FINA World Championships Predictions: Women’s 400 Free

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Katie Ledecky has been pretty good at the 400 free in recent years. She won the World title in the event in 2013 in Barcelona, where she broke 4:00 for the first time, and she hasn’t lost since. That streak is unlikely to end at this summer’s FINA World Championships.

At the Olympics in Rio, she demolished her world record in the event by almost two seconds, winning gold by almost five seconds in 3:56.46. As for the follow-up, the woman that came the closest to Ledecky in Rio, Great Britain’s Jazmin Carlin, has already pulled out of Worlds.

It would be a shocker if anyone got much closer this summer in Budapest. Ledecky, who owns 11 of the 12 fastest 400 freestyle performances in history, has continued her record-setting ways during her freshman year at Stanford, so one has to assume that once again, the world record will be in danger in this race.

Read below to see what Swimming World’s trio of experts think will happen in Budapest. David Rieder, John Lohn and Andy Ross will each offer their predictions for who will finish on the podium.

Women’s 400 Free

Current Records:

World Record: Katie Ledecky, USA (2016) — 3:56.46
Championship Record: Katie Ledecky, USA (2015) — 3:59.13
American Record: Katie Ledecky (2016) — 3:56.46

2015 World Champion: Katie Ledecky, USA — 3:59.13
2016 Olympic Gold Medalist: Katie Ledecky, USA — 3:56.46
2017 World No. 1: Katie Ledecky, USA — 3:58.44

Swimming World Predictions

David Rieder’s Picks:

Gold: Katie Ledecky, USA
Silver: Leah Smith, USA
Bronze: Li Bingjie, CHN

John Lohn’s Picks:

Gold: Katie Ledecky, USA
Silver: Leah Smith, USA
Bronze: Boglarka Kapas, HUN

Andy Ross’ Picks:

Gold: Katie Ledecky, USA
Silver: Leah Smith, USA
Bronze: Boglarka Kapas, HUN

Previous Events

Men’s 400 Free

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Hoang Le

6 years ago

the prediction is whether Lecdecky could break her WR or not

David Rieder

6 years ago

Reply to Hoang Le

That appears to be the only question with regards to the top spot, yes.

commonwombat

6 years ago

Clear US 1-2 Ledecky – Smith. Bronze is open

6 years ago

Let’s not forget Mallory Comerford.
How isn’t she even mentioned as a favorite?

Goldbourne Mascal

6 years ago

Reply to RT

Favourite in the 400? I don’t think so! Does she swim the 400?

Michael Maloney

6 years ago

3 words for Katie Ledecky’s 6 races in Budapest…..CRUSH..KILL..DESTROY………just saying