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American superstar and world record holder Katie Ledecky went out under her own world record pace on Saturday night in Tokyo in the 400 free at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships. Ledecky was challenged early in the race by Australia’s rising distance star Ariarne Titmus but Ledecky was able to hold her off over the last 100 even when she was falling off her own world record pace.
Ledecky finished just off her 2014 meet record of 3:58.50. Ledecky has been faster this season, swimming a 3:57.94 at the Indianapolis Pro Swim Series.
It is very rare to see someone challenge Ledecky like Titmus did in the final. Titmus was less than two seconds behind for the majority of the race and joined Ledecky and Italian Federica Pellegrini in the sub-four minute club. She is now third all-time in the event.
Titmus is easily now the second fastest in the 2018 world rankings, breaking four minutes for the first time in her young career.
It is quite refreshing for Ledecky to finally be seriously challenged in the distance races. The 17-year-old Titmus will not be going away it seems either.
American Leah Smith was well off the hot pace by the leaders, finishing in third place at 4:04.23.
Those three were well in front of the rest of the field as Australia’s Madeline Gough (4:08.42) and Canada’s Emily Overholt (4:08.81) finished in fifth and sixth with solid times for themselves.
Japan’s Waka Kobori (4:09.04), Chihiro Igarashi (4:11.96) and Canada’s Kennedy Goss (4:13.25) also competed in the final.
2018 World Rankings:
- Katie Ledecky, USA, 3:57.94
- Ariarne Titmus, AUS, 3:59.66
- Leah Smith, USA, 4:02.21
- Wang Jianjiahe, CHN, 4:03.14
- Simona Quadarella, ITA, 4:03.35
- Ajna Kesely, HUN, 4:03.57
- Holly Hibbott, GBR, 4:05.01
- Li Bingjie, CHN, 4:05.37
All-Time Rankings:
- Katie Ledecky, USA, 3:56.46 (2016)
- Federica Pellegrini, ITA, 3:59.15 (2009)
- Ariarne Titmus, AUS, 3:59.66 (2018)
- Joanne Jackson, GBR, 4:00.60 (2009)
- Leah Smith, USA, 4:00.65 (2016)
- Rebecca Adlington, GBR, 4:00.79 (2009)
- Camille Muffat, FRA, 4:01.13 (2012)
- Jazz Carlin, GBR, 4:01.23 (2016)
Photo Courtesy:
Only just though for the first time in many years she was given a fight by the young Australian.
Congrats to Katie on the win, but a bad meet for her (relative to her ability). She needs to switch coaches so she doesn’t have a bad Olympics. I’m saying this as a fan.
Wishing her the best
Is she doing The 1500 free?