Katie Ledecky is on a remarkable roll. She just won her sixth title in the 1500m freestyle, extending her 15-year winning streak at the World Swimming Championships in Singapore. With this victory, she also broke her tie for career medals with swimming legends Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, securing her place in history with a total of 22 world titles.
Ledecky completed the race in 15 minutes, 26.44 seconds, finishing 5.35 seconds ahead of Italy’s Simona Quadarella. This win means a lot to her. She mentioned that each race at the World Championships holds special significance.
This latest race was notable. It was Ledecky’s closest finish in a 1500m event at an Olympics or worlds since her first title in 2013. Quadarella swam the second-fastest time in the event’s history, just over seven seconds ahead of the previous silver medal time from 2013. However, she still trails Ledecky’s world record by 11.31 seconds.
At the halfway mark, Ledecky was three seconds faster than her world record pace from 2018. She’s dominated the 1500m, holding the top 24 times in history. Now, with her recent swim, she owns the top 11 times, while Quadarella sits at No. 12.
Ledecky’s last defeat in this event dates back to 2010 when she was just 13 years old. A memorable race from that year saw her cap come off, allowing another swimmer to claim victory.
With this latest medal, Ledecky achieved her 28th world medal, moving ahead of Lochte for second place on the all-time list behind Phelps, who has 33. Also, she now has 21 individual medals, surpassing Phelps, but still trails Swedish swimmer Sarah Sjostrom, who holds 23.
Looking ahead, Ledecky has more races coming up, including a highly anticipated showdown in the 800m with Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh.
In other exciting news from the championships, Australian Kaylee McKeown swam a stunning 100m backstroke in 57.16 seconds, the second-fastest ever. Despite a shoulder injury, she pushed through and secured her place at the top of the podium, showcasing her exceptional talent.
Romanian swimmer David Popovici also made headlines. He claimed gold in the 200m freestyle by edging out American Luke Hobson in a thrilling finish. Interestingly, Popovici admitted he felt fear leading up to the race—a feeling he hadn’t experienced before, illustrating the intense pressure athletes face at this level.
As the championships progress, fans eagerly await the next rounds. With multiple events lined up and fierce competition among the best swimmers in the world, excitement is in the air.
For further updates, you can check the official World Aquatics Championships page here.
