Katie Ledecky shatters own 1,500-meter world record again
Katie Ledecky shattered another one of her world records by swimming 15:25.48 for the 1,500-meter freestyle en route to gold at the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia. She bettered her own world record of 15:27.71 from Monday's semifinal round.
Ledecky won the race by 14.66 seconds over silver medalist Lauren Boyle of New Zealand in 15:50.15, which would have been the world record before Ledecky's rise in 2012. Hungarian Boglarka Kapas took bronze in 15:47.09.
Ledecky's new world record is also 24 seconds faster than the men's qualifying time of 15:49.99 for the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
In other Kazan competition, Ryan Lochte finished fourth in the 200-meter freestyle and Missy Franklin finished fifth in the 100-meter backstroke.
Ledecky returned to the pool just 30 minutes later to swim the 200-meter freestyle semifinal, where she finished third in 1:56.76. Ledecky was in last place with 100-meters to go before kicking the final 50-meters in 30.25 seconds. Missy Franklin won the heat, and both Americans will advance to the final. Ledecky just barely made the final by .25 seconds.
Watch Ledecky's previous world record swim from Tuesday:
[youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQfy6M_gwlE]
- Christopher Chavez
