{"id":374313,"date":"2019-06-10T11:00:55","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T18:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=374313"},"modified":"2019-06-10T12:25:47","modified_gmt":"2019-06-10T19:25:47","slug":"the-week-that-was-katie-ledecky-moves-to-1-in-world-in-santa-clara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/the-week-that-was-katie-ledecky-moves-to-1-in-world-in-santa-clara\/","title":{"rendered":"The Week That Was: Katie Ledecky Moves To #1 In World In Santa Clara"},"content":{"rendered":"

While the Aussies started off their World Champs Trials in Brisbane, <\/span>Katie Ledecky <\/b>quietly put up the #1 time in the world in Santa Clara while several other US National teamers put up some world-class times. Check out the highlights from that meet and the rest of the week below:<\/span><\/p>\n

#5 – USA Women\u2019s Water Polo Punches Ticket To 2020 Olympics With Super Final Win<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Catharyn Hayne<\/p><\/div>\n

The USA Women\u2019s Water Polo National Team <\/span>punched their ticket to the 2020 Olympic Games<\/span><\/a> with a 10-9 win over Italy earlier today at the FINA World League Super Final this week. Italy started off with a quick 2-0 lead before Team USA battled back to take control of the game starting in the second quarter. Italy kept it close through the rest of the match, but Team USA held their lead until the end courtesy of a strong defense. The victory gave Team USA their sixth straight Super Final crown and confirmed their place at the Olympics next summer in Tokyo, where Team USA will look to win their third straight gold medal.<\/span><\/p>\n

#4 – James Magnussen Makes Retirement From Swimming Official <\/b><\/h3>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Joao Marc Bosch<\/p><\/div>\n

Two-time world champion <\/span>James Magnussen<\/span><\/a> has retired from competitive swimming. officially calling time on his career in the pool. \u201cAt 28 years of age I feel I could have swum at another Olympic Games,\u201d the Australian said in a statement. \u201cBut with the lofty standards I have held myself to over the years and the high expectations I have, I believe now is the right time to step away from the sport.\u201d Magnussen has long been a fixture on Australia\u2019s 400 free and 400 medley relays. The 28-year-old was the fastest textile performer of all-time before country-mate <\/span>Cameron McEvoy <\/b>beat his mark in the lead-up to the 2016 Olympics, and has 15 international medals to his name including an individual silver from the 2012 London Olympics. The Aussie was also a two-time world champion in the 100 free after winning back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2013, in Shanghai and Barcelona respectively. He was the first Australian to win a World Championship title in the 100 free. <\/span><\/p>\n

#3 – Siobhan Haughey Smashes National Records To Open Mare Nostrum Tour<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Xinhua\/Ding Xu<\/p><\/div>\n

The 2019 Mare Nostrum Series opened this weekend with the first stop in Monaco. Hong Kong\u2019s <\/span>Siobhan Haughey <\/b>was the major star of the first stop, posting Hong Kong\u2019s first ever Mare Nostrum wins and breaking several national records. Haughey won the <\/span>200 free (1:56.05)<\/span><\/a> to move into the top 10 in the world in that event, and <\/span>broke national records<\/span><\/a> in the 50 free (24.85) 100 free (53.32). Her time in the 200 was just a tenth off her own national record, and her 100 free time moves her up to sixth in the world from 2019. You can follow along with the rest of the Mare Nostrum series <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

#2 – Ariarne Titmus Breaks Australian Record in 400 Free To Open Aussie Trials<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Ian MacNicol<\/p><\/div>\n

The 2019 Australian World Swimming Trials opened this week in Brisbane, with <\/span>Ariarne Titmus <\/b>taking down the<\/span> Australian and Commonwealth records<\/span><\/a> on the opening night of the meet. The 18-year-old broke her own national record with a 3:59.35, good for second in the world for 2019 and officially punching her ticket to South Korea this summer. Other notable swims included <\/span>Mitch Larkin<\/b><\/a> nearly breaking his own Australian and Commonwealth record in the 100 back with a dominant 52.38 win; <\/span>Kyle Chalmers<\/b><\/a> winning a tight 200 free battle in 1:45.76; and two women breaking 16:00 in the 1500 free with <\/span>Madeleine Gough<\/b><\/a> ultimately taking the win in 15:56.39. Swimmers from Down Under will be vying for spots on the 2019 World Championship team for next month\u2019s worlds in Gwangju, South Korea through the rest of the week. You can follow along with all sessions of the meet<\/span> here<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

#1 – Katie Ledecky Goes Sub 4:00 At Santa Clara International<\/b><\/h3>\n
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Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

The weekend was the annual 2019 Santa Clara International, where some of the top US National Team on the west coast quietly threw down some world-class performances ahead of this summer\u2019s international meets. <\/span>Katie Ledecky<\/b><\/a> did what she does best, dropping a sub-4:00 performance in the 400 free to post the top time in the world with a 3:59.28. <\/span>Simone Manuel<\/b><\/a> also had some strong performances over the weekend, including a pair of season-bests in the 100 free (53.30 – prelims) and a 24.34 in the 50 free, while teammate <\/span>Katie Drabot<\/b><\/a> won the 200 fly in 2:06.67 to move up to fourth in the world. \u00a0The contingent from Cal also had an impressive weekend, with <\/span>Katie McLaughlin<\/b><\/a> posting strong wins in the 100 fly (57.77), 200 free (1:56.48). Teammate <\/span>Abbey Weitzeil <\/b>also had a season-best in the 100 free (54.05). You can see all the recaps from the four day meet<\/span> here<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n