Katie Ledecky

Ledecky Ties Debbie Meyer & Donna De Varona For Most Individual LC World Records By U.S. Woman

May 7, 2025 by Tara S

by Daniel Takata | SwimSwam

Last Saturday, Katie Ledecky stunned the world by breaking the women’s 800-meter freestyle world record in long course meters with a time of 8:04.12 at the Fort Lauderdale stop of the 2025 Pro Swim Series.

The feat was remarkable on many levels. Her previous world record of 8:04.79 from 2016 was already impressive, and she managed to surpass it nearly nine years later.

Her most recent world records had been set in 2022 during the World Cup in short course meters, having set new all-time marks in the 800 and 1500 free. However, in long course meters, her last world record was set in 2018, done in the 1500 free at a Pro Swim Series meet.

She now holds 15 world records in long course meters, all in individual events. This ties her with Donna de Varona and Debbie Meyer as the American women with the most individual world records in 50-meter pools. She also equals Danish Ragnhild Hveger and Australian Dawn Fraser, trailing only East German Kornelia Ender, who set 22 individual world records in her career.https://www.instagram.com/p/DJS1aLSA304/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1080&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fswimswam.com&rp=%2Fledecky-ties-debbie-meyer-donna-de-varona-for-most-individual-lc-world-records-by-u-s-woman%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A1238.3000000044703%2C%22ls%22%3A705.3000000044703%2C%22le%22%3A1106.4000000059605%7D

Ledecky, already considered by many as the greatest female swimmer in history, continues to set impressive marks in an aspect that has long made her a legend: longevity.

In the list above, Ledecky’s longevity stands out, as she has broken world records over a span of 12 years. In that list, the closest is Fraser, who broke records in the 100 and 200 freestyle over eight years, between 1956 and 1964.

In fact, the swimmer who has broken world records over the longest time span in history is Sarah Sjostrom, with a 14-year interval between 2009 and 2023. However, those records were in different events. In this regard, within the same event, no one surpasses Ledecky, with just under 12 years between her first and latest world record in the 800 freestyle.

Another interesting fact: Ledecky has set world records in both the 800 and 1500 freestyle six times each. She thus becomes only the third swimmer in history to have broken world records six or more times in two different events. Besides her, only de Varona (eight times in the 200 IM and six times in the 400 IM) and Ender (nine times in the 100 freestyle and six times in the 100 butterfly) have achieved this.

These are just a few more accomplishments to add to the resume of Katie Ledecky, the greatest female swimmer in history.

Clark and Ledecky lead charge of women’s sports in Indy

June 18, 2024 by Tara S

INDIANAPOLIS – Anyone looking for proof of the meteoric rise of women’s sport need look no further than downtown Indianapolis this weekend where within a five block radius fans turned out in their droves to witness the brilliance of Katie Ledecky and Caitlin Clark.

Seven-times Olympic gold medallist Ledecky qualified for her fourth Games under the lights of Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday in front of an adoring crowd of 20,689, a record number for a swim meet.

Less than 24 hours later, Clark thrilled a sold-out arena of 17,274 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the WNBA’s Indiana Fever beat the visiting Chicago Sky 91-83.

“It just shows that when given the opportunity, women’s sports are amazingly fun to watch and only on the rise,” Clark told reporters after scoring 23 points in the hard-fought win.

“People are finally starting to realise how great of a product it is,” she said.

“Once they come and watch one time they can’t get enough and they continue to come back.

“To be a small part of that is super fun and to play in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,000 people, that’s not something you ever take for granted.”

Clark was on the receiving end of a hard foul from rival Angel Reese during the contest but said that is just the way it goes when elite athletes battle head-to-head.

“People love to see the emotion and the passion that we play with,” she said.

“I think that was something that was maybe not appreciated in women’s sports and it should be. That’s what makes it fun.”

Ledecky said she was having more fun than ever after punching her ticket to the Paris Games with a triumph in the 400 metres freestyle.

The 27-year-old was by far the biggest attraction on the opening night of the U.S. Olympic Trials, which for the first time are being held inside an NFL stadium with the atmosphere of a rock concert.

“I was blown away walking out there and seeing all the fans,” Ledecky said.

“I hope it moves our sport forward. I hope there are some young swimmers out there that get excited about today.”

Clark’s team mate Aliyah Boston said she is proud to be part of a movement that is inspiring the next generation.

“Younger girls now have so many more athletes to look up to and say I want to be like her, I want to be an Olympian just like her,” Boston said.

“To be a part of that is amazing. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” REUTERS