2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open
- Wednesday, April 29 – Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheet
- Livestream
Welcome to the first day of the 2026 Fort Lauderdale Open! Last year’s Pro Swim Series meet at this pool saw two World Records from Gretchen Walsh and Katie Ledecky, and both swimmers are back this year along with a few other major swimmers.
There is no official livestream, but SwimSwam’s Coleman Hodges will be attempting to livestream the meet on SwimSwam’s YouTube page. Bear with us through this session as this will be our first attempt and it might not be perfect.
The only race tonight is the men’s and women’s 1500 freestyle. Both the men’s and women’s world record holders Katie Ledecky and Bobby Finke are in action tonight and are the heavy favorites to earn the respective wins.
Women’s 1500 Freestyle — Timed Final
- World Record — 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2018
- American Record — 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (2018)
- U.S. Open Record — 15:20.48, Katie Ledecky (USA), 2018
Top 8 Finishers
- Katie Ledecky (GSC) — 15:25.62
- Sydney Hardy (SYS) — 16:42.76
- Izzy Riva (BSS) — 17:15.26
- Mai Perez (UN) — 17:17.21
- Veronica Metz (JDST) — 17:17.49
- Libby Helmer (NAC) — 17:23.67
- Eden McNally (JW) — 17:25.60
- Mackenzie Corbin (LAC) — 17:25.62
Katie Ledecky dominated the women’s 1500 freestyle, swimming 15:25.62 to set the 5th fastest performance in history in the event and win by more than a minute over Sydney Hardy from Sarasota.
Ledecky’s swim was her 2nd fastest time this season after she swam 15:23.21 in January at the Pro Swim Series stop in Austin. She was also just over a second off the 15:24.51 she swam this time last year at the Fort Lauderdale Pro Swim Series.
Updated Top Ten Performances – Women’s 1500 Free
- Katie Ledecky — 15:20.48 — 2018 Pro Series – Indy
- Katie Ledecky — 15:23.21 — 2026 Pro Series – Austin
- Katie Ledecky — 15:24.51 — 2025 Pro Swim Series – Fort Lauderdale
- Katie Ledecky — 15:25.48 — 2015 World Championships
- Katie Ledecky — 15:25.62 — 2026 Fort Lauderdale Open
- Katie Ledecky — 15:26.27 — 2023 World Championships
- Katie Ledecky — 15:26.44 — 2025 World Championships
- Katie Ledecky — 15:27.71 — 2015 World Championships
- Katie Ledecky — 15:28.36 — 2014 Pan Pacific Championships
- Katie Ledecky — 15:29.51 — 2020 Pro Series – Des Moines
Ledecky was under world record pace through the first 500 meters before falling slightly off the blistering closing pace she had when she set the record back in 2018. She settled in at 1:01-high splits just off the 1:01-mids she held in her world record swim.
Sarasota Sharks 15-year-old Sydney Hardy finished 2nd in 16:42.76 as the only other swimmer under 17 minutes on the women’s side. This swim was a personal best time by a little more than two seconds from the 16:45.04 she swam in July of 2025 at the Florida Summer Age Group Championships.
Bolles School 16-year-old Izzy Riva, who is committed to Stanford for the class of 2027, swam 17:15.26 for 3rd overall, about 14 seconds off her lifetime best 17:01.15 from August.
Men’s 1500 Freestyle — Timed Final
- World Record — 14:30.67, Bobby Finke (USA), 2024
- American Record — 14:30.67, Bobby Finke (2024)
- U.S. Open Record — 14:40.28, Bobby Finke (USA), 2024
Top 8 Finishers
- William Mulgrew (SAC) — 15:05.30
- Bobby Finke (SPA) — 15:13.62
- Juan Vallmitjana (SOFL) — 15:22.96
- Connor Buck (PRIN) — 15:38.64
- Joey Eaddy (REV) — 15:39.04
- Lup Sgroi (SYS) — 15:50.44
- Cole Kawaja (PRIN) — 15:56.65
- Sawyer Hansen (SPA) — 15:57.03
The men’s 1500 freestyle went to William Mulgrew, who just finished his freshman season at Harvard, in 15:05.30. He beat Olympic Champion and World Record Holder Bobby Finke‘s 15:13.62 by about eight seconds.
Mulgrew’s swim was a new personal best by six tenths over the 15:05.97 he swam in August of 2025. He was out in 57.01, starting behind Finke, sitting in 2nd place through the first 1000 meters.
At the 1000 mark, Finke sat just ahead, turning in 10:02.44 to be just ahead of Mulgrew’s 10:02.51. From there, the Harvard freshman dropped into the 1:00-high range for the next 400 before splitting 59.17 on the final 100 to lock up the win.
Fnke was holding between 59-high and 1:00-high over the first 800. From there, he dropped to 1:01-highs. At the 1000, he split 1:01.72 to flip in the lead for the final time. His last five 100 splits were 1:01.52/1:01.85/1:02.39/1:03.19/1:02.23 to touch in 15:13.62. This is his slowest swim since May of 2023 when he swam 15:26.89 at the GA SA Speedo Atlantic Classic. That summer, he swam 14:31.59.
Juan Vallmitjana, who is committed to Virginia for 2027 and competes internationally for Spain, finished 3rd in 15:22.96, just off his season and lifetime best of 15:16.61 from March.
Staggering that of her Top 10 efforts, the best 5 performances have come outwith the benchmark competition of the year.
For many athletes this would been as poor coach planning.
Might have more to do with 1500 being scheduled right in the middle of the week at Olympics/World’s, ensuring she neither gets to swim it fresh nor can afford to leave everything in the pool. I think it isn’t a coincidence that all top-3 performances come from competitions where it is on the first day.
Imo the 1500 should be at the beginning or end of meet and not right in the middle. Switch it with the 400. At least that’s the case this summer at pan pacs
As I understand, they want the first day to have a final for viewersip reasons. With semis for 200s and prelims for 800/1500 only 400s can provide that. They could move 400IM to the first day instead of free, but that probably brings it’s own set of issues.
Also, there’s prelims at Worlds/Olympics. That takes a toll, even for Ledecky.
If she didn’t hold the WR and was losing races maybe.
She just doesn’t need much of a taper to swim at or near her best.
To be that good in such difficult events is hard to comprehend. She is 1 of 1.
Where can we find result page?
MeetMobile
I’d really like to see Summer McIntosh swim against Ledecy in this event. I’m sure it would be an exciting race regardless of outcome. Be nice to put a dent in the Top 10 swims – just for variety’s sake.
Summer ain’t touching the mile lmao
Er….
One day she will. If she can near WR 800m she can do this.
Deal the cards.
I know she’d do great. It’s a matter if she wants to and to me it seems like she doesn’t. She doesn’t even love the 800. The mile is an entirely different beast
wild that Katie would have gotten forth in the guys
Just want to say that Bobby swam faster here last year likely because US Nationals, which must have been somewhat of a rest meet for him, was much earlier. He still has so much time until Pan Pacs. He is probably in a different training phase right now than he was at this meet a year ago.
That’s what I was thinking, there’s literally no real important meets for the qualified swimmers until August so time will tell
Are we allowed to worry about Bobby yet?
“Oh no! Are you new to swimming? He always does this. No need for concern.”
…said 100 people to me when I wondered the same thing over the past few months.
“This is his slowest swim since May of 2023 when he swam 15:26.89 at the GA SA Speedo Atlantic Classic. That summer, he swam 14:31.59.“
Did you miss this part?
Not cause he did goes much slower than today back in 2023
Katie did Katie.
Bobby did Bobby.
Idk. You guys will be “Oh he’s always slow until it really matters” etc etc…
But c’mon. Something ain’t right.
A few months ago I wasn’t too worried. But the fact that we’re in May and that he hasn’t been under 15 minutes this season changes it for me a bit