American swimmer Katie Ledecky broke the women’s short-course world record in the 1,500m freestyle at the FINA Swimming World Cup.
Katie Ledecky : 1500m World record | New record
Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky is an American competitive swimmer. She has won seven Olympic gold medals and 19 world championship gold medals, the most in history for a female swimmer.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kathleen Genevieve Ledecky |
| National team | United States |
| Born | March 17, 1997 Washington, D.C. |
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) |
| Weight | 160 lb (73 kg) |
Ledecky’s six individual gold medals at the Olympics, 14 individual gold medals at the World Aquatics Championships, and 22 overall medals at the World Aquatics Championships are records in women’s swimming.
Ledecky is the world record holder in the women’s 800- and 1500-meter freestyle (long course) as well as the former world record holder in the women’s 400-meter freestyle (long course).
She also holds the fastest-ever times in the women’s 500-, 1000-, and 1650-yard freestyle events. She is widely regarded as one of the greatest Olympians and the greatest female swimmer of all time.
Katie Ledecky 1500m World record
Katie Ledecky is having a great time in her first competitive event of the season at this week’s Fina Swimming World Cup.
Ledecky set a world record in the 1,500m freestyle on Saturday night at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.
“I knew that record was within reach just based on some things I’ve done in training, especially my distance stuff (as it) has felt really good this fall,” Ledecky said. “So I felt locked into the pace.”
The 10-time Olympic medalist – who doesn’t compete in short-course events very often – finished in 15:08.24, taking nearly 10 seconds off the previous record set by Germany’s Sarah Wellbrock (15:18.01) in 2019.
Canada’s Summer McIntosh, who also set a world junior mark when she edged Ledecky in the 400 free on Friday, finished first in the 400 medley in 4:21.49 to lead a Canadian sweep.
“Throughout the entire race I felt really in control and strong so I’m really happy,” she said.
Sydney Pickrem was second in 4:28.45, and Bailey Andison was third in 4:29.36.
McIntosh, a 16-year-old from Toronto, trimmed nearly two seconds off the previous world junior mark set by China’s Shiwen Ye (4:23.33) in 2012.
New record
The 10-time Olympic medalist shattered the world record in the 1,500-meter freestyle by nearly 10 seconds Saturday at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.
Ledecky finished the event in 15:08.24, a major improvement over the previous world record of 15:18.01 set by Germany’s Sarah Wellbrock in 2019. Brazil’s Beatriz Dizotti (15:48.82) and Canada’s Laila Oravsky (16:16.86) finished behind Ledecky in second and third, respectively.
While the crowd seemed in disbelief after Ledecky’s record-breaking performance, it was hardly a surprise to Ledecky herself.
“I knew that record was within reach just based on some things I’ve done in training, especially my distance stuff (as it) has felt really good this fall,” Ledecky said, according to the Associated Press. “So I felt locked into the pace.”
Locked in is an understatement. Ledecky was so fast she nearly broke the 800-meter freestyle world record on top of it all by posting a split of 8:00.58 at the halfway point. The current world record is held by — you guessed it — Ledecky, who finished in 8:04.79 at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Only 25, Ledecky has established herself as one of the greatest swimmers of all time. She is a three-time Olympian and has won seven Olympic gold medals and three bronzes over her illustrious and still burgeoning career.