Editorial content for the 2023 World Aquatics Championships is sponsored by FINIS, a longtime partner of Swimming World and leading innovator of suits, goggles and equipment. World Championships, Day Two Prelims: Katie Ledecky Cruises to Top Seed in 1500 Freestyle There is no event on the World Championships program without a heavier favorite. The women’s 1500-meter freestyle is the playground of Katie Ledecky, and the four-time world champ easily qualified as the top seed during Monday’s preliminaries at the Marine Messe Hall in Fukuoka. Putting up a time of 15:41.22, Ledecky managed the fastest time by more than 13 seconds, the second spot in Tuesday’s final going to Italian Simona Quadarella (15:55.05). In typical fashion, Ledecky surged to the lead and swam alone over her 30 laps. Third in her heat, and overall heading into the final, was Australian Lani Pallister, who touched the wall in 15:58.11. Ledecky first won the title in the 1500 free at the 2013 edition of the World Championships and followed with gold medals at the 2015 and 2017 versions. In 2019, a stomach illness forced her to withdraw from the event, but she reclaimed the crown last summer in Budapest. Ledecky is also the reigning Olympic champion, having won the gold medal when the event was added to the Olympic program at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. If Ledecky prevails in the final, it will mark the 15th individual world championship of her career. That number would tie Michael Phelps for the most global crowns in history. Finishing fourth and fifth, China’s Li Bingjie (15:58.81) and Germany’s Isabel Gose (15:59.67) were the other athletes to go under 16 minutes during prelims. Rounding out the field for the final were France’s Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (16:00.40), American Katie Grimes (16:01.47) and Brazil’s Beatriz Dizotti (16:01.95). Photo Courtesy:
