Katie Ledecky won her 3rd event of the weekend on Night 3 of the Mesa Grand Prix (Sponsored by VisitMesa.com). She says in this interview with Garrett McCaffrey that her new speed in the 200 won’t hurt her chances for the 400, 800, or the 1500 this summer.
Recap of her 800 from Braden Keith:
Women’s 800 Free – Final
Anybody who thinks they’re going to beat Katie Ledecky in this 800 for the next 5-10 years must be counting on her meteoric improvement to tail off, because it’s going to be a tall task to catch her in this race. She went out in a 2:01 at the 200 meter race and a 4:08.35 at the 400 en route to an 8:20.64 victory.
That halfway split was faster than any woman aside from her was in the individual 400 freestyle event.
The biggest question for Ledecky fans to wonder about this summer is how effectively she’ll go either up (1500) or down (400 and 200) this summer and challenge for medals in those races.
Looking objectively, that’s the fastest time in the world so far this year in the event by three seconds. Perhaps someone like Lotte Friis from Denmark or Lauren Boyle from New Zealand, who have both been swimming very well, could catch her. Maybe France’s Camille Muffat if she really focused on it would have a chance. But the smart money between now and Rio is all on Ledecky.
Chloe Sutton took 2nd in 8:36.81, and Gator Swim Club’s Andreina Pinto placed 3rd in 8:41.54.
She will have to watch out for Becca Mann, especially in the 1500.
Muffat delivered a couple of good times in French Nationals over this weekend. Considering the fact she made a good job in 100m free, at least in my book, it seems she is heading towards shorter distances rather than longer ones. So Katie is free to clear the table when it comes to 800m or 1500m.
Actually, I have wondered why Muffat wants to move shorter events even she seems to be very talented in longer ones. Same applies to Agnel, or at least I have mixed feelings about should he head towards longer or shorter spectrum of events. I am not sure but I have a feeling that only one able to challenge Sun Yang in 400m is… Read more »
As I had predicted in 2011 post-Shanghai when I said that unless Agnel focused on 100-200 and ditch the 400, he wouldn’t win any gold in London. (because I saw Agnel plateaued in 400 in Shanghai and Sun Yang was breaking the scene in a big way).
So based on the results that transpired in London, that would be true.
Let’s face it, as greatly talented Agnel is, he is no Thorpe. Had Agnel still trained for 400, it would have dulled his speed, and wouldn’t have helped FRA to win 400 FR and wouldn’t have guaranteed him a 400 medal or 200 win.