Ledecky Considering 100 Free, 400 IM Events At U.S. Olympic Trials

Retta Race
by Retta Race 19

August 24th, 2015 National, News

At the 2015 FINA World Championships, American Katie Ledecky threw down one of the most dominant performances to ever have taken place in the sport of swimming.  In Kazan, the 18-year old swam her way to wins in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyles, becoming the first swimmer to ever win four individual freestyle golds at a major international competition.  Ledecky also managed to break two of her own World Record marks at the meet, setting the bar ever higher in the 800m and 1500m distances.

Ledecky’s already-legendary run at Worlds is only building on the excitement and anticipation of the U.S. Olympic swimming trials taking place next year in Omaha.  We already know that Ledecky will not be swimming the 1500m freestyle event, as that is a non-Olympic race, which leads to questions about what events the weapon of world record destruction will add to her schedule.

In a recent chat with Olympic Talk, Ledecky hinted at what could potentially be on the agenda in Omaha, and options include the 100m freestyle event.  “I still have to figure out my schedule with [coach] Bruce [Gemmell]. I’ll probably swim the 100 [freestyle] for sure. We’ll see how that goes. The 400m IM is on the first day. I don’t have any other races that day, so it’s something that I might do to have one event out of the way and just to have a race under my belt. The next day I can really focus in on the 400m free. We’ll see.”

Ledecky has swum the 400m IM event less frequently, with her top time for 2015 being that of the 4:41.70 she registered in Bloomington back in June.  That time ranks as the 9th-fastest American in the 2014-2015 behind such powerhouses as Caitlin Leverenz, Maya DiRado and Elizabeth Beisel.

Ledecky’s fastest 100m freestyle time is that of the 54.55 she clocked at the Pro Swim Series Austin in January.  That time is currently positioned 42nd in the world, well behind the top four swimmers who all have sub-53 second times, but 9th in the United States. Even if Ledecky doesn’t qualify individually in the 100m freestyle event, Team USA typically takes the top six finishers in the race as components of the 4x100m freestyle relay.

Katie Hoff, Caroline Buckle, Chelsea Nauta, Jessica Rodriquez and Andie Taylor each contested the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyles at a single trials – 2008 – but only Hoff went on to the Beijing Olympics from that group.  Lindsay Gendron and Jamie Bohunicky swam the four races at trials in 2012. Neither qualified for the London Games. (OlympicTalk)

Tackling any of her races involves working on mechanics between now and trials, says Ledecky.  “I still have a lot to work on for my turns. Those are important things during short races. That would be helpful. And they add up a lot in the longer races. If I improve those, that could be really big.”

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PsychoDad
8 years ago

Yes, but can Ledecky stop drinking completely until RIO? Phelps can!

bobo gigi
8 years ago

I think KL will swim one day 4.30 or better in the 400 IM but it will happen after Rio when she will be tired of freestyle and will train much more seriously for IM at Stanford.
She will swim the 100 free at trials to qualify for the relay. And she will probably qualify considering the so bad American level on sprint.
But once again, and with all the respect due to KL, the US women’s relay needs new sprint stars and finally girls in 52, not another girl in 53 high. As long as you put your hopes on IM swimmers like Ryan Lochte or distance girls like KL for your sprint relays, it will not… Read more »

John
Reply to  bobo gigi
8 years ago

I think Ledecky could surprise everyone in the 200m butterfly!

Hswimmer
8 years ago

There goes Weir’s chance of a relay… Schmitt. Should make it and Coughlin as well battle will be for the last spot.

E GAMBLE
8 years ago

100 free makes perfect sense to me. Someone that specializes in sprint free is about to lose a relay spot. I think the only two safe spots are Simone and Missy.

coacherik
8 years ago

Swimming the 400IM is not a bad idea. Getting a (slightly) rested and shaved time, why not. There is no real challenge in the 400FR, so why not go for a PR in the 4IM. The real test and time for fast freestyle is in Rio for her, not Omaha.

Victor P
8 years ago

I can see the 100 free, but the 400IM would seem to be time wasted. We currently have 2 girls capable of swimming the event 10 seconds faster than her (Beisel, Dirado). That’s a 2.5 second per 100 improvement needed – at minimum. She could probably go a 53.5 in the 100 free with training over the next 12 months. That would likely get her on the relay and give her 5 events total, with 3, possibly 4 of them gold. Not enough?!

Francene
Reply to  Victor P
8 years ago

She hasn’t swum it rested, at all, in recent years. Perhaps she can go 4:31 rested, now. Perhaps she knows a lot more than you do about it.

I think I’d be more curious than saying it was a bad idea.

Victor P
Reply to  Francene
8 years ago

If you’ve followed her unrested times, they are not significantly slower than her rested ones (e.g. 1:56.16 for the 200 free, 1:55.16 rested). She could probably go a 4:38 rested, maybe 4:37. She could drop another 4 seconds in 1 year, so possibly go a 4:33 at Trials. I think that’s slightly optimistic. It’s also not a medal contending time and it’s a possible distraction to her other events.

Obviously, she’ll do whatever she wants, but she’s good with numbers so I’m thinking she’ll stick to the freestyles.

Swimgeek
Reply to  Victor P
8 years ago

Ledecky would be a lot faster than 4:41 rested. I don’t think she’d go 4:31 but she might go 4:35 and make it interesting.

Victor P
Reply to  Swimgeek
8 years ago

Yes, she could do that, but she doesn’t strike me as the kind of swimmer that at the big events wants to have been “an also ran”. She’s used to winning EVERYTHING. There’s a lot more competition for her in the 400IM and she would not be the favorite. Maybe in 2020?

pree
Reply to  Victor P
8 years ago

I feel like she doesn’t actually want to swim it at the Olympics

EmZee
8 years ago

We knew she was a lock for swimming 200-400-800, and she has the endurance and toughness to certainly add a race and swim the 100. Training for that 100 also gives her the front-half speed she needs for the 200 that would make he deadly so I think it’s a great idea.

In terms of “warming up” with the 400 IM…I would never consider it myself seeing as it’s, you know, a 400 IM. But Ledecky knows Ledecky best, and if she believes it to be a good idea then it’s a good idea.

(I’m still cringing at the idea of using the 400 IM as a warm up though, just goes to show what kind of a level she’s… Read more »

Swam
8 years ago

Can someone post Ledecky’s 800m from Kazan here? I can’t seem to find it and want to watch the amazing swim again. Thank you.

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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