World Championships, Day Three Finals: Katie Ledecky Storms to Sixth Title in 1500 Freestyle; Simona Quadarella Pops Massive European Record
The career dominance showcased by Katie Ledecky in the 1500-meter freestyle is nothing short of phenomenal. The 24-fastest times in history. An 18-second gap between the American distance legend and the No. 2 performer of all-time. A pair of Olympic gold medals.
So, when Ledecky headed into the 1500 freestyle on Tuesday at the World Championships in Singapore, it was an anticipated victory, the latest achievement by the distance legend and future Hall of Famer. But that doesn’t mean the effort should be treated in ho-hum fashion. Rather, it’s an opportunity to further appreciate what Ledecky has done since emerging on the sport’s international stage as a 15-year-old in 2012.
In claiming her sixth world championship in the event, Ledecky delivered a time of 15:26.44 to prevail by five seconds over Italian Simona Quadarella, who blasted a European record of 15:31.79 for the silver medal. The bronze medal went to Australian Lani Pallister, who touched the wall in 15:41.18. Ledecky’s swim sits No. 5 in the all-time rankings and she has won every 1500 freestyle she has entered at the World Championships since making her debut in 2013. In 2019, Ledecky was forced to withdraw from the event due to illness and she did not compete at the 2024 World Champs, opting to bypass the meet to focus on her preparation for the Olympic Games in Paris.
“I just wanted to try to get out fast, but comfortable enough that I (could) build from there,” Ledecky said. “Happy with the time, happy with the swim. I love this race. This race is the race where I broke my first world record in 2013. Lots of great races and memories over the years. Happy to do it (again) in Singapore.”
Ledecky was in attack mode from the start, touching under her world-record pace down the first length. In what was a rarity for a Ledecky outing, the American actually had company for the early portion of the race, with Pallister lingering on Ledecky’s shoulder. Ultimately, the speed brought by Ledecky proved too much, but credit to the Australian for her willingness to offer a challenge.
At one point, Ledecky was more than three seconds under her world-record pace and while she couldn’t maintain that speed, she once again proved she is in her own class in the 1500 freestyle. The medal was the 28th of Ledecky’s career at the World Championships, moving her into sole possession of second place in that category, trailing only the 33 medals earned by Michael Phelps from 2001-2011.
Since emerging as a teenage prodigy, Ledecky has altered the landscape of what was deemed possible in the distance-freestyle events. Three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines, while performing commentary for the Peacock Network at Worlds, suggested that the addition of the women’s 1500 freestyle to the Olympic program in 2020 was due to Ledecky’s ability in the event.
Ledecky has raised the bar for her competition. Before Tuesday night, Ledecky’s world record of 15:20.48 stood 18 seconds clear of the No. 2 performer in history, Denmark’s Lotte Friis (15:38.88). She is still more than 11 seconds quicker than No. 2 all-time, but Quadarella clearly was inspired by the American on the way to going 15:31. That time was a nine-second personal best and shattered Friis’ European record.
Ledecky’s gold medal complemented a bronze medal in the 400 freestyle from the opening night of competition. She still has two events remaining, the 800 freestyle relay and the 800 freestyle. In the latter event, Ledecky will duel with Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh, who has already won titles in Singapore in the 400 freestyle and 200 individual medley. Earlier this year, McIntosh posted the No. 3 performance in history to establish herself as a threat to Ledecky’s reign in that event.
“I kind of had a sense that I was probably out pretty fast, because (Pallister) tends to take it out fast, and just having her right by my side for such a long portion really kept me on my toes and kept me moving forward,” Ledecky said. “So I was hopeful that as I kind of extended, I was able to hold that pace. I wasn’t quite sure where I was at. I was pretty confident I was in the (15:20s), just wasn’t sure how low into the (15:20s) I was when I touched the wall. So I’m happy with it.”
