Last Saturday, ten-time Olympic medalist Katie Ledecky triumphed once again for Team USA, clinching gold during the women’s 400-meter freestyle at the 2022 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Ledecky beat out other competitors with the fourth-fastest 400 times of her widely impressive career: 3 minutes and 58.15 seconds. Summer McIntosh, a 15-year-old Canadian swimmer and newest member of the sub-four-minute club, competed fiercely but ultimately took home silver. It was not missed that Australian phenom Ariarne Titmus, one of Ledecky’s fiercest rivals, failed to make an appearance.
Only four women have ever gone under four minutes in the 400-meter freestyle — Ledecky, McIntosh, Titmus, and Italy’s Federica Pellegrini. As more swimming stars have emerged, notably McIntosh, stakes are getting higher for Ledecky. What’s more, the expected showdown for gold between Ledecky and Titmus during the 400 free at the 2024 Paris Olympics may soon gain another challenger.
Ledecky is not afraid to give world championships her all, even with pressure felt from the presence or absence of rivals. “I wanted to push to the point of pain tonight,” said Ledecky, a thirteen-time world championship gold medalist. “It’s the fastest I’ve ever been at worlds, so I’m really happy with that and really excited about the rest of the [meet].”
During the world, the decorated Olympian not only stunned fans by winning gold but set a new personal best by over a full second for the 2021-2022 season. This achievement came at a time when Ledecky had chosen not to set specific time-based goals, instead of focusing on continuing to push for her best and seek improvement.
Ledecky has shown that she is not afraid of change in order to achieve new heights, which may be necessary as she competes with the likes of Titmus and McIntosh. “It’s also possible Ledecky, who seems rejuvenated by a move last fall to a new coach (Anthony Nesty) and training group at the University of Florida, would have summoned something extra in the presence of her top rival.” Dave Sheinin, the journalist for The Washington Post, wrote.
In addition to Ledecky’s win, Team USA dominated the 2022 FINA World Championships by winning six out of fifteen medals awarded on an opening day. Fellow American medalist Leah Smith took the bronze medal in the 400 free with a time of 4:02.08, kicking the team off to a strong start.
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Ledecky beat out other competitors with the fourth-fastest 400 times of her widely impressive career: 3 minutes and 58.15 seconds. Summer McIntosh, a 15-year-old Canadian swimmer and newest member of the sub-four-minute club, competed fiercely but ultimately took home silver. It was not missed that Australian phenom Ariarne Titmus, one of Ledecky’s fiercest rivals, failed to make an appearance.
Only four women have ever gone under four minutes in the 400-meter freestyle — Ledecky, McIntosh, Titmus, and Italy’s Federica Pellegrini. As more swimming stars have emerged, notably McIntosh, stakes are getting higher for Ledecky. What’s more, the expected showdown for gold between Ledecky and Titmus during the 400 free at the 2024 Paris Olympics may soon gain another challenger.
Ledecky is not afraid to give world championships her all, even with pressure felt from the presence or absence of rivals. “I wanted to push to the point of pain tonight,” said Ledecky, a thirteen-time world championship gold medalist. “It’s the fastest I’ve ever been at worlds, so I’m really happy with that and really excited about the rest of the [meet].”
During the world, the decorated Olympian not only stunned fans by winning gold but set a new personal best by over a full second for the 2021-2022 season. This achievement came at a time when Ledecky had chosen not to set specific time-based goals, instead of focusing on continuing to push for her best and seek improvement.
Ledecky has shown that she is not afraid of change in order to achieve new heights, which may be necessary as she competes with the likes of Titmus and McIntosh. “It’s also possible Ledecky, who seems rejuvenated by a move last fall to a new coach (Anthony Nesty) and training group at the University of Florida, would have summoned something extra in the presence of her top rival.” Dave Sheinin, the journalist for The Washington Post, wrote.
In addition to Ledecky’s win, Team USA dominated the 2022 FINA World Championships by winning six out of fifteen medals awarded on an opening day. Fellow American medalist Leah Smith took the bronze medal in the 400 free with a time of 4:02.08, kicking the team off to a strong start.
Link to article: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1655654898669x198896028836329280/Katie%20Ledecky%20wins%20gold%20in%20400%20free%20at%20world%20championships%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf
