Seward’s Lydia Jacoby had to lean on her world-class kick even more than normal for the women’s 100-meter breaststroke final at the World Championships.
Swimming in Lane 1, she was hardly in an optimal spot to improve on her qualifying position in the pool but still found a way to reach the podium and beat world-record holder Lily King again.
Jacoby was the top American finisher in 1:05.94 to earn the bronze medal, holding off King by eight-hundredths of a second.
Lithuanian Ruta Mielutyte claimed gold 11 years after winning the event in the Olympics; she finished in 1:04.62 – the eighth-fastest time ever. Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa took the silver in 1:05.84, a tenth of a second ahead of Jacoby.
The Alaskan was third at the turn but then shortly after looked like she might slip out of medal contention as King and Ireland’s Mona McSharry surged ahead.
Jacoby wasn’t having it, however, and dropped the hammer with about 65 meters left to beat King and McSharry for the bronze.
Jacoby also held off King in April for the win at a Pro Series meet in Westmont, Illinois. She also beat her to win gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.