Ledecky wins 800m crown as US swim championships begin

Portugal Colonial - Ledecky wins 800m crown as US swim championships begin

Ledecky wins 800m crown as US swim championships begin / Photo: Carmen Mandato - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File

Ledecky wins 800m crown as US swim championships begin

SPORTS 04.06.2025

World record-holder Katie Ledecky booked her place at the World Swimming Championship on Tuesday with a women's 800-meter freestyle victory on the opening day of the US national championships at Indianapolis.

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Nine-time Olympic champion Ledecky, who has won 800 free gold at the past four Olympics and 1,500 free gold in the past two, is a 21-time long course world champion and captured her 31st US crown by taking the 800 in 8mins, 5.76secs.

Claire Weinstein was a distant second in 8:19.67.

The top two finishers in each event plus relay swimmers in the 100m and 200m freestyles will make the US team for the worlds in Singapore from July 11-August 3 provided they meet qualifying time standards up to a maximum of 26 men and women.

Ledecky is expected to swim the 200, 400 and 1,500 freestyles later in the meet, which continues through Saturday at Indiana University Natatorium.

A month ago at the US swim series event in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Ledecky swam the second-fastest 1,500 freestyle in history, her second-best 400 time and a new 800 free world record of 8:04.12.

Bobby Finke, who set the men's 1,500 world record of 14:30.67 to defend Olympic gold at Paris, won the US 1,500m crown in 14:48.65.

Three-time Olympic medalist Torri Huske won the women's 100 free in 52.43, .35 ahead of four-time Olympic medalist Gretchen Walsh, while Jack Alexy, a member of the US 4x100 free relay champions, won the men's 100 freestyle in 47.17 with Patrick Sammon second, .30 adrift.

Caroline Bricker took the women's 200 butterfly in 2:05.80 with eight-time Olympic medalist Regan Smith second, .05 back.

R.Veloso--PC

RYCEF	2.09%	18.18	$
RBGPF	0.12%	82.5	$
CMSD	-0.13%	23.73	$
CMSC	-0.13%	23.88	$
NGG	0.34%	90.58	$
BCE	0.06%	25.585	$
RIO	0.45%	96.78	$
AZN	0.04%	206.53	$
RELX	1.59%	31.49	$
GSK	-1.32%	59.58	$
VOD	-0.06%	15.52	$
BCC	-1.91%	82.8	$
JRI	0.84%	13.16	$
BTI	0.96%	61.58	$
BP	-1.77%	37.84	$

Portugal Colonial - Ledecky wins 800m crown as US swim championships begin

Ledecky wins 800m crown as US swim championships begin

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