‘Without precedent': Swim star is an absolute freak
The American on Tuesday night (AEST) won the 22nd world title of her legendary career to close in on Michael Phelps's record.
On a dramatic night at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, fellow Olympic champions David Popovici and Aussie Kaylee McKeown also struck gold.
Ledecky cruised to a dominant 1500m freestyle gold, touching the wall in 15min 26.44sec, having threatened her own world record of 15:20.48.
The masterful win moved Ledecky four short of the retired Phelps's career tally of 26 world gold medals.
'Growing up it was very inspiring to watch world championships, Olympic Games that Michael was in, trying to learn from the very best,' said Ledecky, 28.
'I was always a student of the sport.'
Ledecky's win gave the American the sixth world 1500m freestyle title of her career.
She is also a nine-time Olympic gold medallist.
Second was Simona Quadarella of Italy in 15:31.79 and third Australia's Lani Pallister in 15:41.18.
Ledecky is unbeaten in the long-distance event since the age of 13.
With Ledecky swimming under world record pace at the 800m mark, Aussie legends Ariarne Titmus and Ian Thorpe were blown away in commentary on Channel 9.
When Titmus mentioned Ledecky chasing her own world record, Thorpe responded: 'Don't jinx it. Don't do that'.
Swimming commentators around the globe were in awe.
Sports Illustrated writer Pat Forde posted on X: 'Do not take her singular greatness for granted. She is without peer and without precedent'.
American swimming commentator Kyle Sockwell wrote: 'The greatest freestyler in the history of freestyle'.
Sports journalist Christine Brennan posted: 'Remarkable. One of the highlights of my career has been covering every single one of Katie Ledecky's Olympic races throughout her career, from 2012 onward.
'This is a 28-year-old superstar who just loves to train, practice, compete and represent her country. She is one of a kind.'
Sport journalist Joey Wllis wrote: 'Is Katie Ledecky one of the greatest athletes ever? Her dominance in the pool is incomprehensibly remarkable'.
Sport writer Liz Byrnes wrote: 'Ledecky has never been beaten in the longest race in the pool. Complete & utter domination'.
One fan posted: 'Her dominance in this event is unmatched'.
Ledecky was the red-hot favourite going into the race, having qualified for the final over 10 seconds faster than nearest challenger Pallister.
She also went into the race owning the top 24 1500m freestyle times ever, and set the second-fastest time in history in April behind her own record.
Pallister pushed her with a fast early tempo and Ledecky was on world record pace until late in the race.
In the end she fell short of the mark but still clocked the fifth-fastest time ever.
'Lani took it out there. I knew she would be out fast and I just wanted to get out fast, but comfortable enough that I could go from there,' said Ledecky.
'I'm happy with the time and happy with the swim.'
It is Ledecky's first gold medal of the championships, after picking up a bronze behind Summer McIntosh in the 400m freestyle on Sunday's opening night in Singapore.
Ledecky is set to go head-to-head with Canadian phenomenon McIntosh again in the 800m freestyle.
Popovici claimed a thrilling 200m freestyle gold — then revealed he had very nearly pulled out.
The 20-year-old Romanian reeled in US rival Luke Hobson to take the title in 1:43.53, with Hobson settling for silver (1:43.84) and Japan's 18-year-old Tatsuya Murasa taking bronze (1:44.54).
Popovici said afterwards that he had seriously considered withdrawing from the competition before it started, even going as far as looking at flights home.
'It was a mental thing and it had to do with the fear of seeing my real potential,' said Popovici, who reclaimed his world crown from 2022.
'That's very scary. And so I'm really glad I didn't quit.'
Australia's McKeown beat a recently dislocated shoulder, nerves and old rival Regan Smith of the United States to win the 100m backstroke gold, narrowly missing the world record.
McKeown powered to the wall in a championship record 57.16sec, with Smith having to once more settle for second, just 0.19sec behind.
Katharine Berkoff, also of the United States, took bronze.
in women's backstroke.
'It's always very nerve-wracking, especially off the back of the Olympics,' said the 24-year-old, who won the 100-200m backstroke double at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.
'I was probably a bit more nervous than I would like to have been tonight.' McKeown's latest triumph came after hurting her shoulder in the lead-up to Singapore.
'It's been quite irritated but I've got a good medical team and physios to help me get through.' Germany's Anna Elendt won the first world title of her career in the women's 100m breaststroke, coming home in 1:05.19.
American Kate Douglass was second in 1:05.27, with China's Tang Qianting third in 1:05.64.
South Africa's Pieter Coetze won the men's 100m backstroke in 51.85sec in a surprise, ahead of Italy's Thomas Ceccon (51.90) and France's Yohann Ndoye-Brouard.
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