Katie Ledecky shatters own 800-meter world record

Field Level Media|published: Sat 3rd May, 20:01 2025

Katie Ledecky celebrates after winning the 400 freestyle final Saturday, June 15, 2024, during the first day of competition for the U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Katie Ledecky broke her nine-year-old world record in the 800 meters to highlight Saturday's events at the Pro Swim Series meet in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

The 28-year-old Ledecky churned through the water in 8:04.12, which eclipsed her world record time of 8:04.79 accomplished at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Ledecky had not broken any world records since 2018, but she foreshadowed Saturday's performance by swimming the world's second-fastest 1,500 on Wednesday and delivering her second-fastest 400 on Thursday.

Ledecky has earned Olympic gold in the 800 four consecutive times and intends to go for a fifth at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Jillian Cox took second in 8:23.58 while Claire Weinstein was third in 8:26.06. The 18-year-old Weinstein joined Ledecky, Paige Madden and Erin Gimmell on the United States' 800 free relay team that took silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Gretchen Walsh broke her own world record in the 100 butterfly Saturday -- twice. She edged her previous best of 55.18 during the morning prelims (55.09), then shattered that mark during the afternoon finals (54.60).

--Field Level Media