Katie Ledecky Takes Down Championship Record in 400 Free Prelims

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Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

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In her first race of the week at the FINA World Championships, Katie Ledecky is already breaking records. She posted a time of 3:59.06 in the prelims of the 400 free, taking down her own championships record of 3:59.13 set two years ago on her way to gold in Kazan.

Ledecky’s American teammate Leah Smith comfortably took the second qualifying spot, touching the wall in 4:02.00, two seconds ahead of Australia’s Ariarne Titmus. The 16-year-old Titmus swam a lifetime best time to grab the third seed in 4:04.26.

China’s Li Bingjie, 15, was fourth in 4:04.94. Hungary’s home crowd will enjoy the final with two home favorites having qualified, fifth-place finisher Boglarka Kapas (4:05.93) and eight-place qualifier Anja Kesely (4:06.48). Others in the top eight included China’s Yuhan Zhang (4:06.21) and Russia’s Veronika Popova (4:06.40).

Swimming World Radio

Listen to Ledecky break down her first swim of a busy week in Budapest:

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