U.S. Nationals: Katie Ledecky Drops 200 Freestyle From World Championships Program; Bella Sims Gets Solo Nod
With the 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle as her top priorities for this month’s World Championships in Fukuoka, Katie Ledecky will drop the 200 freestyle from her individual program. Ledecky was second in the 200 free at the United States National Championships, finishing behind Claire Weinstein. Her decision to vacate her slot in the event moves Bella Sims, Weinstein’s teammate with the Sandpipers of Nevada, into the 200 free at Worlds.
Ledecky made the same decision for the 2022 World Championships, but she will remain a key figure on the American 800 freestyle relay. Sims will now race the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle in Japan, as she placed second to Ledecky in the longer of the races on Day Four of Nationals in Indianapolis.
A domino effect of Ledecky’s decision is the addition of Anna Peplowski, who placed seventh in the 200 free, to the Worlds team. Peplowski was eligible to be added since the U.S. women’s team had not yet reached the roster cap.
Racing the three-longest events on the World Champs schedule will be demanding for Ledecky, who is heavily favored to win gold in the 800 free and 1500 free. In the 400 freestyle, she is expected to battle Canada’s Summer McIntosh and Australia’s Ariarne Titmus for the world title. Earlier this year, McIntosh broke Titmus’ world record in the 400 free.
In the 200 free at Nationals, Weinstein charged down the last lap to edge Ledecky at the finish, 1:55.26 to 1:55.28.
#LetBellaSprint
So why wasn’t Erin Gemmell added last year when Ledecky dropped the 200 free? They were nowhere near the roster cap in 2022 either. They are ignoring their own published selection criteria. This smacks of favoritism and politics.