Katie Ledecky wins 1,500-meter free event, to receive a record-extending 17th world championship

With a comfortable win in the 1,500m free on Monday in Budapest, Katie Ledecky added a record-extending 17th swimming world title to her collection.

Ledecky also tied fellow American Natalie Coughlin for the women’s record of 20 career medals at the world championships with her most recent world championship.

According to the Guardian, Ledecky stated, “It’s pretty wild because I feel like just yesterday I was in Barcelona at my first worlds.” “It’s awesome representing Team USA year after year, and it’s an honour and a privilege, and it’s why I work hard.”

The dominant power in women’s distance freestyle gave a dominating effort. Even though Ledecky’s time of 15:30.15 was about 10 seconds slower than her previous record, it was still more than eight seconds faster than any other woman had ever finished the race.

The American finished 14.74 seconds ahead of her fellow countrywoman Katie Grimes, who won the silver medal, and left the rest of the competition in her wake.

Since Ledecky herself won the 1,500m for the first time in 2013, the 16-year-old Grimes is now the second-youngest medallist in the race at a global championship.

According to the swimming website SwimSwam, Ledecky remarked, “It is just awesome to be on the blocks next to her, be in the lane next to her, and to share this moment with her is really special.”

Ledecky won her second gold medal of these global championships in the 1,500m free after taking first place in the 400m free on Saturday.

At these championships, she will compete in two more events: the 4×200 m freestyle relay on Wednesday and the 800 m free on Thursday and Friday, where she can become the first swimmer to win five straight world titles in a single event.