2020 TOKYO SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES
- When: Pool swimming: Saturday, July 24 – Sunday, August 1, 2021
- Open Water swimming: Wednesday, August 4 – Thursday, August 5, 2021
- Where: Olympic Aquatics Centre / Tokyo, Japan
- Heats: 7 PM / Semifinals & Finals: 10:30 AM (Local time)
- Full aquatics schedule
- SwimSwam Event Previews
- Entry Lists
- Live Results
Day 6 Prelims Recap
In the same prelims heat as teammate Katie Ledecky, American teenager Katie Grimes smashed yet another 800 free lifetime best, qualifying second into her first Olympic final at 8:17.05 beside Ledecky (8:15.67). During the last 150, Grimes swiftly accelerated to splitting 31.1/30.8/29.7 to swim past elite seniors Italy’s Simona Quadarella and Germany’s Sarah Kohler at the finish, nabbing the middle lane next to the two-time defending Olympic champion.
Grimes’ previous lifetime best came from roughly a month ago at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, where she punched her ticket to Tokyo at 8:20.36. During the pre-pandemic 2019-2020 season, a then-13-year-old Grimes swam 8:37.46 in this event at the 2019 U.S. Open before improving to 8:31.73 during U.S. Trials prelims, dropping nine full seconds to become an Olympian, now a sub-8:20 effort at the Olympic Games.
Grimes’ swim now puts her in the top five U.S. performers among the 15-16 age group (No. 2), 18&U age group (No. 3), and all-time (No. 4). Most notably, Grimes is the third 15-16 U.S. female to break 8:20 in the LCM 800 free, now passing legend Janet Evans by 0.07s. Grimes is also the fourth Kate/Katie in U.S. history to swim sub-8:20 in this event before turning 19 years old, but the third-fastest 18&U in history.
15-year-old Grimes will enter the Tokyo 2020 women’s 800 free final as the No. 15 performer all-time, for now.
ALL-TIME U.S AGE GROUP RANKINGS – 15-16 WOMEN’S 800 FR LCM
- Katie Ledecky– 8:13.86, 2013
- Katie Grimes– 8:17.05, 2021**
- Janet Evans– 8:17.12, 1988
- Becca Mann- 8:22.45, 2014
- Bella Sims- 8:23.55, 2021
ALL-TIME U.S AGE GROUP RANKINGS – 18&U WOMEN’S 800 FR LCM
- Katie Ledecky– 8:06.68, 2016
- Janet Evans– 8:16.22, 1989
- Katie Grimes– 8:17.05, 2021**
- Kate Ziegler- 8:18.52, 2007
- Katie Hoff- 8:19.70, 2008
ALL-TIME U.S RANKINGS – WOMEN’S 800 FR LCM
- Katie Ledecky– 8:04.79, 2016
- Janet Evans– 8:16.22, 1989
- Leah Smith- 8:16.33, 2019
- Katie Grimes– 8:17.05, 2021**
- Kate Ziegler- 8:18.52, 2007
After Paris in 2024, Katie L will focus on only two events: the 400IM and the 800M.
She seemed to really enjoy the 400IM when Ella was at Stanford, and the 200, 400, 800, 1500 may be a bit too much for a 30+ yo Katie L
How about 100-200-400? She was 52.x in 2016.
Equivalent to 53+ flat start.
Nope!
Women’s 400 meter freestyle
Women’s 800 meter freestyle
Women’s 1500 meter freestyle
Women’s 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay
Katie Ledecky now realizes how daunting the women’s 200 meter/1500 meter freestyle double/double (heats/final) truly was.
I do not think Ledecky will swim the individual 200 in Paris if the schedule is the same as it was this year. But even after Paris I expect her to keep her focus on the 4×200 rwlay and the longer freestyle distances.
Katie Grimes also passed Brooke Bennett (8:19.67) for No. 2 American at the Olympics.
Thoughts on Katie Ledecky Retiring after this meet?
None.
Katie Ledecky has a contract with TYR thru the 2024 Summer Olympics.
https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/katie-ledecky-big-first-pro-deal-tyr
Interesting that Titmus should feel herself an old lady competing against 14 years old McIntosh and 15 years old Grimes. Same about 24 years old Ledecky racing 20 years old Titmus.
Katie Ledecky has inspired the new generation of young US female swimmers we see shine at olympics.
That will be part of her legacy too. When she retires she wants to be sure that these young teen sensations are ready to take over.
Paris 2024 Olympics …..
The question will be whether Katie Ledecky decides to retire at the age of 27 subsequent to the conclusion of the next Summer Olympics.
Au revoir!
Three Katies and a Kate in the top 5 18&U Americans… must be something about the name!
Lydia! Lydia! Lydia! Lydia!
Meanwhile, Lilly cringes.
Go Alaska!
Katie Grimes had the fastest last 100 in this prelim session and only 0.1sec slower than Kirpichnikova at last 50. That is what will help her to medal.
I would love to see Grimes win the gold Over Ledecky would be a beautiful pass the torch moment. If anybody’s going to win over ledecky I would want it to be grimes. As long as they go 1-2 😉😉
Nope!
Ledecky drags Grimes to the silver medal, if necessary by the scruff of the neck.
Ledecky to Grimes: ‘get on my hip and stay there, when I move you move.’
I don’t think it would be smart from Katie Ledecky. If Katie Grimes’ hands tickle Ledecky’s feet at 700m then KL should be scary. The new kid sensation has a very very very special finish.
Unless she respects KL too much and doesn’t dare commit the crime of beating her idol. 😆
Anyway I think that’s an unlikely scenario. KL will kill any suspense very early. I think she wants to finish her olympics with a bang. And Katie Grimes will finish like a bullet to grab a medal.