U.S. Nationals Day 4 Finals: Katie Ledecky Holds off Claire Weinstein in Fast 400 Free
The way the meet was going, it didn’t look like anyone was going to be able to swim faster than Katie Ledecky and Claire Weinstein in the 400 freestyle at the 2025 U.S. National Championships.
Weinstein won the 200 freestyle and was second in the 800 freestyle earlier in the meet, even after doing a double with the 100 free.
And Ledecky, well, is still Ledecky.
She won the 800 freestyle in close to a world-record time and finished second in the 200 freestyle.
Ledecky won the 400 in 3:58.56. She flirted with the world record pace for a bit, but still turned in an extremely fast race.
“I felt really good in warm-up, so I wanted to go for it. I wanted to swim it similarly to the way I did in Fort Lauderdale. I was out a little fast tonight and definitely paid the price the last 100. Still pretty happy I was able to hold it together even through the pain,” Ledecky said.
Weinstein was second as expected, going a 4:00.05, nearly breaking 4 minutes and holding off the rest of the field by a stunning 7 seconds.
Bella Sims finished third in 4:07.11.
The race went as expected from prelims and based on how Ledecky and Weinstein have been this week. There have been several swims like that on the women’s side, leading to a familiar, veteran team.
“On the women’s side there aren’t too many new faces. We have a very experienced group and that’s great,” Ledecky said.
