2023 SPEEDO ATLANTA CLASSIC
- Friday, May 12 – Sunday, May 14, 2023
- McAuley Aquatic Center, Atlanta, Georgia
- LCM (50 meters)
- Meet Central
- Psych Sheets
- Live Stream
- Day 2 Prelims Live Recap
- Day 2 Finals Heat Sheet
- Day 2 Finals Live Recap
WOMEN’S 400 FREESTYLE — FINALS
- American Record: 3:56.46, Katie Ledecky (2016)
- U.S. Open Record: 3:57.94, Katie Ledecky (2018)
Top 10:
- Katie Ledecky — 3:58.84
- Rachel Stege — 4:13.83
- Abigail McCulloh — 4:13.91
- Jillian Barczyk — 4:14.20
- Sloane Reinstein — 4:14.67
- Kate McCarville — 4:15.31
- Caroline Pennington — 4:16.75
- Mabel Zavaros — 4:16.87
- Sophia Knapp — 4:17.72
- Addison Sauickie — 4:18.25at a
Katie Ledecky is not messing around.
On Saturday night at the 2023 Speedo Atlanta Classic, Ledecky swam a 3:58.84 in the women’s 400 free, winning by nearly 15 seconds. This swim marked her second-fastest 400 free that was not done at a championship or trials meet, only sitting behind her 3:57.94 from the Indianapolis Pro Swim Series in May 2018. Notably, that Pro Series was also the meet where she broke the world record in the 1500 free that still stands today.
Katie Ledecky, Fastest 400 Free Performances Done At A Non-Championships/Trials Meet:
- 3:57.94 — 2018 Pro Swim Series, Indianapolis
- 3:58.84 — 2023 Speedo Atlanta Classic
- 3:59.28 — 2019 Santa Clara International
- 3:59.88 — 2020 Pro Swim Series, Des Moines
- 3:59.71 — 2022 Toyota U.S.Open
Ledecky’s previous season-best for the 2022-23 long course season in the 400 free was a 3:59.71, which she clocked in a head-to-head matchup against Summer McIntosh. Saturday was a completely different atmosphere, as she had virtually zero competition next to her.
At the 2022 World Championships, Ledecky was just 0.73 seconds faster than she was on Saturday, as she swam a 3:58.15 to break the championship record.
Ledecky’s Splits
| 50m | 28.05 |
| 100m | 29.83 |
| 150m | 30.25 |
| 200m | 30.25 |
| 250m | 30.43 |
| 300m | 30.25 |
| 350m | 30.07 |
| 400m | 29.71 |
| Total | 3:58.84 |
As shown in the splits above, Ledecky was very consistent throughout her race, holding mostly 30-lows. She then sped up on the final few laps, closing with a 29.71 final 50.
It’s a good time for a retirement league player like Dressel
Her arm’s look much longer on the recovery, less T-rexy!
I was there and watched the swim in person last night. Katie looked so strong and focused – she definitely seem like she had something to prove.
Don’t count her out yet.
Downvotes for a positive comment about Katie Ledecky? WTH
It’s not that hard to manipulate the votes here if you really want to (though, get a life), I have suspicions a certain someone is up to something in this comment section
Was there Friday. Totally agree, her turns are quicker and she isn’t pulling up her head. She was practising finishing hard in warm-up pool before the 200. Wouldn’t want to be in line in front of her. Definetely more in the tank.
Ledecky clearly backed off a bit during the second 100 and early on the third. That’s great in terms of preserving for a fast in-season time. But it doesn’t translate to staying in touch with Summer McIntosh, who went sub-30 the first 5 lengths including 1:55.9 midway. Ledecky from tonight would have trailed by nearly 2.5 seconds.
Obviously there’s no way Ledecky will allow that type of gap to develop. I would like to see her practice the style she’ll need to employ. Swimming is no longer tactical from the jump. It’s blast off and hold on. Titmus has changed style and will never volunteer a length behind a la Tokyo.
I think more recently the blast off and hold on strategy has sort of be on the rise, but to say that swimming is not longer tactical, or that this is the best strategy for everyone is certifiably laughable.
Popovici, and Chalmers are both back half swimmers. Finke too. I’m sure there are more as well. Phelps was a back half swimmer.
Also, pretty sure ledecky’s strategy has almost always been let’s go out and hold on. She did it in 2012, and has never seemed to stop with that strat imo.
That was likely the most balanced swim of Katie Ledecky in 400FR when she went under 4min. By analysing it I am getting an impression that she has a room of being at least 1.5 sec faster. No emphasise on fast start, no super finish, no splashes or drops in the middle section. If not to look at the final result but at the shape of split curve it can be easily concluded that that is training exercise.
Besides being the outstanding swimmer Katie Ledecky is a great professional as well. All year around in exciting news. That is the way of making money outside of prize purse.
3:58 that is actually who Katie Ledecky reliably is. 9 times in her career she swam in that area. Going under 3:58 required Olympic Games. The 3:57.94 in May 2018 is practically same 3:58.
The May 2018 Pro Series meet wasn’t in-season meet for Katie Ledecky. It had a special meaning for her then, she planned for it and she was tapered for it. It was her first meet as a pro and she was actively searching on Market for the great deal sponsor at that time. This meet was her Pro-Statement. She even sacrificed the tapering for the NCAA in March for the sake of this meet one and a half month later.
So todays result can be called without doubt the fastest in-season result of her.
Meanwhile, Katie Ledecky continues to defy your insistent predictions of her demise.