With his first major title, Chase Kalisz ensured the 200m individual medley crown stayed with the U.S.
Kalisz fulfilled years of promise by winning the 200m IM at the world championships in Budapest on Thursday, succeeding longtime training partner Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte in the event.
Kalisz won in 1:55.56, by .45 over Japan’s Kosuke Hagino, who took silver in Rio behind Phelps.
Phelps and Lochte had combined to win every Olympic and world title in the 200m IM from from 2003 through 2016. That’s four Olympics — all won by Phelps — and seven worlds — the first three titles taken by Phelps, the last four by Lochte.