Katie Ledecky Scratching the 1500 at Nationals

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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2-time defending World Champion and World Record holder in the 1500 Katie Ledecky announced on Tuesday that she was not swimming the 1500 at Nationals later this week. Ledecky won the 800 on Tuesday night in Indianapolis and the USA Swimming rules state that the winners of the original Olympic distance events have the option to swim the new Olympic distance events in Budapest.

Ledecky announced she would not swim the 1500 in Indy since she already won the 800. She has already elected to swim it in Budapest so she can “get back into training” when she goes back to Stanford after the meet, that way it “won’t take as long to ramp back up” as she put in her own words.

Ledecky also said this might be the “least rested she has been” for a National meet. She said she will swim the 200 and 400 free the rest of the week. She has already qualified for her third straight World Championship team with her 800 win Tuesday night. She will be the overwhelming favorite going forward in her events the rest of the week and at World Championships with the exception of maybe the 200 free where Mallory Comerford could challenge.

Ledecky talked about her decision to scratch the 1500 as well as her first year as a whole at Stanford.

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Susan L. Lansbury

6 years ago

Smart.

Ashley Look

6 years ago

Danielle Donovan

6 years ago

Reply to Ashley Look

I know!!!

Donna Maller Hawkins

6 years ago

Damn. We bought tickets to see her

Pamela Courtney Perry

6 years ago

Good idea!