Nine-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Ledecky posted the second-fastest time in the history of the women’s 1,500m freestyle on Wednesday to open the US Pro Swim Series event in Austin, Texas, with a dominant victory.
Ledecky was untouchable as she took the win in 15:23.21, more than a minute ahead of 16-year-old runner-up Brinkleigh Hansen, who touched in 16:31.31.
Becca Mann finished third in 16:35.09.
Ledecky didn’t threaten her world record of 15:20.48, set in 2018, but she used a strong late surge to improve on the second-best time of 15:24.51 that she set at the Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., last April.
She has since won her sixth world title in the event at last year’s world championships in Singapore.
She has won both Olympic gold medals – at Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 – since the 1,500m freestyle became a women’s Olympic event.
Now 28, the American who won her first Olympic gold medal in the 800m freestyle at the London 2012 Games shows no signs of decline heading into the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Ledecky, the only woman to break 3:30 p.m. for the 1,500 freestyle, did so for the 10th time.
She holds the top 12 in her history and 24 in the top 25, with Italy’s Simon Quadrella finishing second to Ledecky in 15:31.79 at last year’s world championships, now ranking 13th fastest of all time.
Men’s world record holder Bobby Finke, Ledecky’s training partner in Florida, won the men’s 1,500 freestyle in 15:01.70. Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen, the reigning Olympic 800m champion, finished second in 15:04.98.
Olympic stars Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand led the way in Thursday’s final of the 200m individual medley, in which they are both world record holders.
Canadian McIntosh, winner of three gold medals at the Paris Games and four world titles in Singapore last year, clocked 2:09.27 to top the semi-finals ahead of Teagan O’Dell (2:13.15). Emma Weyant finished third, winning her semifinal in 2:14.74.
Frenchman Marchand, who won four gold medals in Paris, dominated the semi-finals of the men’s 200m medley in 2:00.10 ahead of Kieran Smith in 2:00.19 and Carson Foster in 2:00.24.
World record holder Regan Smith of the United States won the women’s 100m backstroke in 57.98 seconds, and reigning world champion Anna Elendt of Germany won the women’s 100m breaststroke in 1:06.91.
