2025 Pro Swim Series – Fort Lauderdale
- Wednesday, April 30 – Saturday, May 3, 2025
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Results
- Live Recaps
On the second day of the 2025 Pro Swim Series stop in Fort Lauderdale, Katie Ledecky followed up her stunning swim in the 1500 last night with another impressive performance.
Locked in a tight 400 free battle with Summer McIntosh, Ledecky obliterated the Canadian Olympic silver medalist on the final 100 to take the win by well over a second (3:56.81), the seventh-fastest time in history. It also marked her fastest time in nine years.
McIntosh took an early lead, pushing through the first 200 in 1:56.17, nearly a second ahead as they entered the second half of the race. Ledecky matched her pace in the third 100, with both swimmers splitting just over 60 seconds. At the 300, McIntosh was still half a second under World Record pace, but she was deep into the turn. As they emerged for the final 100, Ledecky started to make up ground with every stroke.
The two were nearly neck-and-neck at the 350, with McIntosh holding a slight edge, but Ledecky unleashed an explosive final 50, finishing with a blistering 29.50 split—1.65 seconds faster than McIntosh, who split 31.15 for a final time of 3:58.28.
This swim marked Ledecky’s second-fastest time ever and her fastest since her dominant win at the 2016 Rio Olympics (3:56.46). She had only been under 3:58 twice since then: once in her iconic race with Ariarne Titmus in Tokyo, and the other in 2018 at the Pro Swim Series stop in Indianapolis.
Top 10 Women’s 400 LCM Freestyle Swims All-Time:
- Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 2023 – 3:55.38
- Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 2024 – 3:55.44
- Summer McIntosh (CAN), 2023 – 3:56.08
- Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 2022 – 3:56.40
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 2016 – 3:56.46
- Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 2021 – 3:56.69
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 2025 – 3:56.81*
- Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 2021 – 3:56.90
- Katie Ledecky (USA), 2021 – 3:57.36
- Ariarne Titmus (AUS), 2024 – 3:57.49
Ledecky became visibly moved after the race. Known for her trademark emotional control, this rare display highlights the unique world of sports, where, at 28 years old, an athlete is already questioning whether they are too old to accomplish something again. Ledecky not only silenced her own doubts tonight, but also put to rest any doubts in the swimming community.
“I don’t know if I ever thought I was going to be 3:56 again; it just wasn’t even in my head for tonight, for sure. All credit to Summer, it’s always a great race when we’re next to each other. I’m just really happy with all the work I’ve put in to get to this point, and I’ve got to thank all my coaches and teammates at Florida,” Ledecky told NBC Sports.
Video Interview (on slide 3)
Courtesy: NBC Sports & USA Swimming
Race Video
Courtesy: NBC Sports
Fabulous! It is incredible how she maintains her love of our sport.
It’s not only one of the most beautiful swims in Ledecky tenure, but one the most uplifting swims in American history.
I agree. I was deeply moved by it and her interview.
Silenced a whole pod of swimswammers too who have at various times declared her a non-factor in the 400. Goat indeed.
🐐
Greatest Of All Time
Rowdy’s dentures fell out at the end?
I certainly never thought she would go 3:56 again. I would argue it’s more impressive than the 15:24 from last night. Tonight I expected 3:58 from McIntosh and 4:00 from Ledecky.
It’s not bad for McIntosh either. She won’t be as upset with this outcome as when she doesn’t challenge herself early. That pace is exactly the proper way for her to swim it. Eventually she’ll hang on and be well under the current world record.
That’s actually a great swim by Summer at this point in the season. That’s just how incredible of a swim Katie’s was
If summer had swum a more tactical race, she could have beat Katie. Summer was sprinting a 400 free, which doesn’t end well. 31 on the last 50… that hurt SO bad. Maybe she wants to swim it that way or believes she can hang on. If that’s true, then we are in for something special. However, Summer can’t put forth that much effort on the front half and expect her body to hold up the back half. The rate of lactate produces is just too fast for the body to handle to maintain optimal peformance.
Turned back the clock this week!
This is so awesome. Just missed a personal best 9 years after the fact. This is just what she needed to set her sights on LA