Katie Ledecky Withdraws From Westmont Pro Swim Due To Illness

2023 PRO SWIM SERIES – WESTMONT

The field at this week’s Pro Swim Series stop in Westmont has been dealt a blow.

Katie Ledecky, one of swimming’s biggest superstars, has pulled out of the competition due to illness.

Ledecky announced her withdrawal on social media Tuesday, saying she’s been feeling under the weather over the last week.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Katie Ledecky (@katieledecky)

Ledecky, 26, was entered in five events in Westmont, coming in as the top seed in the women’s 400 free, 800 free and 400 IM while holding down the fifth seed in both the 100 free and 200 IM.

The reigning world champion in the women’s 400, 800 and 1500 free, Ledecky has been among the top performers through the first two stops of the 2023 Pro Swim Series, winning three events at the opening leg in Knoxville in January and then following up with two victories and two runner-up finishes in last month’s visit to Fort Lauderdale.

Ledecky’s Top Times, 2022-23 Season

  • 200 free – 1:54.96, 2023 Fort Lauderdale PSS (2nd in world)
  • 400 free – 3:59.71, 2022 U.S. Open (2nd in world)
  • 800 free – 8:13.90, 2022 U.S. Open (1st in world)
  • 1500 free – 15:37.99, 2023 Knoxville PSS (1st in world)
  • 400 IM – 4:36.04, 2023 Fort Lauderdale PSS (3rd in world)

This week’s competition will get underway on Wednesday evening with timed finals of the 800 freestyle before three full days of racing from Thursday to Saturday at the FMC Aquatic Center in Westmont, Ill.

Despite Ledecky’s withdrawal, there will still be plenty of star power at the event, with the likes of Ryan MurphyRegan Smith and Leon Marchand just a few of the key names in attendance. See a breakdown of the entry list here.

This marks the third of four stops on the 2023 Pro Swim Series circuit, with the final leg set for May 17-20 in Mission Viejo, Calif.

The U.S. National Championships, which will serve as the qualifying meet for the 2023 World Championships, will then run from June 27 – July 1 in Indianapolis.

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phelpsfan
1 year ago

McIntoshitis

Demarrit Steenbergen
Reply to  phelpsfan
1 year ago

I don’t think she is even going

Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

I’ll miss seeing her. The meets are always much better when Ledecky is there. The 200 individual medley would have been particularly interesting.

This complicates things for Rowdy. No auto pilot mode in 5 events.

Popovicitis
Reply to  Awsi Dooger
1 year ago

This complicates things for Rowdy. No auto pilot mode in 5 events.

Thank God!

PFA
Reply to  Popovicitis
1 year ago

Watch he’ll still fine a way to talk about Katie for most of the races that she would swim.

Meathead
1 year ago

What a class act to announce ahead of time. Hopefully she can mentor some fellow Gator gold medalists

Racing to Race
1 year ago

I view Katie as a hero and a true competitor. Summer also. In fact, all this silly McIntosh ‘itis’ stuff seems opposite of what I think. If McIntosh DID happen to be entered in this meet, my imagination believes Katie would think longer and harder about trying to get ready and make the attempt. Hey, some of my own favorite swimming memories have been races I lost … to people I know … particularly the split second nail biter losses. And the ‘defeat’ was better (more tolerable) because my friend also cared about winning. But, maybe that’s just me. Maybe there really is a commenter here who has never finished second (certainly not lower than that!), and would be devastated… Read more »

David illouz
1 year ago

Nobody cares about ledecky anymore it’s all about summer from this point on

owlmando
Reply to  David illouz
1 year ago

worst take ever maybe

Lovetoswim
Reply to  David illouz
1 year ago

That is very far from truth.

Lisa
Reply to  Lovetoswim
1 year ago

I mean we are about to witness a first woman to win a six consecutive individual events at world championship, so basically there’s a lot of people cares about her.

MarkB
Reply to  David illouz
1 year ago

Just posted that to see the downvotes, I think.

Sub13
Reply to  MarkB
1 year ago

Nah he’s just nuts. There’s a collection of “Summer Stans” that just appeared on here in the last month and post garbage like this constantly

Lisa
Reply to  Sub13
1 year ago

More like a troll

Paul
Reply to  David illouz
1 year ago

Canadian haters and Summer fans are the worst in the world

Last edited 1 year ago by Paul
Buttafly
1 year ago

Some really weird comments on this article, lol.

SCCOACH
1 year ago

I definitely have Summeritis. I love cold winter weather.

Wait what are we talking about?

IM FAN
Reply to  SCCOACH
1 year ago

I’m sure Ledecky is so upset to see a young distance swimming prodigy on the rise. Only Ledecky is allowed to do that!

It’s the same thing with the not funny jokes about Dressel dodging Popovici. I don’t get the appeal if characterizing them as so egotistical and yet with such a fragile perception of self.

And above all, when it comes to a sport like swimming where the ultimate goal is pushing the boundaries of what is possible for humanity, is there not any higher honor then helping inspire the next generation to come along and do the same? We’re all happier when we share the world with others, and Katie seems to be a very happy person.… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by IM FAN
Georgia Rambler
Reply to  IM FAN
1 year ago

Katie was certainly swimming very well a month ago when she lowered her record at that age groujp meet. She spent a lot of time with young swimmers there who are germ magents. Hope she didn’t catch the rsv virus there. I got it 4 days after going to the schoolchildrens service. Evidently it has been around for a long time and being viral, no meds vavilable. No fun.

SCCOACH
Reply to  IM FAN
1 year ago

I was making a joke about the seasons and the weather I’m not sure what you all thought I was saying lol

Argentina on top 🇦🇷
1 year ago

Shout out to Katie Ledecky, Adam Peaty and others on being professional and announcing every update and communicating with their fans.

Meanwhile, a certain gainsvillian sprinter is refusing to talk to anyone, barely posts on social media and here we are in the swimming community relying on rumors and his sisters’ IGs to get photos/updates.

I will never forget when he hurt his foot last November and his agent Erika gave an update to the other swimming website, but refused to talk to Swimswam.

Not to mention that he was the one reaching out to Swimswam when he wanted to promote his ”piece by piece clinic” back in 2020…

IM FAN
Reply to  Argentina on top 🇦🇷
1 year ago

Dressel owes you nothing let the man live his life.

Argentina on top 🇦🇷
Reply to  IM FAN
1 year ago

Stop making excuses for him, this is professional swimming. If you wanna “live your life”, announce your retirement, get out of the WADA testing pool and delete your socials.

He is sponsored by multiple companies and getting paid millions of dollars to compete at the highest level. In the last 10 months he didn’t speak to a single media outlet, nor did his agent outside of “ he’s gonna be back when he’s ready”.

Look at Peaty, he said he’s not competing at Trials, continuing training and will prepare for Paris. Clear and simple.

Popovicitis
Reply to  Argentina on top 🇦🇷
1 year ago

He suffered from serious Popovicitis….it has long term effects. Be easy on him

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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