At the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Katie Ledecky reclaimed
her world title in the women’s 400-meter freestyle.
Her middle-distance rival, Ariarne Titmus, the world champion in this event at the 2019
world championships in Gwangju, South Korea, was not present at the meet because she chose to focus on the Commonwealth Games instead.
However, Ledecky may soon have a new rival. Fifteen-year-old Summer McIntosh of
Canada became the fourth woman to go under 4:00 in the 400 free at Budapest. She also won the 200 fly. What was expected to be a Ledecky-Titmus rematch in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games could potentially turn into a three-way battle for gold between Ledecky, Titmus, and McIntosh.
Ledecky swam a 3:58.15 to win her 16th World Championships gold medal. That is five
more than any other female swimmer in history has ever earned. She also broke her meet
record, set in 2017.
Since switching teams to the Florida Gators to train under Anthony Nesty along with
other world-class swimmers such as Bobby Finke and Caleb Dressel, Ledecky seems to be
rejuvenating. Titmus broke her world record in the 400 at the 2022 Australian Swimming
Championships not long ago, so we’ll see if Ledecky can reclaim her world record.
her world title in the women’s 400-meter freestyle.
Her middle-distance rival, Ariarne Titmus, the world champion in this event at the 2019
world championships in Gwangju, South Korea, was not present at the meet because she chose to focus on the Commonwealth Games instead.
However, Ledecky may soon have a new rival. Fifteen-year-old Summer McIntosh of
Canada became the fourth woman to go under 4:00 in the 400 free at Budapest. She also won the 200 fly. What was expected to be a Ledecky-Titmus rematch in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games could potentially turn into a three-way battle for gold between Ledecky, Titmus, and McIntosh.
Ledecky swam a 3:58.15 to win her 16th World Championships gold medal. That is five
more than any other female swimmer in history has ever earned. She also broke her meet
record, set in 2017.
Since switching teams to the Florida Gators to train under Anthony Nesty along with
other world-class swimmers such as Bobby Finke and Caleb Dressel, Ledecky seems to be
rejuvenating. Titmus broke her world record in the 400 at the 2022 Australian Swimming
Championships not long ago, so we’ll see if Ledecky can reclaim her world record.
