Katie Ledecky continues to solidify her status as one of the greatest female swimmers of all time, showcasing her prowess at the 2026 USA Swimming Pro Swim Series event in Austin. The nine-time Olympic gold medalist achieved the second-fastest time ever recorded in the 1,500-meter freestyle, completing the race in 15 minutes and 23.21 seconds and securing the top spot at the championship.
Ledecky’s remarkable performance comes close to her own world record of 15:20.48, which she set in 2018. Following her impressive swim, she expressed her satisfaction with the result, noting that it surpassed her performances from the previous year. “I’m really happy with that, it was faster than I was all last year,” she stated. “It was my second-best ever. I had pretty low expectations coming into today, so that definitely blew it out of the water.”
Brinkleigh Hansen from St. Petersburg, Florida, and Becca Mann from Homer Glen, Illinois, followed Ledecky, finishing second and third with times of 16:31.31 and 16:35.09, respectively.
Ledecky attributed her success to her training team, highlighting the supportive environment that has helped her push her limits. “Training has been incredible,” she commented. “I have a really great group of distance swimmers at Florida, and it’s been really hard for the last month. That hard training gives me a lot of good confidence, which always helps.”
This latest achievement not only reinforces Ledecky’s legacy but also serves as a source of inspiration for aspiring swimmers and sports enthusiasts, illustrating the power of dedication and hard work in achieving excellence.