Reported by Mitch Bowmile.
WOMEN’S 800M FREESTYLE
Top seed: Katie Ledecky (8:10.91)
World record: 8:06.68 – Katie Ledecky
American record: 8:06.68 – Katie Ledecky
U.S Open record: 8:06.68 – Katie Ledecky
U.S Nationals record: 8:17.12 – Janet Evans
JR World record: 8:11.00 – Katie Ledecky
2012 Winning Time: 8:19.78 – Katie Ledecky
Katie Ledecky put everyone on the edge of their seats through 600-meters tonight as she chased her own world record, finishing shy of that mark, but still claiming gold and securing the event for Rio.
At the 50-meter mark Ledecky turned slightly faster than the first 50 split of her world record. By the 100, she was 0.99 seconds under world record pace. At the 200, she was almost a full second and a half under pace splitting a 1:58.75.
Halfway through, Ledecky turned at the 400 a full second under world record pace with a 4:02.21 split. She stayed under world record pace through 550-meters before falling off that pace.
At the 650, Ledecky really started to drop off the pace, slowly but surely falling farther and farther from her record each 50. At the final touch, Ledecky was an 8:10.32 to take the win, just slightly faster than what she swam yesterday morning.
As expected, Leah Smith finished second in 8:20.18 to secure a second individual event for Rio.
- Katie Ledecky (8:10.32)
- Leah Smith (8:20.18)
- Stephanie Peacock (8:24.71)
- Lindsay Vrooman (8:29.10)
- Ashley Twichell (8:29.85)
- Hannah Moore (8:31.01)
- Haley Anderson (8:33.66)
- Sierra Schmidt (8:36.09)
For official results click here.
She needs more speed if she wants to win the 200 free. Pellegrini and Sjostrom have way more speed than her.
I think the winner will be Pellegrini cause she also has the speed this year (53:18 in the 100 free).
Was KL fully tapered?
Not her best swim for a full taper. But in her case, it does not matter. Her worse swim is still the best in the world. Her training partner, Andrew Gemmell, on the other hand swam not so good races. Doesn’t speak much to the coach. What that tells you is that Katie is still the best and does well regardless.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIzy5IA3jyA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC4_DbyBXHo