2025 World Championships
- July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
- Singapore, Singapore
- World Aquatics Championships Arena
- LCM (50m)
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China got on the board on day one of the 2025 World Championships, courtesy of 23-year-old Li Bingjie.
Racing in the final of the women’s 400m freestyle, Li put up a big-time personal best, Chinese National and Asian Continental Record of 3:58.21.
That garnered her the silver medal behind Summer McIntosh of Canada who won in 3:56.26 and ahead of American Katie Ledecky who earned bronze in 3:58.49.
Comparing Li’s splits between her former and new best-ever performance, the Olympic bronze medalist from Tokyo managed to shave time off of virtually every lap, culminating in a spicy 28.67 final 50m.
It was in that final stretch that Li was able to take over Ledecky who was on her way to a potential silver. Ledecky’s final 50m checked in at 29.95.
| Li’s New Asian Record – 3:58.21 | Li’s Old Asian Record – 3:59.99 |
| 27.96 | 28.11 |
| 30.36 | 30.30 |
| 30.18 | 30.53 |
| 30.59 | 30.56 |
| 30.24 | 30.46 |
| 30.61 | 30.54 |
| 29.60 | 29.84 |
| 28.67 | 29.65 |
Entering this competition, Li’s PB and Asian Record stood at the 3:59.99 she put up at the 2025 Chinese National Championships in May. That previous performance represented the ace’s first-ever time under the 4:00 barrier, becoming just the 6th woman ever to do so.
Her time this evening ranks her as the 4th-swiftest performer in history.
Top 10 Women’s LCM 400 Free Performers All-Time
- Summer McIntosh (CAN) – 3:54.18, 2025
- Ariarne Titmus (AUS) – 3:55.38, 2023
- Katie Ledecky (USA) – 3:56.46, 2016
- Li Bingjie (CHN) – 3:58.21, 2025 *Asian Record
- Lani Pallister (AUS) – 3:58.87, 2025
- Federica Pelligrini (ITA) – 3:59.15, 2009
- Erika Fairweather (NZL) – 3:59.44, 2024
- Joanne Jackson (GBR) – 4:00.60, 2009
- Leah Smith (USA) – 4:00.65, 2016
- Rebecca Adlington (GBR) – 4:00.79, 2009
Has this event progressed the most out of any since the super suit era??
no probably one of the womens backstroke events maybe womens 1 fly and mens breastroke
Update your top 10 chart
Done!
Still missing Weinstein….
Her US trials 4:00.05 should be included
Such a shame we didn’t have Claire and Erica in this race as well.
And Summer’s WR
Both Pallister’s swim and her 3.59 at trials have been forgotten here
Weinstein also missing from list
Pallister’s 3:58.87 from today is missing from the top 10 list!
Let’s congratulate Li Bingjie on finally surpassing Ledecky after all these years!
Wonder how Li Bingjie, who is in excellent form, will be doing in 800 free, which is “supposed” to be her strongest event but the outcome was almost always disappointing…..