{"id":145496,"date":"2015-07-23T14:15:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-23T21:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=145496"},"modified":"2015-07-22T13:56:36","modified_gmt":"2015-07-22T20:56:36","slug":"the-top-10-swims-of-2015-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/the-top-10-swims-of-2015-so-far\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top 10 Swims of 2015 … So Far"},"content":{"rendered":"

Commentary by Jeff Commings, Swimming World Senior Writer<\/i><\/p>\n

Swimming World Magazine<\/i> publishes a list of the top 10 performances of the year annually in the December issue. This year, several swims on that list will come from the world championships, the top international meet of 2015. As is often the case, so many worthy performances get bumped from that list from the moment swimming starts at the Big Meet.<\/p>\n

We thought it best to list the best swims of 2015 before<\/b><\/i> the world championships began, to show how incredible this year has been. From the NCAA championships to the Pan American Games and a few meets in between, the world has witnessed some jaw-dropping swims that could still resonate by year\u2019s end. Here are the top 10 swims so far in 2015, listed chronologically:<\/p>\n

1. Katie Ledecky chases 800 freestyle world record<\/h2>\n
\"katie-ledecky-austin-2014\"<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Granger Talley<\/p><\/div>\n

After breaking five world records in 2014, including two during an \u201cin-season\u201d meet, we\u2019ve started to expect Katie Ledecky<\/strong> to raise the bar every time she steps in the water. She got 2015 off to a great start in January at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Austin by chasing her world record of 8:11.00 in the 800 freestyle.<\/p>\n

Ledecky put her foot on the gas hard before the halfway mark, turning less than a second faster than her record pace, and she was doing it with no one pushing her. That\u2019s become typical for Ledecky, but to remain strong throughout a distance race when you are not in peak shape is not easy. Ledecky stayed tough to get more than a second under the pace at 500 meters.<\/p>\n

The record pace began to catch Ledecky at 700 meters, when she tried to put in a final burst. Spurred on by the crowd, Ledecky made everyone excited with a final time of 8:11.21. Her final 100 meters was almost under 1:00, an amazing split no matter what time of the year it is.<\/p>\n

Ledecky is almost certain to get under 8:11 at the world championships, and January\u2019s swim is bound to encourage her to not only get under 8:11, but 8:10.<\/p>\n

Katie Ledecky\u2019s 8:11.21 in 800 free<\/strong>
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