FUKUOKA, Japan (AP) — Katie Ledecky has almost never gone home with anything other than a gold or silver medal in the Olympics or world championships dating from the 2012 London Games.
But it might happen again Sunday in the women’s 400-meter freestyle on the opening night in the pool of the World Aquatics Championships. This is perhaps the most anticipated race of the entire eight-day program.
One of the greatest freestylers the sport has ever seen, Ledecky is up against two younger stars: 16-year-old Summer McIntosh of Canada, and 22-year-old Ariarne Titmus of Australia.
“Of course Summer and, of course Ariarne, have some incredibly fast times over the last two years,” the 26-year-old Ledecky said. “I know they’ll be right there and I know there are a lot of other contenders as well.”
United States head coach Bob Bowman summed up the meet, particularly the first day.
“There are definitely people out there with star quality in swimming,” he said. “There’ll be three of them in the women’s 400 free.”
McIntosh set the 400 world record four months ago in 3 minutes, 56.08 seconds, taking the mark from Titmus, who in turn had taken it from Ledecky.
Ledecky dominates the 800 and 1,500. But not so much the 400.
Titmus calls the 400 “my baby.” And it’s the event in Tokyo where she won her first Olympic gold medal.
“I mean, it’s my favorite race,” Titmus said. “I wish that I could watch from the outside. I don’t really remember as an athlete seeing three women that have held the world record within 18 months all together racing each other. I really hope we can put on a good show.”
“I think this is probably he first time since the Olympics that I’m really feeling the buzz to race.”
Ledecky’s medal haul in the 400, 800, and 1,500 in the Olympics and worlds reads like this: She’s won seven Olympic gold medals and a silver. At the worlds, 19 gold medals and a silver. There’s also four other silver medals — in the Olympics and worlds — in relays and a lone 200-meter race.
In the 200 free at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, she finished fifth.
Ledecky obliterated the field in the 800 and 1,500 at the U.S. national championships several weeks ago in Indianapolis. She won the 400, too. But she acknowledged the time of 4:00.45 was not what she expected.
“That was probably the one (race) I was hoping to be a little better in, just given that I’ve been better in that event throughout the years,” she said.
