A Week of Katie Ledecky Stats (Day Five): An American-Record Holder Beyond Freestyle
In recognition of Katie Ledecky lowering her world record in the 800-meter freestyle to 8:04.12, Swimming World continues its Week of Katie Ledecky Statistics. Each day for a week, we are running a short piece that highlights Ledecky-related stats, numbers that place additional context on her legendary career.
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
When Katie Ledecky is inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame, her enshrinement will celebrate her status as a distance-freestyle legend. As an Olympic champion in the 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle, Ledecky’s range is awe-inspiring. Yet, so is the 28-year-old’s versatility – even if it is largely overshadowed.
Outside of her distance-freestyle focus, Ledecky has excelled in the 400 individual medley to a point where she ranks among the top-50 fastest performers in history at No. 48. The American owns a best time of 4:35.77 in the 400 IM, a mark she registered at the 2022 United States National Championships. How much faster could she have gone in the event? It is a question worth asking, given that Ledecky has never contested the 400 IM on the international stage – where she would have been in peak form.
Beyond her long-course prowess in the 400 medley, Ledecky has twice set the American record in the 400-yard individual medley. She initially set an American record of 3:57.68 at the 2017 Pac-12 Championships, when she was a freshman at Stanford University. A year later, also at the Pac-12 Champs, Ledecky lowered the American record to 3:56.53.
As great as Ledecky has been as a freestyler, it certainly is worth taking a moment to appreciate her talent in the 400 individual medley.
