Fluidra Race Video of the Week: Katie Ledecky Unleashes #2 Swim of All-Time In 1500 Free

The greatest female swimmer of all-time continued to make history in her first meet of 2026, as Katie Ledecky took a real run at her world record in the women’s 1500 freestyle and ended up producing the second-fastest swim ever.

Ledecky, 28, kicked off the first finals session of the 2026 Pro Swim Series in Austin with a bang, lapping the field en route to a time of 15:23.21 in the 1500 free, the #2 performance ever and her fastest in eight years.

Ledecky’s world record stands at 15:20.48, set at the 2018 Pro Swim Series stop in Indianapolis.

Since then, she’d gone under 15:30 five times before her performance on Wednesday, two of which came in 2025. At last year’s Pro Swim meet in Fort Lauderdale, where she reset the world record in the 800 free, Ledecky clocked 15:24.51, which was the #2 swim in history at the time and now ranks #3.

At the 2025 World Championships, Ledecky won gold in the event for the sixth time, touching in 15:26.44 for the fifth (now sixth) fastest swim ever.

All-Time Performances, Women’s 1500 Freestyle (LCM)

1. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15:20.48 — 2018 Pro Series – Indy
2. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15:23.21 — 2026 Pro Series – Austin
3. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15:24.51 — 2025 Pro Swim Series – Fort Lauderdale
4. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15:25.48 — 2015 World Championships
5. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15:26.27 — 2023 World Championships
6. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15:26.44 — 2025 World Championships
7. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15:27.71 — 2015 World Championships
8. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15:28.36 — 2014 Pan Pacific Championships
9. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15:29.51 — 2020 Pro Swim Series – Des Moines
10. Katie Ledecky (USA), 15:29.64 — 2023 U.S. National Championships

In the race on Wednesday, Ledecky won by one minute and eight seconds, with 16-year-old Brinkleigh Hansen the runner-up in 16:31.31, a new personal best.

RACE VIDEO

Courtesy: USA Swimming on YouTube

Ledecky notably negative-split her way to the time, turning in 7:42.24 at the 750-meter mark (halfway) before closing in 7:40.97. In her world record swim, she also negative split the race, out in 7:40.88 at back in 7:39.60. You can dive deeper into the swim with a full split comparison here.

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