Ledecky’s Times In Practice Are Ridiculous: GMM presented by SwimOutlet.com

Gold Medal Minute presented by SwimOutlet.com

Olympic champion Katie Ledecky came off of an Olympic Training Center camp before the Richmond Pro Swim,  and, yes, she did things in practice I’m confident no other woman has ever done.

  • 20 x 100m free on 1:40, holding under a minute on half of them.
  • 400m IM set, descending. On the last 400, Ledecky swam it 400m free, dropping a 4:10…from a push.

Ledecky, as expected, is doing the hard work, striving to inspire and impact the sport. I love that she sounds a little like Michael Phelps, thought Phelps rarely, if ever, shared his practice repeats. If anyone knows of legendary Phelps sets, please share in the comments. 

Predictions!

After Australia’s Ariarne Titmus dipped under 4 minutes, I think it’s time for Ledecky to send a message.  True, Titmus is three seconds off of Ledecky’s 3:56. That’s not exactly close, but it’s too close, and I’m looking for any motivation for Ledecky to go 3:55.7 at World Championships this summer. Ledecky has been under four minutes 15 times.  3:55.7 feels right. And it’s Ledecky. Anything is possible.

But who cares what I think. What do you think?

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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.

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Meeeeee
4 years ago

Glad you let us know the 4:10 was from a push. I wouldn’t have been all that impressed if she had dove in 😉

David Adams
4 years ago

I remember swimming with this kid a while back… I think that he was about 14/15 at the time. Our standard, ever other Saturday set was 10×200’s of fly. We did this practice jointly with one of our biggest crosstown rivals. At the end of practice, the coach on the other team (somewhat jokingly) challenged the kid to do a 100 fly for time. He pushed off junior national cuts…

I think his name was Mel Stewart!

2 Cents
4 years ago

There are several examples typed above of men doing some ridiculous times in practice, but I always remember swimming with several girls who would always out swim the boys in practice (at a top 10 D1 school), even a few who would always pull better times than she ever went in meets. I remember one day I did that too, and did a 3:35 in a 400 pull at the end of a set (SCY) and I never officially broke 4:45 in the 500 at a meet since I hadn’t swum it in 4 years. But overall, girls seemed to always be closer to their best times, than guys did in practice… which is probably why (other than money) the… Read more »

Torchbearer
4 years ago

When you think of it, Ledecky’s competition times are ridiculous, so it is no surprise her training times are!

swimJon
4 years ago

So… and if Ye Shiwen would be doing this… ?

He Said What?
Reply to  swimJon
4 years ago

Katie did out split Ryan Lochte in 2012. Period.

He Said What?
Reply to  He Said What?
4 years ago

**I typed in Katie did NOT out split Ryan in 2012 at the same age of Ye Shiwen.

carlo
Reply to  He Said What?
4 years ago

But Katie swam an 8:04 800 free tho. I mean she could final in some men,s races, no joke. Ye shiwen outsplit Ryan Lochte in one leg of of an IM race but look at the final time. Her time wont final in any men,s event in any meet, even relatively small meets. Ledecky,s 8:04 can final in some small meets. Seriously.

Ledecky on the other hand swims in some meets where her final time is close to the men. Ye shiwen can only dream of that.

Splits is not that important. The overall time is the main thing. This is especially true in an IM race. To be honest Katie Ledecky tends to outsplit all other women in the… Read more »

Samesame
4 years ago

I think many of you are underestimating Titmus.
But then I think some of you overhype Dressel .
Could be cause I’m not from the USA 😁

Yozhik
Reply to  Samesame
4 years ago

It is good that you are not from USA because as you know the great things are get better appreciated being viewed from the far. When you go to the magnificent downtown of Chicago you will find nothing spectacular about Sears Tower. Just another skyscraper among many that are even more impressive by design than this one. But when you drive away north about twenty miles and look back nothing will be seen from downtown but this tower that still dominates on horizon. 😀
If to return to your point about Titmus then situation is very similar to the Ledecky when everybody were guessing when this unstoppable progress of numerous world records ends. Ariarne’s progress is not that impressive… Read more »

Brownish
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

From 20 miles the wind isn’t blowing, too 🙂
Titmus, Ruck, Wang will be challengers.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Samesame
4 years ago

“Some”?

13 % Chinese person
Reply to  Samesame
4 years ago

ledecky is obviously something else but she was in Rick Curl’s a highly developed DC conglomerate club . Coaches had access to knowledge , competition , facilities. Her 2012 success is all hers but she lucked in with that coach & club .

In 2015 AT was having to move from Launceston a small city in Tasmania to develope her swimming further. She was far far behind KL & now she is faster then KL was at 18 at 200 , 2 secs behind in the 400m & 7 secs at 800 with a international season ahead to cut the difference down further . AT may drop the 800 for a spot on the 4×100. Imo .

I don’t… Read more »

Yozhik
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
4 years ago

You are not exactly accurate with the history of Ledecky’s 200. She was 1:54.43 at 18 (January, 2016 Austin). Yes it is slower than 1:54.3 of Titmus but not that much to highlight it.
And in 6 months she was 1:53.73. Good luck to Ariarne to be that good at WC.

Brownish
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

Great friend of mine, you know that 200 won’t be so easy, even a medal, of course depands on who will swim it. Ruck and Titmus mostly will be there. But we can’t be sure in Pellegrini or Sjöström.

Yozhik
Reply to  Brownish
4 years ago

You maybe sarcastic with your feelings of friendship but I think we indeed could be a good friends under other circumstances. Something tells me that we have a lot in common.

Brownish
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

E.g. we like, follow, read, learn about of swimming and recognize outstanding achievements.
Yes, could be.
Otherwise what would be with swimswam if everybody wrote the same or what kind of “friendship” is when everybody bows 😉

13 % Chinese person
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

Fact is fact . AT is faster in the 200 than KL at 18 . She is faster in the 100 than KL & behind in the 400 by 1.3. Why be so defensive , I am sure every coach in the world is tracking this age progression towards KL’s formerly unapproachable times. After all there is nothing so exciting on the mens side.

Yozhik
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
4 years ago

I don’t know what you are comparing. Two swimmers at same age or ranking of this season or something else.
Just in case if you don’t remember: Ledecky’s 100 at 18 is 53.75 and in six months later – relay split 52.63.
Last season Ledecky’s rank was better in 100, in 200, in 400 and in 800
At the beginning of this season Titmus made serious claim for being ranked #1 in 200 and 400. Why did she do it that early? Maybe ambitions. Or maybe she feels like that and cannot make herself swimming slow, like Ledecky setting two world records at high school level meet. Just was in the mood “feeling the power”. It doesn’t… Read more »

13 % Chinese person
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

So KL has not improved her 100 time in 4 years now she is 22. Im sure she has tried .

Yozhik
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
4 years ago

Yes, her incredible unbelievable unreachable personal bests are almost three years old. I think should she swim 1500 that summer she would be well under 15:20 as well. This versatility that covered all freestyle spectrum at elite level, but 50 was unprecedented. Did she swim close to her personal bests next two years? No, she swam in college for Greg Meehan. But even not being at her bests her season ranking was still #1 with the exception of last season losing it to Taylor Ruck in 200. Has she lost twice final race in 200? Yes. Can she still be #1 in 200 if it would be the only her event? I think so. Is it great that she is… Read more »

Yozhik
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
4 years ago

@13 % CHINESE PERSON:
😀 About the accuracy and playing with numbers.
Do you know that 13% is not exactly one eighth? Is it another example of Chinese expansion? 😀

13 % Chinese person
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

Braden sent me a message that people were complaining endlessly about Sum Ting Wong being racist or something . This is what my DNA profile came back as 9% China 4 % Dai. 87% South England . I think it is very funny as I have blue eyes & blonde hair . If I were in Democrat Jim Crow USA I would be a Octachoon !

Yozhik
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
4 years ago

I thought you have one of your eight great-grand parents being Chinese. That is 12.5%. And you then rounded it up making 13%

13 % Chinese person
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

Normally there are a few % points missing in these profiles but mine were in the extremely confident brackett so they rounded it up tho of course it must be 12.5 % . But I like the 13 better & its official!

Brownish
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

Yes, perhaps richer, but we can stare and wonder e.g. the men’s 100 free final.

TracerX2019
Reply to  Yozhik
4 years ago

re: Titmus claim for being ranked #1 in 200/400 & occurring too early in 2019: is also a function of the AUS summer season (peaking) is during the first part of the year (Jan thru Mar)…hence

Yozhik
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
4 years ago

If you want to see much closer similarity in progress curve to Ledecky’s one than Titmus isn’t the best choice. The Wang Jianjiahe is the one who matches 16 years old Katie very closely: from 200 through 1500 with the little deviation at 400. We all know that at 16 with two world records already Katie was just warming up. So let’s wish Wang to keep up.

Brownish
Reply to  13 % Chinese person
4 years ago

Why not? How many individual golds can be shared out in advance on the men’s side, 5-6? Peaty 2, Dressel (100 fly) Kalisz perhaps 2 and Milak (200 fly). All the other events will or can be exciting.

ytho
Reply to  Brownish
4 years ago

My bold prediction is that Kenderesi will beat Milak in the 200

bear drinks beer
Reply to  ytho
4 years ago

It’s not impossible

Brownish
Reply to  bear drinks beer
4 years ago

Only one thing is sure, what’s already happened.

bear drinks beer
Reply to  ytho
4 years ago

And my bold prediction is Seto beats Kalisz in 400IM.

Brownish
Reply to  bear drinks beer
4 years ago

I wrote perhaps 2 😉
IMO bonze is the only question. Litchfield, Verraszto ?

Brownish
Reply to  ytho
4 years ago

I don’t think so.

nuotofan
4 years ago

I disagree with most of the comments.
1) There’s also a swimming age and Ledecky is doing the hard work, using Mel’s words, at least from 2011/12 season, and in the 800 free at London12 she swam her first wonder on international stage.
2) Ledecky looked to me the most motivated swimmer in the World, during all these years.
Who else swam so many PBs and WRs in in-season meets? She found motivations challenging herself, day by day, so not sure she needs a serious challenge to swim faster (in the 200 free at Worlds17 she didn’t swim faster when she had a race by Pellegrini and McKeon).

Brownish
Reply to  nuotofan
4 years ago

Really happy that you write looked to be and not looks to.
What do you think about thousands of girls and boys who are doing the same every day?
Let us be objective, please.

Swammer from Wakanda
4 years ago

If the ISL is going to be about bringing spectators to swimming then we need to have a few races where Ledecky FINALLY gets to swim head-to-head against the men and push her to what she can do. Sure it wouldn’t officially go in any record books but it would let us see what she can do in a distance race with competition.

Yozhik
Reply to  Swammer from Wakanda
4 years ago

ISL is a SCM competition. For some reason Katie Ledeky isn’t in rush to race in short pool internationally. Ledecky however plans to compete as a charter member of a professional swimming league. Don’t know what it means.

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Swammer from Wakanda
4 years ago

Speaking of men vs. women, one hilarious aside from MA’s vlog about the first FINA pro meet was he and another guy agreeing that their main goal on the 4 X 100 free relay was to beat Cate Campbell’s split.

bear drinks beer
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

Can’t blame the other guy (Kamminga) as he’s a breaststroker. lol.

coachymccoachface
Reply to  bear drinks beer
4 years ago

Embarrassing for a 21 mid 50 freestyler though

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  coachymccoachface
4 years ago

Only 21 mid 50 freestyler who can do a 1:57 IM — in history.

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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