And with that, we can kiss goodbye all long course World Records from before the super-suit era of 2008 and 2009: Katie Ledecky has broken the all-time mark in the women’s 1500 free with a 15:36.53. The old mark of 15:42.54 was set by fellow American, and fellow D.C. Metroplex native, Kate Ziegler, who was a 15:42.54 in 2007 at a meet in Mission Viejo, California.
That record-breaking swim is an absolute destruction; on average, she bettered Ziegler by two-tenths of a second per 50, every 50. She wasn’t the only one under the old mark either. Denmark’s Lotte Friis had a valiant swim of her own, going 15:38.88 to improve Ziegler’s record by four seconds. Friis and Ledecky split time in the lead of this race, and though Friis led most of it, Ledecky really crushed her coming off of the last turn.
Note: for those wondering, Ledecky is two days older than the other World Record breaker at this meet, Ruta Meilutyte. Both turn 17 in March.
Friis broke the old European Record of 15:44.93 held by Italy’s Alessia Filippi from 2009. And again, in 3rd, New Zeland’s Lauren Boyle was a 15:44.71, which is the 4th-fastest swim in history, but still left her six seconds away from even a silver. Boyle became the first Oceanic swimmer under 16 minutes, breaking Melissa Gorman’s 2010 record of 16:01.53 in the event. This is only the 5th Oceanic record (in long course and short course combined) owned by someone other than the Australians.
Ziegler’s record was the oldest on the books in long course, with the new title going to Michael Phelps’ 4:03.8 in the 400 IM from the 2008 Olympics (incidentally, only three records from 2008 even are still around in long course).
There’s still one World Record older in short course meters, and that’s Grant Hackett’s indomitable 14:10.10 in the 1500 SCM freestyle from 2001.
Let’s do some comparative splits (you’ve gotta see this).
In the comparative splits column, GREEN shows when Ledecky made up ground on Ziegler’s splits. RED shows when Ledecky lost ground on Ziegler’s splits.
| Ziegler | Ledecky | Friis | ||
| Old WR | New WR | Cumulative Difference | #2 time in history | |
| 50 meters | 29.23 | 28.14 | 28.39 | |
| 100 meters | 31.26 | 30.61 | -1.74 | 30.76 |
| 150 meters | 31.60 | 30.58 | -2.76 | 30.49 |
| 200 meters | 31.37 | 30.72 | -3.41 | 31.07 |
| 250 meters | 31.71 | 31.16 | -3.96 | 30.87 |
| 300 meters | 31.57 | 31.76 | -3.77 | 31.28 |
| 350 meters | 31.60 | 31.50 | -3.87 | 31.14 |
| 400 meters | 31.53 | 31.42 | -3.98 | 31.26 |
| 450 meters | 31.54 | 31.31 | -4.21 | 31.2 |
| 500 meters | 31.60 | 31.50 | -4.31 | 31.51 |
| 550 meters | 31.79 | 31.33 | -4.77 | 31.13 |
| 600 meters | 31.68 | 31.36 | -5.09 | 31.58 |
| 650 meters | 31.59 | 31.47 | -5.21 | 31.46 |
| 700 meters | 31.56 | 31.43 | -5.34 | 31.84 |
| 750 meters | 31.43 | 31.53 | -5.24 | 31.33 |
| 800 meters | 31.51 | 31.51 | -5.24 | 31.85 |
| 850 meters | 31.34 | 31.62 | -4.96 | 31.57 |
| 900 meters | 31.51 | 31.53 | -4.94 | 31.74 |
| 950 meters | 31.65 | 31.88 | -4.71 | 31.56 |
| 1000 meters | 31.67 | 31.30 | -5.08 | 31.58 |
| 1050 meters | 31.45 | 31.60 | -4.93 | 31.48 |
| 1100 meters | 31.51 | 31.65 | -4.79 | 31.76 |
| 1150 meters | 31.72 | 31.62 | -4.89 | 31.48 |
| 1200 meters | 31.75 | 31.74 | -4.90 | 31.78 |
| 1250 meters | 31.38 | 31.48 | -4.80 | 31.56 |
| 1300 meters | 31.99 | 31.73 | -5.06 | 31.87 |
| 1350 meters | 31.59 | 31.34 | -5.31 | 31.38 |
| 1400 meters | 31.72 | 31.24 | -5.79 | 31.62 |
| 1450 meters | 31.42 | 31.00 | -6.21 | 31.59 |
| 1500 meters | 29.27 | 29.47 | -6.01 | 30.75 |
Ziegler’s splitting was more consistent than Ledecky, especially through the middle part of the race, but it was sort of a scenario of 4 steps forward, one step back for Ledecky. In a head-to-head sense, she wont 19 50′s as compared to Ziegler’s splits, and lost 9, but the ones she won she won big.
I noticed that and took a closer look. I think she is pressing her goggles into her arms/shoulders…..???? Take a look and tell me what you think.
Short clip here — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgNTzvz2hOk&feature=share.
Anyone else notice that, like Michael swinging his arms, Katie seems to have a pre-race habit of kissing her shoulders/arms right before the start. Saw it in the 400 and you can see it in this clip, as well.
The race between Ledecky & Friis is the swim of the meet so far. I haven’t see a video but looking at the splits and how close they were, you can see how tough this race must have been.
for sure. i think by any standard this may be one of the best womens distance races ever… i know this is a bold statement but when youre talking about a 1500 record that lasted through the rubber suit age, and two women being neck and neck through the whole race, and then both beating the previous record by at least 4 seconds… it truly is an amazing effort by both swimmers
Is there a video out there of the race? I missed it! 🙁