With yet another commanding win in the women’s 1,500m freestyle at the Pro Swim series meet in Knoxville, Tennessee, Katie Ledecky got the Olympic season underway. With a time of 15 minutes, 38.81 seconds, Ledecky ranks 17th in history. With Denmark’s Lotte Friis, the second-fastest performer ever, now owning the 18th-fastest time ever (15:38.88), she holds all 16 of the faster times.
Ledecky touched 52.42 seconds ahead of Aly Breslin, who finished second in their heat of the timed finals in 16:43.09, and is the owner of five world titles in the event. She also won gold at the Olympics in Tokyo when the 1,500m free was added to the Games’ schedule for women.
Compared to her winning mark of 15:46.38 at the US Open in Greensboro, North Carolina, in November, Ledecky’s time was better.