After breaking the junior world record in the 400 freestyle with a 4:05.27 in prelims, Katie Ledecky re-broke her mark in the evening session with a final time of 4:03.84 at the Mesa Grand Prix. Although her best time is the second best time ever recorded at 3:59.82, the 17 year old’s swims from today will continue to lower the FINA-recognized junior world record.
The records prior to today, when approved earlier this year, were set as the FINA Junior World Championships Record; since Ledecky didn’t go to the FINA Junior World Championships, that record belonged to Russian Elena Sokolova from back in 2008 – which was actually one of the oldest Junior World Records. Ledecky wasn’t at the FINA Junior World Championships because she was busy last summer winning gold at the regular World Championships, and that’s why this record wasn’t immediately recognizable. That’s because Ledecky, who is only 17-years old, is the second fastest 400 meter freestyler in history at 3:59.82 from the 2013 Worlds.
As Braden Keith wrote earlier today, “Odds are that she’ll break this record many, many times over the next year, until eventually she goes another lifetime best, at which point all will be right in the records world again.”
Here’s I envision how Ledecky can break WR:
1:58.50 – 2:00.50 for 3:59.00
or an ambitious one:1:58.25 – 2:00.25 for 3:58.50
Ledecky SHOULD TRULY PRIORITISE HER TRAINING FOR THAT 400 FREE WR.
Look at the strong catch in that picture
PLEASE KATIE, BREAK THE 400 FREE WR NEXT SUMMER!
IT WILL BE HARD BUT YOU CAN DO IT!
That’s Katie giving respect to MP’s 400IM WR.
Still off around 4 seconds from the real junior world record.
I hope this summer Ledecky will unify all these crazy WRs into one legend-wait for it-dary WR:
FINA technical WR + textile WR + FINA technical junior WR + real junior WR = and swim 3:59.00 or under