Katie Ledecky swims fifth-fastest 1500m freestyle at Fort Lauderdale Open; extends 15-year win streak at Fort Lauderdale Open

Katie Ledecky swims fifth-fastest 1500m freestyle at Fort Lauderdale Open; extends 15-year win streak at Fort Lauderdale Open

Katie Ledecky swims fifth-fastest 1500m freestyle in history at Fort Lauderdale Open

Katie Ledecky swims fifth-fastest 1500m freestyle in history at Fort Lauderdale Open

Ledecky, the most decorated female swimmer in Olympic history, dominated the women’s 1500m freestyle event.

Katie Ledecky, the nine-time Olympic gold medallist, added another entry to her long list of achievements, clocking the fifth-fastest time in history in the women’s 1500m freestyle event at theFort Lauderdale Openswimmingmeet on Wednesday (29 April).

The Team USA star came first with a time of 15:25.62, finishing more than a minute ahead of her closest competitor, 15-year-oldSydney Hardy, who was second in 16:42.76.

The 29-year-old Ledecky, who won two golds atParis 2024, was on world-record pace through the first 500m before fading slightly off the blistering closing speed that powered her to the 15:20.48 mark in 2018.

Victory extended Ledecky’s 15-year win streak at the event, and also meant that she now holds the 13-fastest times in the event.

In May 2025, at the same pool, Ledecky brokeher own 800m freestyle world recordwith a time of 8:04.12.

The Fort Lauderdale Open, which runs through Saturday, isheadlinedby Ledecky, alongside the world’s other top swimmers, including fellow North AmericanSummer McIntoshof Canada, and FrenchmanLéon Marchand.

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Picture by 2026 Getty Images