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American superstar Katie Ledecky finished off her busy week in Tokyo at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships with three gold medals, capping her week off with a gold in the 1500 final. Ledecky was well off her world record from earlier this year with a 15:38.97. She set the world record earlier this season with a 15:20.43 at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis.
Ledecky is still the best distance swimmer in the world, despite not being pushed by Australian Ariarne Titmus, who did not swim in the 1500 here in Tokyo. Ledecky will have plenty of time to get back to work to get back to her usual self by next summer.
Ledecky was well ahead of second place Kiah Melverton of Australia. No Titmus in the 1500 gave the opportunity to Melverton and Kareena Lee to fight for medals. Melverton got the silver with a 16:00.08 and Lee finished in fourth at 16:03.26. Both of the Australians were off their season best times from a few weeks ago at their Pan Pac Trials.
The other American on the podium was Leah Smith, who swam in the earlier heats. Smith got the bronze medal at 16:00.82 after finishing ahead of Haley Anderson (16:04.26) in her heat, and Ashley Twichell (16:07.49) in the final tonight.
Japan’s Waka Kobori (16:14.22) finished fifth overall. China’s Zhang Ke (16:18.55), Japan’s Yukimi Moriyama (16:20.46) and Canada’s Kate Sanderson (16:33.16) also finished in the top eight.
2018 World Rankings:
- Katie Ledecky, USA, 15:20.48
- Simona Quadarella, ITA, 15:51.61
- Wang Jianjiahe, CHN, 15:53.01
- Ashley Twichell, USA, 15:55.68
- Sarah Kohler, GER, 15:57.85
- Li Bingjie, CHN, 15:58.29
- Kiah Melverton, AUS, 15:59.92
- Kareena Lee, AUS, 16:00.14
Photo Courtesy:
Congratulations
She is amazing!
Titmus the scratcher completely irrelevant here, she has never cracked 16:00 in the 1500 Free. More relevant is that this was the seventh individual event gold medal for Ledecky across two Pan Pacs meets versus eight individual event golds for Michael Phelps which he accumulated across four Pan Pacs meets. Another incredible meet and season for Ledecky as she ends season as only female swimmer to have top time in world in three events and also threw down a World Record in-season by five secs in 1500 Free. 31 international career medals now, and counting.