Fort Lauderdale Open: Loaded Field, Led by Returning World Record Setters Ledecky, Walsh (Psych Sheets)
The 2026 Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open kicks off next week with a loaded field.
The meet runs April 2-May 2.
While not part of the Pro Swim Series this year, the lasting impacts of last year’s meet will be on the minds of swimmers and fans, led by world records by Katie Ledecky and Gretchen Walsh.
The duo returns to lead the field to the site of the International Swimming Hall of Fame in Fort Lauderdale.
Ledecky is scheduled to swim the 200, 400, 800 and 1500 freestyles, while Walsh will swim the 50 and 100 butterfly and 50, 100 free, 200 free and 50 backstroke.
They will be joined by the top names in North America, Summer McIntosh, Kate Douglass, Simone Manuel, Katharine Berkoff, Alex Walsh, Regan Smith, Claire Curzan, Anna Moesch, Emma Weyant, Erin Gemmell, Katie Grimes, Jillian Cox, Phoebe Bacon and more. Kasia Wasick joins McIntosh as one of the top international swimmers in the meet. The Polish Olympian will swim the sprints. Mona McSharry is also in the lineup for Fort Lauderdale
The men’s field is led by France’s Leon Marchand, who trains in Texas. He will swim the 200 butterfly, 200 breaststroke and both IM events.
Hubert Kos, Caeleb Dressel, Ilya Kharun, Josh Liendo, Shaine Casas, Chris Guiliano, Bobby Finke, Luke Hobson, Carson Foster, Kieran Smith and more will join the men’s field.
