Katie Ledecky ne 2026 Pro Swim Series Austin ke season-opening swim (Wednesday, 14 January) mein headlines chura li, jab unhone women’s 1500m freestyle jeetne ke liye 15:23.21 ka jabardast time clock kiya.
Woh baaki swimmers se bahot jaldi aage nikal gayi aur race ke starting phase se hi ye ek tarah se one-woman show ban gaya. Yaha tak ki jab tak woh wall tak pahuchi, tab tak unhone event ke baaki sab finalists ko lap kar diya tha — including runner-up Brinkleigh Hansen (16:31.31).
Yeh time sirf unke khud ke world record 15:20.48 se peeche tha, jo unhone May 2018 mein ek aur Pro Swim Series meet mein banaya tha. Yeh timing un sab ke liye ek warning jaisi hai jo LA28 Olympic Games mein Ledecky ko dethrone karne ka soch rahe hain.
Yeh jeet December 2025 mein unki history-making 1650-yard swim ke turant baad aayi, jisme unhone pool mein apni jabardast strength dikhayi thi — aur yeh prove karta hai ki woh 2026 season mein bhi utni hi solid form mein hain.
“Main iss result se bahut khush hun,” Ledecky ne race ke baad SwimSwam ko bataya. “Mera aaj ka expectation kaafi low tha. Christmas training aur itni mehnat ke baad kya hoga, mujhe khud bhi exact idea nahi tha.”
“Main usually tab acha perform karti hun jab mujhe apni training ke baare mein confidence hota ha, lekin yeh July–August mein Singapore Worlds ke baad mera first long course race tha, isliye expectation low rakhe. Kabhi-kabhi isi tarah meri best swims aa jaati hain.”
Aur Ledecky akeli hi form mein nahi thi. Reigning 100m breaststroke world champion Anna Elendt ne bhi apne favourite event mein 1:06.91 ka time laga kar jeet hasil ki.
Three time Olympic champion Bobby Finke ne 15:01.70 clock karke men’s 1500m freestyle mein victory li.
Team USA ki Regan Smith bhi women’s 100m backstroke mein podium ke top par rahi – unhone 57.98 seconds mein wall touch ki. 2025 World Aquatics Swimmers of the Year Summer McIntosh aur Leon Marchand ne bhi women’s aur men’s 200m individual medley ke finals ke liye qualify kar liya.
2026 Pro Swim Series Austin Thursday (15 January) ko bhi jaari rahegi, jisme finals honge — 200m individual medley, 50m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 100m butterfly aur 400m freestyle ke.
