Katie Ledecky 2023 World Championship Predictions

10-time Olympic medalist Katie Ledecky qualified for her sixth World Championship in Indianapolis throwing down solid times.

In Indy Ledecky crushed the field by over 13 seconds in the 800 free with a  8:07.07. That performance marked the third fastest in history and was just off the U.S. Open Record.

Ledecky’s 200 free, 1:55.28, was just off her season best, 1:54.96, though she’s not swimming it individually at Worlds.

Ledecky’s 400 free was 4:00.45.  Considering her 200 free speed,  I think she cruised it. (In her 800 free, she flipped and split 4:01.73 at the 400-meter mark.)

Ledecky’s 1500 was 15:29.64, the sixth-fastest performance of all time.

KATIE LEDECKY WORLD CHAMP PREDICTIONS

800 Free?  8:05 for the gold.  (Her PB and World Record is an 8:04.79.)

1500 Free?  I’m going big with a 15:23 for the gold. (Her PB and World Record is a 15:20.48.)

400 Free? Summer McIntosh wins in world record time. She young and swam along at Canadian Trials. She’s dipping into 3:55.  Ariarne Titmus touches second in 3:57.4. And Ledecky takes the bronze in 3:57.6.

But who cares what I think? I wanna know what you think. Drop your comments below.

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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.

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Jack
9 months ago

I think she goes 3:39.9 to break Biederman’s record and establish a new “open” world record category.

Anything but 50 BR
9 months ago

400 FR – 3:57.02
800 FR – 8:05.67
1500 FR – 15:26.32
4×200 FR – 1:54.13

Nick the biased Aussie
9 months ago

My predictions for Kathleen
400 – 5th – 4:01 – cracks at 300 under the pressure of McIntosh and Titmus
800 – 1st – 8:06 – pushed to the wire by Titmus who goes 8:07
1500 – 1st – 15:21 – just misses the WR after being in front of it for 1450m
4×200 – 2nd – 1:54 high split

Lisa
Reply to  Nick the biased Aussie
9 months ago

Well the 400 time was not realistic at all and to get a fifth place and not went sub 4:00 on her first event is alternate reality thing and Titmus ain’t gonna pushed Ledecky to the wire especially in 800 and I know you’re biased but this is a whole new level biased to predict someone not named Ledecky to drop a PB in long distance events by a six second to finished a second behind her is not realistic at all and the correct prediction is that the second place finisher gonna lose by more than a five second.

Last edited 9 months ago by Lisa
ThatsNotHowItWorks
Reply to  Lisa
9 months ago

bro, punctuation is your friend.

Lisa
Reply to  ThatsNotHowItWorks
9 months ago

The 400 and 800 feels like being sarcastic especially in 800 where the second place somehow gonna go even more faster on her last events with personal best by a lot.
Also like out of nowhere and I know it’s not wrong but to use the name Kathleen ,really?

Last edited 9 months ago by Lisa
Lisa
Reply to  Nick the biased Aussie
9 months ago

You know the word sarcastic right like I know that’s her full name but coming from you in the biased prediction but come on like of course you’re being sarcastic like you’re the only one who use Kathleen in the comments.

Last edited 9 months ago by Lisa
Bo Swims
9 months ago

400 2nd 3:57.5
800 1st 8:06
1500 1st 15:27

4×200 2nd 7:41

Swimfan
Reply to  Bo Swims
9 months ago

The American women won the world title last year in 7:41 with Weinstein leading off 1:56.71 and she already 1.5 seconds faster than that plus with the addition of gemmell who split 1:54.8 at jr PanPacs more than 1.5 seconds faster than Leah smith who was the 2nd leg on the relay. The american are going to be well under 7:40

Nick the biased Aussie
9 months ago

400 Free – 4:01 behind Summer, Ariarne, Erika and Li (5th)
800 Free – 8:06 followed closely by Ariarne in 8:07 (1st)
1500 Free – 15:25 unchallenged (1st)
200 Free Relay – 1:55 2nd leg (2nd)

GTS
Reply to  Nick the biased Aussie
9 months ago

Regarding the 400, I think Summer takes it. The real question about that race is how many women go under 4:00? I think 6 can do it, but we’ll see.

Lisa
Reply to  GTS
9 months ago

Ledecky to get fifth place on her first events and not going sub 4:00 definitely not realistic at all and certainly Titmus not going under 8:10 with PB by six seconds in their last events and I guess somebody is not happy their favorites swimmer could lose by more than five second.

Last edited 9 months ago by Lisa
GTS
Reply to  Lisa
9 months ago

I think Ledecky goes 3:56 high/3:57 low. I think she’ll get bronze, and won’t lose to Li or Erika. I think it will take 3:55 to win it. Titmus might get under 8:10 for the 800, but it will take some luck. I am not in line with “Nick the biased Aussie” on the 400 or 200 free relay predictions for Ledecky. She’ll likely be low 1:54 or high 1:53 in the relay.

Lisa
Reply to  GTS
9 months ago

I actually think if Titmus goes PB in 800 it will be like a second or more than a second and I don’t think it’s gonna be under 8:10 cause that’s gonna be really difficult to do and if she does it it will be more than a three second PB in long distance which I don’t buy it.

And also “Nick” using the word followed closely with a second behind Ledecky , so that means Titmus is on the same level as her in 800 if that’s the time which I don’t believe it and if she goes PB it could probably be 8:12.

Last edited 9 months ago by Lisa
Joshua Liendo-Edwards-Smith
9 months ago

I’m going real boring.

400 – Silver (McIntosh ahead, Titmus behind)
800 – Gold
1500 – Gold
200 relay – 1:54 low and silver

Joshua Liendo-Edwards-Smith
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
9 months ago

Hahaha.

4:57
8:07
15:25
1:54 low

Anything but 50 BR
Reply to  Joshua Liendo-Edwards-Smith
9 months ago

if she swam a 4:57 she would be so washed lol
3:57 maybe?

Marklewis
9 months ago

Before her 400 free races with Titmus, she actually looks nervous. She usually has such easy wins, but with Titmus and now McIntosh, she shows a bit of worry.

You have to wonder what Katie’s strategy will be in the 400 free this time around. She usually likes to take it out strong, but then how much of a lead does she need to prevent Titmus from running her down on the last 100?

Does she dare try to get into a tactical race where it’s a sprint on the last lap?

Titmus and Boxall concocted a brilliant strategy at Tokyo, but it all depended on Titmus delivering a blazing last 50. Titmus was kicking furiously and probably hearing Boxall’s… Read more »

Last edited 9 months ago by Marklewis
Nick the biased Aussie
Reply to  Marklewis
9 months ago

I’m not sure Katie can swim it any other way than going out fast and trying to break the field. Difference is now Summer will be with her if not in front at 200 and Ariarne will just stay in striking distance.
Lanes in the final will play into the final result heavily.

Lisa
Reply to  Nick the biased Aussie
9 months ago

Well at least she’s gonna go out really fast in 800 and most people gonna be behind her.

GTS
Reply to  Marklewis
9 months ago

Titmus’ kick is next level. Pretty much a perfect rhythmic 6 beat, and then kicks it up another notch at the end.

Snarky
9 months ago

Mel on her happy pills again. My guess is no WRs from Ledecky or any of them but a close 3-way race in the 400.

Last edited 9 months ago by Snarky

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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