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Ledecky wins record 13th medal with a silver. Summer McIntosh and Kate Douglass strike gold

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Ledecky wins record 13th medal with a silver. Summer McIntosh and Kate Douglass strike gold
Sport

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Ledecky wins record 13th medal with a silver. Summer McIntosh and Kate Douglass strike gold

2024-08-02 18:28 Last Updated At:18:30

NANTERRE, France (AP) — It wasn't the medal Katie Ledecky would've preferred.

Still, it was good enough for the record books.

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Summer McIntosh, of Canada, celebrates with the gold medal during the awards ceremony for the women's 200-meter butterfly at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, celebrates with the gold medal during the awards ceremony for the women's 200-meter butterfly at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leon Marchand, of France, competes in a heat of the men's 200-meter individual medley at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Leon Marchand, of France, competes in a heat of the men's 200-meter individual medley at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Katie Ledecky, of the United States, left, greets teammate Erin Gemmell at the end of the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Katie Ledecky, of the United States, left, greets teammate Erin Gemmell at the end of the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Katie Ledecky, of United States, sits on the pool deck with teammates during the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Katie Ledecky, of United States, sits on the pool deck with teammates during the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Australia's Ariane Titmus celebrates after the Australian women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Australia's Ariane Titmus celebrates after the Australian women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Kate Douglass, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Kate Douglass, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

United States' women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team pose with their silver medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

United States' women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team pose with their silver medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, center, of Canada, stands on the podium with silver medal winner Regan Smith, left, of the United States, and bronze medal winner Yufei Zhang, of China, following the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, center, of Canada, stands on the podium with silver medal winner Regan Smith, left, of the United States, and bronze medal winner Yufei Zhang, of China, following the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Caelab Dressel, of the United States, gets ready to compete in a men's 50-meter freestyle semifinal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Caelab Dressel, of the United States, gets ready to compete in a men's 50-meter freestyle semifinal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, competes in the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, competes in the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, right, of the United States, is congratulated by Tatjana Smith, of South Africa, after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, right, of the United States, is congratulated by Tatjana Smith, of South Africa, after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Regan Smith, of the United States, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Regan Smith, of the United States, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Tatjana Smith, of South Africa, from left, Kate Douglass, of the United States, and Tes Schouten, of the Netherlands, celebrate after the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Tatjana Smith, of South Africa, from left, Kate Douglass, of the United States, and Tes Schouten, of the Netherlands, celebrate after the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Summer McIntosh, right, of Canada, is congratulated buy Regan Smith, of the United States, after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Summer McIntosh, right, of Canada, is congratulated buy Regan Smith, of the United States, after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, reacts after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, reacts after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, right, of Canada, is congratulated by Regan Smith, of the United States, after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, right, of Canada, is congratulated by Regan Smith, of the United States, after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, of the United States, competes in the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, of the United States, competes in the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, right, of the United States, is congratulated by teammate Lilly King after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, right, of the United States, is congratulated by teammate Lilly King after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

On a night when Canadian phenom Summer McIntosh romped to another victory and Kate Douglass claimed a gold for the Americans, Ledecky collected the 13th medal of her stellar career to become the most decorated woman in swimming history Thursday.

Ledecky and three American teammates took silver in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay, trailing an Australian squad led by individual gold medalists Mollie O'Callaghan and Ariarne Titmus.

“I’ve tried not to really think about it, just taking it one event at a time and know I have challenges in each of my events,” Ledecky said after returning to the pool Friday for the prelimnaries of the 800 freestyle, her final event. “When all of a sudden it's done, I’ll enjoy it.”

In her next-to-last event of these games, Ledecky broke the mark she shared with fellow Americans Dara Torres, Natalie Coughlin and Jenny Thompson. The 27-year-old now has eight golds, four silvers and one bronze over four Olympics, with every intention of swimming on to Los Angeles in 2028.

McIntosh cruised to victory in the 200 butterfly, dealing American Regan Smith a familiar silver-medal finish.

But Douglass put the U.S. on the top of the podium in the 200 breaststroke, a race that essentially served as a changing of the guard.

Longtime American star Lilly King, competing in her final Olympics, finished last in the final. She made her way over several lane ropes to give a hug to Douglass, one of the world's most versatile swimmers and now a gold medalist.

It was the fourth swimming gold for the world's most dominant swimming nation, to go along with 10 silver medals and six bronzes.

No other American woman has more Olympic medals than Ledecky. Only four athletes rank higher on the overall list, which is led by Michael Phelps with 28.

O'Callaghan, gold medalist in the 200 freestyle, started things off for the Australians, giving them a lead they never relinquished.

Lani Pallister and Briana Throssell kept the team from Down Under out front, even as Ledecky tried in vain to chase down Throssell on the third leg.

When Titmus dove in on the anchor leg with the lead, it was essentially over. The winner of the 400 freestyle and silver medalist in the 200 free finished in an Olympic record of 7:38.08.

Erin Gemmell held off China to give the U.S. the silver in 7:40.86. Claire Weinstein and Paige Madden rounded out the American squad.

Yang Junxuan, Li Bingjie, Ge Chutong and Liu Yaxin earned the bronze in 7:42.34.

Ledecky is the favorite in the 800, an event she has won at the last three Olympics. Phelps is the only swimmer to win the same event at four straight Summer Games.

China's Zhang Yufei, the reigning Olympic champion and of nearly two dozen swimmers from her country who tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Tokyo Games but were allowed to compete, pushed the pace in the 200 fly over the first half of the race.

No way she was holding off McIntosh, though.

The 17-year-old powered to the lead on the third 50 and left no doubt on the closing lap. She touched in an Olympic-record of 2:03.03.

Smith passed Zhang as well, but had no chance of chasing down the youngster who has established herself as one of the biggest stars at La Defense Arena.

McIntosh opened the games with a silver medal in the 400 freestyle, finishing ahead of Katie Ledecky, and blew away the field in the 400 individual medley.

This was another rout. Smith touched in 2:03.84 for the fourth silver medal of her career, which has yet to produce a gold. Zhang held on for the bronze in 2:05.09.

Douglass, who won a bronze in the 200 individual medley at Tokyo, now has a complete collection.

She started the Paris Games by helping the Americans win silver in 4x100 freestyle relay.

She grabbed the best color of all Thursday.

Douglass claimed the lead on the second of four laps and held off South Africa's Tatjana Smith to win in 2:19.24.

Smith, who took gold in the 100 breaststroke, settled for a silver in 2:19.60, in what she said afterward was her last race. The bronze went to Tes Schouten (2:21.05) of the Netherlands.

King, the winner of five medals including two golds at the last two Olympics, failed to claim an individual prize in her Olympic farewell. She tied for fourth in the 100 breaststroke and finished more than 6 1/2 seconds behind Douglass in the 200.

Douglass has a chance to pick up another medal in the 200 IM.

Hungary’s Hubert Kós claimed gold in the 200 backstroke, another triumph for a swimmer coached by Bob Bowman.

Kós rallied on the final lap to pass Greece’s Apostolos Christou. The winner finished in 1:54.26, while Christou held on for the silver in 1:54.82. The bronze went to Roman Mityukov of Switzerland in 1:54.85.

Bowman coached Kós at Arizona State University, where he competed alongside the biggest swimming star of these games, France’s Léon Marchand.

Bowman now heads the program at the University of Texas, and Kós has transferred to join him.

Kós praised Bowman, best known as Michael Phelps’ coach, for pushing him to new heights.

“It’s been an incredible journey with him, and I’m just to happy be part of a team like that,” Kós said. “The magic touch is the work. He doesn’t let us be second best. He doesn’t let us stoop down to a level he doesn’t want from us. That brings out the best in us.”

Marchand set himself up for another gold-medal run, posting the fastest time (1:56.31) in the semifinals of the men's 200 individual medley.

Already the winner of three gold medals, the French star is a big favorite to make it four in a row in the final Friday of his last individual event.

American Carson Foster posted the second-fastest time (1:56.37).

After a close call in the morning preliminaries, American Caeleb Dressel will get a chance to defend his Olympic title in the 50 freestyle Friday night.

Dressel posted the fifth-fastest time in the evening semifinals (21.58) Thursday on the heels of tying for 13th in the heats. Benjamin Proud of Britain and Cameron McEvoy of Australia shared the top spot in swimming's most chaotic race — an all-out dash from one end of the pool to the other — at 21.38.

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, celebrates with the gold medal during the awards ceremony for the women's 200-meter butterfly at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, celebrates with the gold medal during the awards ceremony for the women's 200-meter butterfly at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leon Marchand, of France, competes in a heat of the men's 200-meter individual medley at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Leon Marchand, of France, competes in a heat of the men's 200-meter individual medley at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Katie Ledecky, of the United States, left, greets teammate Erin Gemmell at the end of the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Katie Ledecky, of the United States, left, greets teammate Erin Gemmell at the end of the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Katie Ledecky, of United States, sits on the pool deck with teammates during the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Katie Ledecky, of United States, sits on the pool deck with teammates during the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Australia's Ariane Titmus celebrates after the Australian women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Australia's Ariane Titmus celebrates after the Australian women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team won a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Kate Douglass, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Kate Douglass, of the United States, celebrates after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

United States' women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team pose with their silver medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

United States' women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team pose with their silver medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, center, of Canada, stands on the podium with silver medal winner Regan Smith, left, of the United States, and bronze medal winner Yufei Zhang, of China, following the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, center, of Canada, stands on the podium with silver medal winner Regan Smith, left, of the United States, and bronze medal winner Yufei Zhang, of China, following the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Caelab Dressel, of the United States, gets ready to compete in a men's 50-meter freestyle semifinal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Caelab Dressel, of the United States, gets ready to compete in a men's 50-meter freestyle semifinal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, competes in the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, competes in the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Hubert Kos, of Hungary, celebrates after winning the men's 200-meter backstroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, right, of the United States, is congratulated by Tatjana Smith, of South Africa, after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, right, of the United States, is congratulated by Tatjana Smith, of South Africa, after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Regan Smith, of the United States, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Regan Smith, of the United States, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Tatjana Smith, of South Africa, from left, Kate Douglass, of the United States, and Tes Schouten, of the Netherlands, celebrate after the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Tatjana Smith, of South Africa, from left, Kate Douglass, of the United States, and Tes Schouten, of the Netherlands, celebrate after the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Summer McIntosh, right, of Canada, is congratulated buy Regan Smith, of the United States, after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Summer McIntosh, right, of Canada, is congratulated buy Regan Smith, of the United States, after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, reacts after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, reacts after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, right, of Canada, is congratulated by Regan Smith, of the United States, after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, right, of Canada, is congratulated by Regan Smith, of the United States, after winning the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, of the United States, competes in the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, of the United States, competes in the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, right, of the United States, is congratulated by teammate Lilly King after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Kate Douglass, right, of the United States, is congratulated by teammate Lilly King after winning the women's 200-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Summer McIntosh, of Canada, competes in the women's 200-meter butterfly final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Next Article

Russia says it captured a southern Ukraine village in a push before winter comes

2024-10-14 19:24 Last Updated At:19:31

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia said Monday it has captured the village of Levadne in southern Ukraine as it probes for weaknesses along the war ’s roughly 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, including in eastern areas which currently are the main focus of Moscow’s military effort before winter arrives.

Ukrainian authorities, meanwhile, reported no nighttime Shahed drone attacks on the country for the first time in about six weeks, after saying five days ago it struck a Shahed storage facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region where some 400 drones reportedly were being kept.

In Moscow, the Defense Ministry said Russian troops took Levadne in the Zaporizhzhia region. Levadne was seized by the Russians early during the war but was recaptured by Ukrainian forces during a counteroffensive in the summer of 2023.

Ukraine’s troops are straining to hold back Russia’s military might, especially in the eastern Donetsk region, and don’t have the manpower or weaponry to launch their own offensive. Though Russia’s gains have been incremental, its steady forward movement is slowly adding up as the Ukrainians are pushed backward.

Ukraine says it needs more Western help to have a chance of holding back Russia’s invasion.

Russia illegally annexed four regions of Ukraine, including Zaporizhzhia, in September 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from all four regions as the main condition for a prospective peace deal, a demand Ukraine and the West have rejected.

The Ukrainian General Staff last week reported a direct hit on the Shahed drone warehouse inside Russia.

“The destruction of the Shahed drone storage base will significantly reduce the ability of Russian occupiers to terrorize peaceful residents of Ukrainian cities and villages,” it said at the time.

Ukrainian officials are keen to show the West they are not giving up the fight against their much bigger neighbor. An incursion into Russia’s Kursk border region has put Ukrainian troops on Russian soil for more than two months.

Ukraine has also deployed sophisticated new long-range drones to strike targets inside Russia, including airfields, oil refineries and ammunition depots.

The Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence said Monday it destroyed a Russian military transport aircraft, a Tu-134, at a military airfield in Russia’s Orenburg region.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

In this image made from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, a Russian sniper, in an undisclosed location, fires towards Ukrainian forces. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

In this image made from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, a Russian sniper, in an undisclosed location, fires towards Ukrainian forces. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Russia says it captured a southern Ukraine village in a push before winter comes

Russia says it captured a southern Ukraine village in a push before winter comes

Russia says it captured a southern Ukraine village in a push before winter comes

Russia says it captured a southern Ukraine village in a push before winter comes

In this image made from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, a Russian sniper, in an undisclosed location, fires towards Ukrainian forces. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

In this image made from video released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, a Russian sniper, in an undisclosed location, fires towards Ukrainian forces. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

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