Katie Ledecky underlined her enduring dominance in the 1,500-metre freestyle at the swimming world championships in Singapore, winning her 22nd world title in the event on Tuesday. The American touched the wall in 15 minutes 26.44 seconds, well clear of Italy’s Simona Quadarella, who took silver in a European record of 15:31.79, and Australia’s Lani Pallister, third in 15:41.18.
Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in history, now owns 25 of the top 26 times ever recorded in the 1,500m. Her victory was her second medal of the championships, following a bronze in the 400m freestyle behind Canada’s Summer McIntosh. Combined with nine Olympic golds, Ledecky has amassed 42 Olympic and world medals, 31 of them gold.
The United States team have been battling acute gastroenteritis picked up at a training camp in Thailand before arriving in Singapore. Head coach Greg Meehan said the team’s medical staff had been working overtime, but praised the squad’s resilience. “If you were in our team area you would never know that the overall majority of the team has gone through something over the last few days,” he told American network NBC.
In other finals, Romania’s David Popovici won the men’s 200m freestyle in 1:43.53, overtaking American Luke Hobson (1:43.84) in the final 50 metres. Australia’s Kaylee McKeown took the women’s 100m backstroke in 57.16 seconds, just 0.03 off the world record, beating American Regan Smith (57.35). South Africa’s Pieter Coetze won the men’s 100m backstroke in 51.85, and Germany’s Anna Elendt claimed the women’s 100m breaststroke in 1:05.19.
In the semi-finals, American Luca Urlando was the top qualifier in the men’s 200m butterfly (1:52.84), and compatriot Claire Weinstein led the women’s 200m freestyle (1:54.69). The championships continue with the highly anticipated women’s 800m freestyle, where Ledecky will face McIntosh.
