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Italy’s Federica Pellegrini might have put up the top time in the women’s 200-meter free, but Katie Ledecky’s massive 1700 free double was the story of the semis at the 2015 FINA World Championships.
Pellegrini led the way into finals with a 1:56.23. That’s a fairly pedestrian time as she’s already been a 1:55.00 to rank third in the world this year.
USA’s Missy Franklin, on the tail end of a 100 back/200 free double herself, raced her way to the second seed in 1:56.37.
China’s Shen Duo took the third seed in 1:56.44, while Iron Lady Katinka Hosszu set herself up for another medal with a fourth-seeded 1:56.51 a day after taking down an incredible world record in the women’s 200-meter IM.
Russia’s Veronika Popova claimed the fifth seed in 1:56.56.
Ledecky, however, was the top storyline of the semifinal heats. Turning well back in the pack with a 1:27.43 at the 150-meter mark, she put the last bit of energy into her legs with a 29.33 down the stretch to take third in the second semifinal with a sixth-seeded 1:56.76.
This effort came after chopping two seconds from her world record in the 1500-meter free. Ledecky definitely looked spent in the pool after the swim, as she was in visible distress following the swim. A look the world rarely gets to see.
Franklin, shaking off some disappointment from a tough 100 back earlier in the night to show some team leadership, swam right up to Ledecky with her radiant smile becoming infectious as Ledecky was able overcome the pain.
The finish for Ledecky kept her historic hopes alive of a 200-400-800-1500 free sweep for the first time ever.
The Netherlands’ Femke Heemskerk (1:56.91) and Australia’s Emma McKeon (1:56.95) also made their way into the 200 free finale.
SCHEDULED EVENTS
- Men’s 200 free finals
- Women’s 100 back finals
- Men’s 50 breast semis
- Women’s 1500 free finals
- Men’s 100 back finals
- Women’s 200 free semis
- Men’s 200 fly semis
- Women’s 100 breast finals
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