Katie Ledecky Dominates 1500m Freestyle Prelims, 17 Seconds Ahead at Paris Olympics

Jul 30, 2024, 11:45 AM

Katie Ledecky, the reigning US swimming champion and Olympic medalist, has once again showcased her dominance in the 1500-meter freestyle at the Paris Olympics. Bethesda's hometown hero, who has not lost a 1,500-meter freestyle race in 14 years, finished first in the preliminaries with a time of 15:47.43, more than 17 seconds ahead of her closest competitors, Li Bingjie and Beatriz Dizotti. Ledecky had a 25 metre lead during the race and will compete for the gold medal on Wednesday afternoon. Her performance in the heats solidifies her status as the favorite, continuing her streak of unparalleled excellence in the event. American swimmer Katie Grimes finished fifth in the same heat with a time of 16:12.11. Ledecky’s remarkable lead and consistent victories underscore her status as one of the greatest swimmers in history.