In lane three, the world record holder. In lane four, the world champion. In lane five, the Olympic champion.
The women’s 400m freestyle final at the swimming world championships, which began in Fukuoka, Japan on Sunday, had been described as the Race of the Century. That was a label last given to a famous 200m freestyle duel 19 years ago, at the Athens Olympics, featuring swimming legends Ian Thorpe, Michael Phelps, Pieter van den Hoogenband and Grant Hackett.
