Katie Ledecky displayed her usual prowess this weekend at the 2016 Austin Pro Swim Series, establishing herself as the top American performer in every Olympic freestyle event save the 50. She set three new personal bests, one world record, and put up three top times in the world. Perhaps most impressive was her 800 free, where her 8:06.68 took down her old mark from the World Championships in August.
Despite Ledecky’s continued improvement in the 100, where she’s now a threat to the top American sprinters, her 800 free has not suffered as a result – even in an ultra-condensed three day meet. In fact, her back half of her 800 was over a half second better than her record-breaking pace from Kazan. Her success across the board will build her confidence in the ability to pull off an expanded lineup at trials without her primary 800 taking the hit.
Watch how her stroke changes from a traditional sprinter’s gallop in the 100 to an elongated stroke that more closely resembles catch-up drill in the 800.
All videos, courtesy of USA Swimming, are posted below:
100 Free: 53.75, Lane 5
The 100 free was won by Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden in a U.S. open record of 53.12.
400 Free: 3:59.54, Lane 4
200 Free: 1:54.43, Lane 4
800 Free: 8:06.68, Lane 4
Get More SwimSwam with SwimSwam Magazine
SwimSwam Magazines are big, coming in at nearly a pound per issue. We provide you four massive print issues designed to sit on your coffee table like a piece of artwork. With your yearly subscription, you receive over 600 of pages of swimming’s highest quality print content, and another 5,330+ pages of digital issues, going back to the first issue produced.
If she goes under 8:00 by the time she retired, imagine what she could do in SCM!
The most likely chance she swim SCM will be Duel in the pool…which is two years later.
Am I the only one who missed the live stream of the 800 free race? At least it was recorded.
Katie Ledecky’s progress is so remarkable that she’s one of those few athletes who’s rise/improvement is just hard to predict. I thought she would go 8:04 by Rio, but now I’m thinking 8:03 is more likely. This girl will be the first woman to break the 8 minute barrier in the 800 by the time she retires.
LOL at the intro for the 100. “In lane 3, the Stone Ridge High School team record holder in the 100 freestyle….”