Katie Ledecky Breaks 1500 Free World Record by 10 Seconds; Gets 800 AR En Route

2022 FINA WORLD CUP – TORONTO

In her first-ever short course 1500 meter freestyle, American Katie Ledecky shattered the World Record.

Ledecky’s winning time of 15:08.24 broke the old record of 15:18.01 that was set by German Sarah (Kohler) Wellbrock in 2019.

The World Record by Ledecky earns her a $10,000 bonus from FINA.

Ledecky was already the World Record holder in long course at 15:20. Given that most swimmers are 2-3% faster in the short course 1500 than the long course (Wellbrock, for example, is 24 seconds better), that Ledecky was able to break this record by so much is not a surprise, though none-the-less stunning.

Unlike the 400 free World Record that we saw go down earlier this week in China, the 1500 is something that a lot of very good distance swimmers have swum very seriously in short course. Besides Wellbrock, the all-time top performers list includes names like Mireia Belmonte, Lotte Friis, and Simona Quadarella.

But none of those swimmers are Ledecky, who in the 1500, more than any other race, is heads-and-shoulders ahead of anybody else in the history of the sport.

The record-watch was on early. By 600 meters, 40% of the way into the race, she was already 5 seconds under the World Record.

Ledecky’s 800 meter split of 8:00.58 came very close to breaking Mireia Belmonte’s World Record of 7:59.34 in that event, and crushed the American Record of 8:07.67 set by Leah Smith in 2016.

Splits Comparison:

Wellbrock Ledecky Leah Smith
Cumulative Pace Under WR Former World Record Holder New World Record Former 800 AR
100m -0.85 59.28 58.43 58.1
200m -1.03 60.74 60.56 60.95
300m -1.51 61.21 60.73 61.3
400m -2.34 61.33 60.5 61.89
500m -3.78 61.41 59.97 61.8
600m -5 61.25 60.03 62.03
700m -6.4 61.51 60.11 61.88
800m -7.81 61.66 60.25 59.72
900m -8.75 61.36 60.42
1000m -9.54 61.57 60.78
1100m -9.77 61.62 61.39
1200m -9.81 61.69 61.65
1300m -9.46 61.63 61.98
1400m -9.48 61.57 61.55
1500m -9.77 60.18 59.89

Notable things about this record-breaking swim:

  • This is Ledecky’s first World Record since 2018 when she set the long course record in the 1500 free at another in-season meet.
  • Ledecky’s swim also breaks the American Record, previously a 15:32.90 by Kate Ziegler in 2007
  • Ledecky’s swim also breaks the World Cup record that was set in 1989 by Belgian Christelle Janssens in Paris, France. The event has been absent from the World Cup circuit for a while; this year, it will be alternated with the 800 free at the various meets.

 

 

 

 

 

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Andrew
2 years ago

Rowdy Gaines is salivating right now

GeorgiaRambler
Reply to  Andrew
2 years ago

Oh dear…you are probably right. I really liked Brittany as commentator.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
2 years ago

As for next week, how about some deja vu?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4QLRLeOeq3w

It’s Ledecky, the world record line, then Boyle.

Last edited 2 years ago by Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Swam7
2 years ago

Her ncaa results say otherswise

The unoriginal Tim
2 years ago

It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Ledeckey would do something like this as soon as she swan a 1500 SCM but nothing in sport is a foregone conclusion and this is a very impressive swim.

Yozhik
2 years ago

Since name of Sarah Wellbrock was brought to the discussion then there is an interesting point:
Personal best at 1500m
LCM – 15:42; 27yo
SCM – 15:18; 25 yo
Diff – 24sec
Ledecky competed at 1500SCM for the first time in her career. Nothing to compare with. But if the Sarah Wellbrock’s example shows how results differ in short and long pool at highest level of competition then should’ve we expected from Ledecky sub 15min result?
Should we look at her yesterday result as 15:30 low LCM performance?

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

Did you take into account that Katie Ledecky may have not tapered for 2022 FINA World Cup?

Alison England
2 years ago

Difficult to remember that she is still only 25!

Xman
Reply to  Alison England
2 years ago

– years of age (-Rowdy)

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Alison England
2 years ago

To think, the competition has evaporated in the women’s 800 meter freestyle and women’s 1500 meter freestyle:

Adlington
Belmonte
Boyle
Carlin
Friis
Kohler

Yozhik
2 years ago

Splits:
In her record setting race Katie Ledecky had no advantage over Sarah Koehler at last 400m. We saw the similar picture in Tokyo and practically at all her races at all distances last years. Very strong first part of the race and not that strong finish. And it isn’t like Ledecky’s general style of racing. When training under Bruce Gemmell the racing approach was quite an opposite. Moreover the coach required her to follow strictly the race plan for the first two thirds of the distance and only then to do whatever she feels like depending on circumstances of the race. At her record setting races then the final stage of the races were the most remarkable. The… Read more »

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

Gibberish!

Cate
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

*eyeroll*

Swimdad
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

Easier said than done

Yozhik
2 years ago

By participating in World Cup this season Katie Ledecky was probably targeting $54,000 of prize money. Three world records for $10,000 each and $12,000 for high placement at each stop. Not bad at all for one week job practically at home. But Summer and Bingjie said “No”. She still has a shot in $10,000 for the world record at 400FR in Indianapolis, but she probably won’t take max $12,000 at Toronto stop having one first place and two second places. At least McIntosh will have more points.

Lisa
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

It could get close in 400 free but I think the world record is going to be in 800

Swimswam follower
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

My guess is she could care less, lol
World record: check
Strong 200 meters with 10 minutes rest: check
Total GREATNESS: ✔️

Yozhik
Reply to  Swimswam follower
2 years ago
Last edited 2 years ago by Yozhik
John
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

Are you projecting your own insecurities on money on professional athletes? I’m not convinced she was “targeting” this out one based on prize money. More realistically this is a step towards a peak performance in Paris and the money is nice bonus.

Yozhik
Reply to  John
2 years ago

My personal financial status has nothing to do with my post and it is at least unfair for you to bring it to discussion. Unless you like to hurt people, of course. And also I don’t like counting somebody else’s money. But look:
She is a professional swimmer. It means that that is what she does for living. She competes in the water first of all for money and only after that for all other reasons like fun, glory, love of swimming, being ambassador of the sport and similar blah, blah, blah.
In preparation for the Paris as you said she had chosen SC World Cup to SC World Championship. Why do you think she included short course… Read more »

John
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

“… I don’t like counting somebodies else’s money…”

proceeds to count other peoples money…..

“She competes in the water first of all for money”

strongly disagree… again, nice bonus and likely a large part of her lifestyle but I doubt it’s first

“Why did she included short course competition in her planning… why did she prioritize World cup over World champs”

likely she is prioritizing training for Paris and this provides the least amount of interruption and it’s an easy travel meet in the same time zone for her compared to AUS.

I’m sorry you feel hurt by my comments, I don’t mind your takes on swimmers some of the time but honestly, the majority of the time you seem… Read more »

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  John
2 years ago

…… it’s an easy travel meet in the same time zone for her compared to Melbourne, Australia and Berlin, Germany. Let alone the travel costs associated with the two aforementioned trips.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

The short course (meters) world record carries more prestige than the $10,000 prize money.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

What’s this less competition baloney?

When has Katie Ledecky opted out of the FINA World Aquatics Championships (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019). The 2021 edition of the FINA World Aquatics Championships was delayed a year due to COVID-19 as was the case with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Cate
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

You’re counting someone else’s money. 😊

Xman
Reply to  Braden Keith
2 years ago

– we don’t care about money Mr. Hughes.
– that’s because you’ve always had it.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
Reply to  John
2 years ago

Barring illness or injury, Katie Ledecky will participate at the 2023 FINA World Aquatics Championships.

FINA World Aquatics Championships
Individual Gold Medals
Phelps – 15
Ledecky – 14

That’s one individual gold medal to tie Michael Phelps and two individual gold medals to break the record.

Cate
Reply to  Yozhik
2 years ago

Yeah, right. She’s after the prize money. *eyeroll*

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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