Latest news with #800mFreestyle
Forbes
6 days ago
- General
- Forbes
U.S. Nationals: Katie Ledecky Swims Third-Fastest Time Ever In 800 Free
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 03: Katie Ledecky looks on after competing in the Women's 800m ... More Freestyle on day one of the Toyota National Championships at Indiana University Natatorium on June 03, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by) Since the start of her career, Katie Ledecky has dominated the 800 free event, losing the race only once in her career. On the first day of the Toyota National Championships, the 28-year-old yet again dominated the race with a comfortable lead from the start. Ledecky touched the wall first in 8:05.76 seconds, swimming under her own world record pace halfway through the race. With a 13.91-second lead, she clocked the third-fastest time in history, helping her to qualify for the World Championships in July. Interestingly, this wasn't the first notable outing by Ledecky this year. In May, she broke the 800 free world record in 8:04.12 at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Series. She was half a second faster than her own previous record of 8:04.79 set at the 2016 Olympics. Ledecky, who has won four consecutive Olympic golds in the event, currently also owns 11 of the all-time top long-course performances in history. 'The 800m was my last race in Fort Lauderdale, and then having it as the first race here, it kind of felt like I was just going right back into it,' she said. Ledecky was followed by Claire Weinstein and Jillian Cox in 8:19.67 and 8:19.88, respectively. Katie Ledecky's performance has been steadily improving over the years. Since leaving Stanford in 2021 to train with Anthony Nesty at the University of Florida, her 800 free performance has showcased a significant resurgence breaking the 8:10 sub-barrier six times following the transition. Her 800 free world record in May also helped her break her first long-course record in seven years. Prior to that, Ledecky had taken down the record five times between 2013 and 2016. At Fort Lauderdale she also managed to swim the second-fastest 400 free of her career and the second-fastest time in the 1500 free. According to Ledecky, her world-record winning comeback has been possible due to her training following the post-Olympic break. Ledecky, who faced a few 'ups and downs' during the Olympic year, including health issues, 'hurt some of the momentum' she built in 2022 and 2023. However, the nine-time Olympic gold medalist, who has remained 'healthy for most of the year,' was able to 'pick back up her momentum last fall.' Katie Ledecky, who 'felt really relaxed' during her race on Tuesday, is now only a month away from participating in her seventh World Championships. Notably, she will be presented with one more chance to create history this season and become the first swimmer to win the seventh world title in the same event.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Fairweather wins stunning 800 freestyle final to qualify for World Champs
New Zealand swimmer Erika Fairweather. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Olympians Erika Fairweather, Eve Thomas and Caitlin Deans have all recorded World Championship qualifying times in an impressive 800m Freestyle final on the opening day of the New Zealand Swimming Championships in Auckland. Fairweather showcased the form which saw her reach four Olympic finals last year. The 21-year-old led the race from start to finish, recording a time of 8:21.67s to go well under the World Champs qualification time of 8:34.62s. Eve Thomas pipped Caitlin Deans for second place with a of 8:29.32, just over half a second ahead of Thomas. "It means so much to me to make that qualification time," Deans said. "Everyone swam such a good race so I'm really stoked. Sharing the pool with Eve and Erika and having them to push me along has made me a better athlete and got me to where I am and it's great that we all swam under that time." North Shore's Louis Clark won the men's 1500m Freestyle in a time that qualified him for the 3-kilometre knockout Open Water event at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore in July. Another athlete to punch his ticket to a world event was 18-year-old Igor Russanov who qualified for the World Junior Champs with his fifth place finish in the 50m Freestyle final. Sixteen-year-old Ariel Muchirahondo continued his fine run of form, picking up the first long course open national title of his career, storming home to win the men's 400m Individual Medley. In the multi class events Viking Swim Club's Gaby Smith took out the women's 100m Breaststroke final. The SB9 swimmer went under the World Para Swimming Championships qualification time. In the men's 100m Breaststroke Joshua Willmer finished third to break his SB8 New Zealand record twice in one day and go under the World Championships qualification time. In the women's 50m Freestyle Chelsey Edwards added another national title to her name, while Zoe Pedersen finished third setting a New Zealand 18-years record and going under the World Junior Championships qualification time. Olympian Hazel Ouwehand retained her national title in the women's 100m Butterfly. More than 350 athletes are competing at the Championships. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
