American Katie Ledecky has broken the World Record in the women’s 400 meter freestyle on Saturday at the 2014 U.S. National Championships in Irvine, California.
She swam a 3:58.86 in finals to win her second-straight U.S. National Title in the event and also break Federica Pellegrini’s 3:59.15 from the 2009 World Championships as the World Record.
The comparative splits:
(By 50)
Ledecky: 28.03 – 29.71 – 29.93 – 30.05 – 30.23 – 30.45 – 31.01 – 29.45 = 3:58.86
Pellegrini: 28.45 – 30.21 – 30.31 – 30.45 – 30.24 – 30.27 – 29.86 – 29.36 = 3:59.19
(In aggregate)
Ledecky: 28.03 – 57.74 – 1:27.67 – 1:57.72 – 2:27.95 – 2:58.40 – 3:29.41 – 3:58.86
Pellegrini: 28.45 – 58.66 – 1:28.97 – 1:59.42 – 2:29.66 – 2:59.93 – 3:29.79 – 3:59.15
Ledecky started out her race obliterating the World Record pace, but that’s what you have to do in any comparison to Pellegrini in 2009 – she was negative-splitting or at least very-nearly even-splitting everything during that period, and so the “yellow line” closes in a hurry.
Ledecky, though has just enough endurance to close, and has really developed the front-end speed that she needs to get out ahead of this record. While Ledecky’s speed is what has been improving, it’s interesting to note that she’s still nowhere near as fast as Pellegrini was in the 200 free during this same time period. So it’s the combination of speed and endurance that got Ledecky this record.
Incidentally, Ledecky also broke the American Record (3:59.82), the U.S. Open Record (3:59.89 – from prelims), the 17-18 National Age Group Record (3:59.82), and the World Junior Record (3:59.89 from prelims) in this swim.
Ledecky becomes the first woman to hold the 400, 800, and 1500 meter World Records in long course simultaneously since the 1980’s when Janet Evans had all three (and held some of them for a really long time).
Definitely for women she’ll be the greatest. She’s in a time where the better athletes go into swimming and where there is muuuuuuch more specialization. I have no doubts she’ll take that 200 free wr down. It’s between her and thorpe for GOAT
when ledecky retires she will be known as the best freestyle female swimmer ever and will hold all records from 200 to 1500 free
Janet Evans broke all 3 in the 80s, but it’d be more accurate to say that Ledecky is the first to hold all 3 since May 2006 (when Manaudou broke the 400 free).
Fierce! Congratulations to Katie for the most exciting swim of the meet. She really rocked that swim. Someday maybe we’ll hear from her how her swimming feels, what spurs her on. Now what? If I were Lotte, Jazz, even Missy, I’d be really shaking my head.
Just a matter of time before KL takes down the 2 free WR. Wonder how long. Predictions?
By Worlds 2015
That is going to be one tough record to get. But I never underestimate her.
What’s the fixation with Shane Gould? Shirley babashoff was as good as if not more dominate as Gould
Crazy Swim by Ledecky! Congrats!
This WR is what I envisioned a year ago. But the splits are even more crazy.
At this point she is without a shred of doubt the swimmer of the year (male or female). Sorry Sjoestrom.
Ledecky is the closest female swimmer to Shane Gould since 1972.
(and I’m sure some imaginative posters would accuse me of being insincere with this.)
Depends on what Sjoestrom does at Euros. If she picks up WRs in the 100 free/100 fly, (you never know, even if it seems improbable) then it’s a much closer decision.
No doubt that 31 split will be become high 29/low-mid 30 soon enough with pan pacs