MADRID, 30 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
American swimmer Katie Ledecky has set her first world record in the short course in the 1,500-meter freestyle at the World Cup in Toronto (Canada), lowering the previous record by ten seconds.
Ledecky, seven-time Olympic champion, had never set a record in a 25-meter pool, an autumn variant without roots in her country, but this morning she destroyed the mark held until now by the German Sarah Wellbrock, who swam 15:18.01 in 2019.
The American completed the distance in an amazing time of 15:08.24, ten seconds below the German. “I didn’t have it as a set goal. I didn’t know what to expect from this meet, the first for me of the season after taking almost all of August off. I didn’t have any kind of super preparation for this event, I just wanted to come and compete with swimmers. international,” he said.
In addition, Ledecky was about to break the 800-meter freestyle world record, which is still held by the Spanish Mireia Belmonte (7:59.34), although she did break the national record with 8:00.58. She will try again next weekend in Indianapolis, where she will aim to be the third woman under 8:00.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Summer McIntosh, the great sensation of the event after beating Ledecky in the 400 free on the first day, also broke the junior world record for the 400 styles by winning the event with a time of 4:21.49, ahead of her countrymen Sydney Pickrem and Bailey Andison.