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Agence France-Presse

Nine-time Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky clocked the second-fastest women’s 1500m freestyle time in history on Wednesday to launch the US Pro Swim Series event in Austin, Texas, with a dominant victory.
Ledecky was untouchable as she cruised to victory in 15 minutes and 23.21 seconds, more than a minute in front of 16-year-old runner-up Brinkleigh Hansen, who touched in 16:31.31.
Becca Mann was third in 16:35.09.
Ledecky did not 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 had set at the Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last April.
Since then she has gone on to win her sixth world title in the event at last year’s world championships in Singapore.

She has won both Olympic gold medals – at Tokyo in 2021 and Paris 2024 – since the 1500m free was made an Olympic event for women.
Now 28, the American who won her first Olympic gold in the 800m freestyle at the 2012 London Games is showing no signs of fading as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics beckon.
Ledecky, the only woman to break 15:30 for the 1500m free, did so for the 10th time.
She owns the top 12 times ever and 24 of the top 25, with Italian Simona Quadarella’s runner-up finish to Ledecky in 15:31.79 at last year’s world championships now slotting in as the 13th-fastest ever.
Men’s world record-holder Bobby Finke, Ledecky’s training partner in Florida, won the men’s 1500m freestyle in 15:01.70. Ireland’s Daniel Wiffen, the reigning 800m Olympic champion, was second in 15:04.98.

Olympic stars Summer McIntosh and Leon Marchand led the way into Thursday’s finals of the 200m individual medley, in which they are both world record holders.
Canada’s McIntosh, winner of three gold medals at the Paris Games and four world titles in Singapore last year, finished in 2:09.27 to top the semi-final times ahead of Teagan O’Dell (2:13.15). Emma Weyant was third fastest, winning her semi in 2:14.74.
France’s Marchand, who won four golds in Paris, topped the men’s 200m medley semi-finals 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 US 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.


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Swimming

Katie Ledecky’s winning time in Austin, Texas on Wednesday did not threaten her world record. Photo: AFP

Katie Ledecky finished more than a minute ahead of the runner-up. Photo: AFP

Bobby Finke, Katie Ledecky’s training partner, won the men’s 1,500m final. Photo: AFP

American-Chinese teen fencer Liu ready to overcome tough start in ‘year of growth’

US women’s foil coach Ralf Bissdorf (left) and Jaelyn Liu at the Foil World Cup at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo. Photo: Mike Chan

Jaelyn Liu (right) battles Italy’s Martina Sinigalia in the final of the 2025 Women’s Foil World Cup in Hong Kong. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong’s top fencer Ryan Choi gets year off to solid start with foil World Cup silver

Hong Kong’s Ryan Choi (left) facing American Alexander Massialas in the final. Photo: Handout

Ryan Choi had beaten Alexander Massialas in the previous tournament but lost this time. Photo: Handout

Sport

Other Sport

The American Olympic champion wins US Pro Swim Series event easily and has now clocked 24 of the top 25 times for that distance


The American Olympic champion wins US Pro Swim Series event easily and has now clocked 24 of the top 25 times for that distance.


Katie Ledecky

Olympics

Summer McIntosh

Regan Smith

Katie Ledecky continues ‘ownership’ of 1,500m freestyle with second-fastest swim ever

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The American Olympic champion wins US Pro Swim Series event easily and has now clocked 24 of the top 25 times for that distance

The American Olympic champion wins US Pro Swim Series event easily and has now clocked 24 of the top 25 times for that distance