TOKYO — Katie Ledecky claimed her second gold of the 2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in the women’s 400m freestyle Saturday while Rikako Ikee cemented her place as the rising star of Japanese swimming.

American Ledecky dominated the 400m to win in a time of 3:58:50, the sixth fastest swim in history, and provide the perfect response to her disappointing bronze in the 200 meters.

The five-time Olympic gold medalist was never threatened by 17-year-old Australian Ariarne Titmuss, who went under four minutes for the first time to claim silver. American Leah Grace was third in a repeat of the podium from Thursday’s 800m.

In 18-year-old Ikee, Japan may have found its swimming talisman for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics following her domination of the women’s 100m butterfly.

After claiming two silver medals on the first two days of competition, Ikee went one step further as she broke the championship record she set in the morning’s heats to win gold in 56:08 seconds.

American Kelsi Dahlia and Australia’s Emma McKeon took silver and bronze, but the race was all about Ikee as the teenager thrilled an expectant home crowd with a stunning performance that threatened Sarah Sjoestoem’s world record of 55:48 seconds.

Compatriot Yui Ohashi also set a championship record as she secured Japan’s second gold of the night in the women’s 200m individual medley.

Ohashi, the world silver medalist, came into the race as favorite and won in 2:08:16 to break the meet record set by compatriot Miho Teramura in the heats.

Teramura came third in the final with Canada’s Sydney Pickrem taking silver.

Four-time Olympic medallist Kosuke Hagino couldn’t follow suit in the men’s event as American Chase Kalisz’s superior breaststroke proved crucial.

There was an Australia one-two in the men’s 400 freestyle, as Jack McLoughlin led from halfway and held off a late challenge from compatriot Mack Horton to take gold.

Australia also won the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay, anchored by a strong swim from Cate Campbell, to better their own championship record 3:31:58 set four years ago on the Gold Coast.

The United States broke their championship record to win the men’s 4x100m relay in 3:11:67. — Reuters