Katie Ledecky’s 800 Free World Record Earns USA Swimming’s Phillips 66 Performance Award

Photo Courtesy: R-Sport / MIA Rossiya Segodnya

Katie Ledecky was in a race with herself for the prestigious Phillips 66 Performance Award, handed out annually at USA Swimming’s banquet at the United States Aquatic Sports Convention. The choice was between one of her two world record races at the FINA world championships: the 800 free or 1500 free.

In the end, USA Swimming picked Ledecky’s 8:07.39 in the 800 free final in Kazan as the year’s best performance by an American swimmer. It’s her fourth-straight year winning this award, taking the honor for her 1500 world records in 2013 and 2014, and her 800 free Olympic gold medal race in 2012.

Ledecky earned five gold medals at the world championships, taking the 200, 400, 800 and 1500 freestyle victories as well as being a part of the winning 800 free relay. She became the first person to win four freestyle races in one world championships with her historic wins.

The award is just one of many that Ledecky is bound to earn this year for her performances in Russia. She was named the Swimmer of the Meet at worlds, and has been nominated for four Golden Goggles Awards.

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