Race Video: Katie Ledecky Breaks 800 Freestyle World Record In Houston

Katie Ledecky smashed her 800 Freestyle World Record at the TWST Senior Invitational in Houston, Texas. She has been on fire all weekend. She broke the world record by two seconds in the 1500m freestyle, breaking Janet Evans’ 800 freestyle US Open record in the process. She had the fastest time in the world this year in the 400 freestyle, and today she re-breaks her 800 freestyle world record. Last year in Barcelona she broke the world record with a time of 8:13.86. She took nearly three seconds off from her swim less than a year ago.

Take a look at her official splits:

  • 50 – 28.91
  • 100 – 30.53 – 59.44
  • 150 – 31.05 – 1:30.49
  • 200 – 30.99 – 2:01.48
  • 250 – 30.84 – 2:32.32
  • 300 – 31.10 – 3:03.42
  • 350 – 30.92 – 3:34.34
  • 400 – 31.36 – 4:05.70
  • 450 – 30.86 – 4:36.56
  • 500 – 31.23 – 5:07.79
  • 550 – 30.88 – 5:38.67
  • 600 – 30.97 – 6:09.64
  • 650 – 22.176:31.81
  • 700 – 39.06 – 7:10.87
  • 750 – 30.66 – 7:41.53
  • 800 – 29.47 – 8:11.00

We were told a lap counter hit theย touch pad as she was approaching the 650 meter mark. Note that the splits/times in red are not correct.ย 

That time is the fastest time in the world this year by more than 8 seconds. Jazmin Carlin had the previous fastest time with a 8:18.36, which is already very impressive by itself. Ledecky’s 800 split during her 1500 the other day was already faster than Carlin’s time. During that swim she split 8:16.18.

2014 LCM Women 800 Free TYR World Ranking

KatieUSA
LEDECKY
06/22
8.11.00*WR
2Jazmin
CARLIN
GBR8.15.5408/21
3Lauren
BOYLE
NZL8.18.8708/21
4Jessica
ASHWOOD
AUS8.19.7602/28
5Brittany
MacLEAN
CAN8.20.0208/21
View Top 51»

Her 400 split ranks as the 9th fastest swim in the world this year.

2014 LCM Women 400 Free TYR World Ranking

KatieUSA
LEDECKY
08/23
3.58.37*WR
2Jazmin
CARLIN
GBR4.03.2408/24
3Sharon
VAN ROUWENDAAL
NED4.03.7608/24
4Mireia
BELMONTE GARCIA
ESP4.03.8404/13
5Federica
PELLEGRINI
ITA4.04.4208/24
View Top 51»

Her swim today lowers the World record, National Age Group record, the American record, and the US Open record.

We took a look at the 17-18 boys all time rankings and Ledecky’s 800 time is the 86th fastest 800 ever swum by a 17-18 year old, male or female, in USA Swimming history.

This record will have to be ratified by FINA before being declared official. While in most cases, that is a given with records being set at national and international level meets, thereโ€™s no guarantees, for example, that Ledecky underwent the mandatory doping control after her race.

Special thanks to Mike Nordmann, the Woodlands Swim Team Age Group Coach, for providing SwimSwam with the race footage.

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Jim C
10 years ago

It is Ledecky who would be ranked 86 among 17-18 year olds. Her swim would be ranked lower if any 17-18 year old boys broke 8:11 more than once.

When comparing different laps and different distances, I like to add 2s when there is a jump start, and 2s when there is a touch finish. Thus constant speed for a long race could mean 29s first and last laps, and 31s for all laps in between.

With both 2s corrections a 31s lap speed would give a 27s for 50m, 58s for 100m, 2min for 200m, 4:04 for 400m, and 8:12 for 800m and 15:26 for 1500m. Ledecky”s 8:11 in this sense would correspond to a slightly faster 30.9375… Read more ยป

Mark Savage
10 years ago

Her recent world records in the 800/1500 ranks her 9th in the U.S. among men in these events!

http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=805

Skinny
Reply to  Mark Savage
10 years ago

Disgusting. That definitely shows that she is the best female swimmer in the US right now. I don’t think she gets enough credit for how good she really is

bobo gigi
Reply to  Skinny
10 years ago

I read very often the ESPN website and the women’s part ESPNW.
There are many more articles about Danica Patrick! ๐Ÿ™„
Seek the error! ๐Ÿ˜†

PsychoDad
10 years ago

Her upper body strength and upper body weight shift forward on each stroke are fascinating. That is why gallop works for her.

Matthew
10 years ago

wow – her stroke technique has really improved. same gallop…way more efficient. kuddos for her for being able to work it out and evolve.

she’s a special one and we’re lucky in the US to have her + missy….

Swimmer
10 years ago

Katie’s freestyle is amazing, and this record blows my mind, but the 14 year old Rongione next to her went an 8:39!!!! We can’t forget about that. I’m surprised I haven’t seen anything more on Rongione.

Admin
Reply to  Swimmer
10 years ago

Swimmer – We have written much on Isabella throughout the years. Also, that wasn’t even a best time for her.

bobo gigi
10 years ago

I’ve found a few words from Miss Ledecky after her race.

“I knew I was swimming well, but I didn’t realize unitil I touched how much faster I was here than in Barcelona. I’d still a bit stunned from this whole weekend. It’s a great feeling.”

“I think I may have reacted more here than in Barcelona. There weren’t really any expectations this weekend, but going a best time is always good, right?”

“I sort of had it in the back of mind that breaking the record was a possibility after the 1500, but never really let that into my head leading upto the race. I just tried to swim my own race and not to let the crowd influence… Read more ยป

mcmflyguy
10 years ago

again… just wow

bobo gigi
10 years ago

Thanks a lot Mike Nordmann for the video!
๐Ÿ˜Ž ๐Ÿ˜Ž ๐Ÿ˜Ž ๐Ÿ˜Ž ๐Ÿ˜Ž ๐Ÿ˜Ž ๐Ÿ˜Ž ๐Ÿ˜Ž

It must have been fantastic for the kids present at this meet to see 2 world records in person.

About Tony Carroll

Tony Carroll

The writer formerly known as "Troy Gennaro", better known as Tony Carroll, has been working with SwimSwam since April of 2013. Tony grew up in northern Indiana and started swimming in 2003 when his dad forced him to join the local swim team. Reluctantly, he joined on the condition that โ€ฆ

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