder Adam Peaty:

Nicolo Martinenghi, Nic Fink, Arno Kamminga, James Wilby, Yan Zibei, Lucas Matzerath, Zac Stubblety-Cook, Andrius Sidlauskas.

That means a surprise elimination for Michael Andrew.

And the women's 200m individual medley finalists are:

Alex Walsh, Leah Hayes, Kaylee McKeown, Mary-Sophie Harvey, Kim Seoyeong, Anastasia Gorbenko, Omoto Rika, Katinka Hosszu.

The crowd really got into that second semi to cheer on home star Hosszu. And the Hungarian just squeaked into the final.

7:07pm - Ledecky: "It's been a lot of fun" with new group

Katie Ledecky has been speaking to Olympics.com's Andrew Binner in the mixed zone in Budapest after her win. Here's what she had to say:

"It feels good. It's the fastest I've ever been at Worlds so I'm really happy with that and really excited about the rest of the week I have ahead of me."

On fighting to regain her world record from Titmus, the American said: "I don't know. I'm always just trying to improve and I'll know that we'll have some great races going forward. Summer (McIntosh) is now in the sub 4 minute club so it's only going to get harder. I know I have my work cut out for me and I know it's a good stepping stone here for me having a baseline for the next couple of years heading to Paris."

Ledecky also spoke about her new training group with the men's team at the University of Florida, where Caeleb Dressel also trains.

"It's been a lot of fun. It's been refreshing to have new teammates, new coaches and a different perspective. The goal this year was to win golds in the events i'm swimming and really not setting any time golds. Just trying to improve each meet and so far I've done that so that's good.

"I think it's just learning a lot of new things every day. New training sets, new techniques i'm working on under a fresh set of eyes. Just continuing to have a lot of fun in different ways."

6:54pm - MEDAL MOMENT - Ledecky breaks Championship record to win women's 400m free

Women's 400m freestyle final time. Isabel Gose of German in lane 8; Tang Muhan of China in lane 1; Erika Fairweather of New Zealand in lane 7; Leah Smith of USA in lane 2; Kiah Melverton of Australia in lane 6; Lani Pallister of Australia in lane 3; Summer McIntosh of Canada in lane 5; and Katie Ledecky of USA in lane 4.

Ledecky held the world record until last month, when Ariarne Titmus – not competing here in Budapest – broke it during Australian trials. She does hold the Championship Record.

The American is fastest off the blocks in 0.68 seconds.

It's Pallister who turns first after 50, with Ledecky right behind. Now the swim legend pulls away by about half a body length.

That gap holds steady, and the American turns it on coming back towards halfway. It's about a full body length at 200m in 1:56.99. McIntosh, the young Canadian, is second.

Ledecky has dropped back just a touch from the world record split but she is still comfortably ahead of McIntosh heading into the final hundred.

The American touches home first, in 3:58.15, and that's a new Championship Record breaking her own mark.

Her 16th World title. McIntosh finishes second and Leah Smith takes bronze.

"I'm very happy at that swim, glad to get Team USA its first gold medal and Leah got in there for bronze. This is my first race this week; I'm excited for those [other] races," Ledecky says.

6:34pm - Ben Proud top qualifies for men's 50m fly final

Great Britain's Ben Proud is the man who will get the middle lane for the men's 50m fly final after topping the timesheets in today's semis.

He'll be joined in the final by Caeleb Dressel, Thomas Ceccon, Michael Andrew, Szebasztian Szabo, Dylan Carter, Teong Tzen Wei, and Nicholas Santos. Santos is making a return to the pool aged 42.

The stunning thing? World record holder Andrii Govorov of Ukraine – for whom even being in Budapest was an achievement – finished last in the second semi and is out.

6:25pm - Huske leads women's 100m fly finalists

Torri Huske, the top qualifier from this morning's heats, is also the top qualifier into the finals following tonight's semis.

The American clocked 56.29 after turning under the world record split.

Also through are Marie Wattel, Claire Curzan, Brianna Throssell, Louise Hansson, Zhang Yufei, Lana Pudar, and Farida Osman.

6:10pm - MEDAL MOMENT - Winnington claims first gold medal

The first final this evening is in the men's 400m freestyle.

In Lane 8, Marco de Tullio of Italy; in Lane 1, Trey Freeman of USA; in Lane 7, Kim Woomin of South Korea; in Lane 2, Kieran Smith of USA, the Olympic bronze medallist; in Lane 6, Lukas Martens of Germany; in Lane 3, Guilherme Pereira da Costa of Brazil; in Lane 5, Elijah Winnington of Australia; and in Lane 4, Felix Auboeck of Austria.

The world record is from 2009, and that will likely not be threatened today.

Winnington has the fastest reaction time off the blocks, with the Australian out to a quick start as Auboeck falls back and makes the first turn last as he conserves energy for later in the race.

The Australian Winnington is well inside the world record split at 100m in 52.96. He has a lead of about half a body length over Martens at 200m. Martens has edged ahead at 250m, and holds that lead into the final 100m.

Auboeck has left himself with too much to do in the final lap. Winnington makes a huge surge after the final turn and pulls away from Martens.

Gold for Australia and Elijah Winnington. Silver to Lukas Martens of Germany. Bronze to Brazil's Guilherme Pereira da Costa.

The winning time 3:41.22. That's fast. How fast? Eighth-fastest time in history.

"It's unbelievable. I'm just trying to have fun, trying to enjoy this experience and that definitely helped," Winnington says.

"I was in a world-class field so I knew we would be going something pretty good," he adds of his time.

Speaking later in the mixed zone to Olympics.com, the Australian said: "I wasn't focussing on the results. You probably saw me walking out just looking around, enjoying the experience. My first world champs and second international final after the Olympics. I just wanted to enjoy it and clearly enjoying it brought out the best in me.

"I've worked super hard to get myself to where I am mentally. It's really just a mental game now. I was chatting to Kyle Chalmers earlier this week and he said that everyone at this international stage, they all put in work, they're all talented, but it's who is tougher in the mind.

"This time last year I never thought this day would happen , I though I would have hung up the goggles, I wasn’t enjoying it so to bounce back in 11 months it’s really cool. I’m treating it as a stepping stone to move forward. This is by no means the best I’ll ever produce."

5:45pm - Evening schedule

This is the schedule for tonight's evening session in the pool, from 18:00 local time:

• Men's 400m free final
• Women's 100m fly semis
• Men's 50m fly semis
• Women's 400m free final
• Men's 100m breast semis
• Women's 200m IM semis
• Men's 400m IM final
• Men's 4x100m free relay final
• Women's 4x100m free relay final

5:30pm - Flying acrobats

5:15pm - Opening Ceremony taking place

The official Opening Ceremony is underway in the Duna Arena ahead of the first evening of swim finals, which begin at 6pm.

That is indeed a DJ on the diving platform.

4:59pm - MEDAL MOMENT - Inui Yukiko (JPN) wins gold in women's solo technical

The final athlete in the pool is Austria's Vasiliki Alexandri.

But she is not able to push into the medals. The Austrian reacts with a bit of disappointment on her face as the scores pop up on the big screen in Budapest.

Fifth place for the Austrian.

Which means the medallists for the artistic swimming women's solo technical event are:

Gold - Inui Yukiko (JPN)

Silver - Marta Fiedina (UKR)

Bronze - Evangelia Platanioti (GRE)

4:55pm - Fiedina into second for medal

Ukraine's Marta Fiedina, the second-best qualifier, has guaranteed herself a medal.

With just one athlete left, she scores a 91.9555 to slot in just behind Inui.

4:35pm - Inui to the top

The favourite has nailed her routine.

Inui Yukiko moves to the top of the standings in this final with a 92.8662, some seven points ahead of everyone who went before her.

Five left to go including some of the other medal favourites.

3:55pm - First final of Championships

We are about to hand out the first medals of these World Championships, in the women's solo technical artistic swimming final.

The top 12 women from Friday's preliminary round have qualified for this final, where the favourite is the Japanese Inui Yukiko, the top qualifier.

2:04pm - Minisini and Ruggiero hold lead

That Italian lead at the top of the mixed duet technical standings has held through all 13 pairs.

Minisini and Ruggiero are the team to beat in Monday afternoon's final, with their 88.5734 more than two-and-a-half points clear of Japan's Sato Tomoka / Sato Yotaro, who are on 85.8086.

China (Shi Haoyu / Zhang Yiyao) sit third on 84.8232.

Up next, the first medal event, the women's solo technical final at 4pm.

1:16pm - Italy go top

Italy are one of the countries to watch in artistic swimming and it tells. Giorgio Minisini / Lucrezia Ruggiero score 88.5734 to lead the way in the early reckoning of this mixed duet technical preliminary.

12:55pm - Artistic swimming update

The day's second artistic swimming preliminary, in the mixed duet technical category, is about to begin!

This morning saw Ukraine top the women's team free combination on 93.9333 points.

The mixed duet event is the only artistic swimming category that sees men compete.

12:07pm - How can you improve Katie Ledecky?

That is the question USA men's coach Anthony Nesty asked himself when Ledecky joined his University of Florida training group after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

This evening, she hopes to win back her 400 freestyle world title.

We caught up with Suriname's Olympic gold medallist from the Seoul 1988 Olympics, who told us how he aims to get Ledecky back to her Rio 2016 golden form.

12:02pm - USA men the team to beat in 4x100 freestyle final

Hunter Armstrong, Ryan Held, Justin Ress and Brooks Curry ensured that the men's Olympic champions qualified safely for this evening's final in top spot.

The quartet finished in 3.10.80, ahead of second-placed Australia (anchored by Kyle Chalmers) and Hungary.

Great Britain, Canada, Italy, Brazil and Serbia will also be competing for the gold medal later.

And that concludes a thrilling first morning of swimming action at the 2022 World Championships. Don't forget, the semi-finals and finals begin this evening at 18:00 local time.

11:45am - Australia's women dominate 4x100 freestyle relay prelims

A new-look team for the reigning Olympic champs including Maddison Wilson, Meg Harris, Leah Neale, and Brianna Throssell powered to first place overall ahead of this evening's final in 3.33.74.

The USA finished in second, +1.5 off the Aussies' pace, with Canada in third.

Great Britain, China, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Hungary also progress to this evening's final, where teams will likely switch in some of their top stars.

11:30am - Leon Marchand takes down men's medley superstars!

Flying Frenchman Leon Marchand has just beaten USA's Carson Foster and Olympic champion Chase Kalisz in Heat 3 of the men's 400 medley heats to take the top time overall.

The 20-year-old NCAA sensation clocked a new French record 4.09.09, almost a second faster than Foster in second.

All will progress to this evening's stacked final alongside fourth overall finisher and reigning world champion Seto Daiya from Japan.

Elsewhere, keep an eye out for local favourite Balasz Hollo and Seto's compatriot Honda Tomoru.

Check out our exclusive interview with Leon Marchand ahead of the championships: “I feel capable of fighting with the best swimmers in the world”

11:02am - Kamminga steps up in Peaty's absence

With 100 breaststroke GOAT Adam Peaty sitting out these Worlds with a foot injury, all eyes turned to Olympic silver medallist Arno Kamminga.

And the Dutchman - who never gets in the water during his warm-up - stepped up with aplomb, setting the fastest time in heats with a blisteringly quick 58.69.

He will be joined in this evening's semi-finals by USA's Nic Fink and Michael Andrew - second and third-fastest overall respectively and both under the 59-second barrier.

Other qualifiers include Nicolo Martinenghi of Italy, Yan Zibei of China, GB's James Wilby, and 200 breaststroke world record-holder and Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook.

10:44am - Katie Ledecky, doing Katie Ledecky things

The seven-time Olympic champion was in cruise control as she recorded the fastest women's 400 freestyle heat time in 3.59.57.

With Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus not at these Worlds, Ledecky is the strong favourite to win gold in this evening's final.

Qualifying second over 3 seconds back was Canadian starlet Summer McIntosh, while Australia's Lani Pallister was third.

Check out: How to watch Katie Ledecky at the 2022 FINA World Championships - Schedule and preview

10:13am - Dressel time doesn't disappoint

USA superstar Caeleb Dressel has begun his conquest for a record 8 gold medals at a single World Champs in style. The reigning men's 50 butterfly world champion touches home in 22.88 to qualify for this evening's semis third overall.

The top spot goes to Dylan Carter of Trinidad and Tobago, who sizzled down the pool in 22.87!

Moustache man Thomas Ceccon finished second with a new Italian record of 22.88, while Michael Andrew of USA was fourth in 22.89.

GB's Ben Proud and Hungary's Sebaztian Szabo and Frenchman Florent Manaudou all progress.

Check out: Caeleb Dressel at the 2022 FINA World Championships - Schedule, preview, and where to watch

10:02am - Huske butterFLYS into women's semis

It's been a strong start for Team USA, with 19-year-old Torri Huske now qualifying for this evening's women's 100 butterfly semi-finals with the top heats time of 56.82.

Frenchwoman Marie Wattel was second, while China's 200 fly Olympic champ Zhang Yufei showed that she has lost none of her Tokyo pace in third.

Huske's 17-year-old compatriot Claire Curzan qualifies as the fourth-quickest overall.

Remember, reigning Olympic champion Maggie Mac Neil of Canada has opted to swim relays only in Budapest.

9:53am - SC world champ Felix Auboeck No.1 in men's 400 free heats

Current short course 400 world champion Felix Auboeck has seemingly transferred his skills in the long course pool, topping the heats in 3.43.83. The qualifiers go straight through to the final this evening.

Australia's latest star Elijah Winnington will qualify for this evening's final as the second-fastest finisher, with Brazilian Guilherme Costa in third.

Woomin Kim is seen by many as one of the most exciting emerging talents in men's swimming. True to form, the Korean touched home in 3.45.87 to win his heat and finish sixth overall in qualifying.

Rio 2016 Olympic champion Mack Horton of Australia is also safely through.

World Cup breakout star Matthew Sates did not take his place in the heats. This suggests that the South African will focus on the 400 medley later this morning.

Another noticeable absentee was Tunisia's Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Ahmed Hafnaoui, who decided not to compete at Worlds.

9:17am - Alex Walsh tops 200m medley heats, Katinka Hosszu progresses

The American clocked 2.07.84 to lay down a serious statement of intent in the first race of these championships. She will be seeded No. 1 for this evening's semi-finals.

Her compatriot Leah Hayes finished second overall, with Israel's Anastasia Gorbenko in third.

Home hero and world record holder Katinka Hosszu, who has won this event at the past four World Championships, finished Heat 2 in third to progress.

Australia's backstroke queen and double individual Olympic gold medallist from Tokyo 2020 Kaylee McKeown finished second in Heat 3 to progress.

Japan's reigning Olympic champion in the 200 and 400 medley Ohashi Yui qualified as the 12th fastest heat finisher.

8:50am - Two medal sports today

There is something for everyone at Budapest 2022 today, with medals for swimming and artistic swimming up for grabs.

Click here to see our complete guide to the event.

8:40am - Budapest looking beautiful in the sun

It is HOT (highs of 30ºC / 86°F) in Budapest today as the first fans begin to filter into the impressive, air-conditioned, Duna Arena.

Swimmers love this venue (which last hosted the World Championships in 2017) as the pool conditions are perfect for setting fast times. Expect records to tumble over the next week of swimming.

Fun Fact: Caeleb Dressel won seven gold medals at the 2017 World Championships in this venue, while Katie Ledecky won five.

8:30am - Good morning from Budapest

Or Szia, üdv Budapesten! as they might say here in Hungary!

The 19th FINA World Championships Budapest 2022 are underway and this Saturday morning, the swimming action begins with heats in nine events.

Who will be in the pool this morning? Well, Katie Ledecky will, for starters. The American goes in the women's 400m freestyle heats. Caeleb Dressel is also due to participate in the men's 50m fly.

But there will be no Adam Peaty, the British world record holder in the men's 100m breaststroke, due to injury. Netherlands' Arno Kamminga is instead the man to beat in that event.

And we'll have relay heats too.

Today will also see the first artistic swimming medals awarded, in the solo technical event.

And there will be five swimming finals this evening.