You are working on Staging1

Claire Weinstein Runs Down Katie Ledecky To Drop Massive 1:55.26 200 Free Swim

2023 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

For nearly a decade, Katie Ledecky was the top women’s 200 freestyle in the United States. However, that all changed on Wednesday night because of 16-year-old Claire Weinstein.

In the women’s 200 free final at the 2023 U.S. National Championships, Weinstein had an incredible swim, running down Ledecky during the last 50 meters of the race to beat her and win by 0.02 seconds in a time of 1:55.26. She dropped over a second from her best time of 1:56.27, which was set in prelims on Wednesday morning.

Weinstein’s time is also ranked #2 all-time in the U.S. 15-16 girls’ age group, only sitting behind Missy Franklin‘s national age group record time of 1:55.06. Overall, she is the fourth-fastest American of all-time.

Top U.S. Performers, Women’s 200 Meter Freestyle:

  1. Allison Schmitt — 1:53.61 (2012)
  2. Katie Ledecky — 1:53.73 (2016)
  3. Missy Franklin — 1:54.81 (2013)
  4. Claire Weinstein — 1:55.28 (2023)
  5. Dana Vollmer — 1:55.29 (2009)

Top U.S. 15-16 Girls’ Performers Of All-Time, Women’s 200 Meter Freestyle:

  1. Missy Franklin — 1:55.06 (2011)
  2. Claire Weinstein — 1:55.26 (2023)
  3. Katie Ledecky — 1:56.32 (2013)
  4. Alex Shackell — 1:56.70 (2023)
  5. Bella Sims — 1:57.53 (2020)
  6. Dagny Knutson — 1:57.73 (2009)

Up until the 100-meter mark, both Weinstein and Ledecky were trailing Bella Sims. However, Ledecky turned in first at the 150-meter mark and was 0.28 seconds ahead of Weinstein. It looked like Ledecky was about to win until the last few meters of the race, when Weinstein came charging home to beat her.

Splits Comparison:

Claire Weinstein, 2023 U.S. Nationals Finals Katie Ledecky, 2023 U.S. Nationals Finals Claire Weinstein, 2023 U.S. Nationals Prelims
50m 27.45 27.24 27.51
100m 28.99 28.94 29.14
150m 29.47 29.45 29.63
200m 29.35 29.65 29.99
Total 1:55.26 1:55.28 1:56.27

This year marks the second year that Weinstein and Ledecky finished top two at World Championship trials. In 2022, Ledecky won and Weinstein placed second, but Weinstein was the top American racing individually at the World Championships because Ledecky opted out of the event.

In This Story

16
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

16 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Yozhik
1 year ago

I got an impression that one of several tasks of Ledecky in this race was helping Gemmell (who swam in the next lane) to get on the team by finishing among first 4 swimmers. Gemmell was almost all race on Ledecky’s wave.

Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Katie Ledecky can focus on the event schedule at the World Aquatics Championships established last year:

400 FR (heats, final)
1500 FR (heats, final)
4 X 200 FR-R (final)
800 FR (heats, final)

5600 meters total

Days 1-3, 5-7

Day 4 provides a full day’s rest subsequent to final of the 1500 FR and prior to the final of the 4 x 200 FR-R. It’s a favorable schedule for Katie Ledecky.

jeff
1 year ago

Age group swimmer doing age group things, I knew she had a big drop in her still

Verram
1 year ago

The 4×200 relay at worlds is gonna be a spicy affair

Swimfan
1 year ago

Would love to see split comparisons from the top 6!

ACC fan
Reply to  Swimfan
1 year ago

Meet Mobile

David
1 year ago

Both titmus and ledecky losing the 200 free to there teammates doesn’t exactly bode well for their chances in the 400 free against Macintosh. Race of the century more like blowout of the century lol.

Lisa
Reply to  David
1 year ago

Im sure they’re both gonna put a really good split on the relay and the last two years Ledecky went 1:55.1.

Last edited 1 year ago by Lisa
Joel
Reply to  David
1 year ago

You do realise this is not works champs? There is another month to go. Neither Titmus or Ledecky need to be fully tapered yet.

Troyy
Reply to  David
1 year ago

Summer might’ve lost to Mollie as well.

Emily Se-Bom Lee
Reply to  David
1 year ago

if summer was beaten by oleksiak or ruck, you wouldn’t be predicting doom and gloom for her. you’d praise the depth of canadian swimming and be just as bullish about their 4×200 as you have been about summer’s individuals

Last edited 1 year ago by Emily Se-Bom Lee
Weinstein-Smith-Ledecky-Sims
1 year ago

Hats off to Ron Aitken. Job well done!

Old Swimmer
1 year ago

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Congratulations to Claire! Katie L is still awesome though

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

Read More »