Katie Ledecky is back on top, shattering her own world record in the 800m freestyle with a stunning time of 8:04.12 at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale. The 28-year-old American swimmer dominated the event, leaving the second-place finisher, Jillian Cox, nearly 20 seconds behind with a time of 8:23.58.
A Dominant Performance
Ledecky’s impressive performance was met with a mix of shock and awe from the crowd. When she touched the wall, the audience erupted in cheers, and she celebrated by slapping the water and raising her fist in triumph. “I can’t stop smiling, but it’s been that way all week,” Ledecky said after the race. “It took a lot of years for this to happen. It was an amazing night! The crowd was incredible tonight, and I couldn’t have done it without their support.” She added, “When I turned, I heard the noise and thought, ‘I’m not going to waste this opportunity,’ and I started to pick up the pace.”
Breaking Records
This achievement comes after Ledecky posted the second-fastest time ever in the 1500m freestyle just a few days earlier, with a time of 15:24.51. Her record-breaking performance has put to rest speculation that she was past her prime. For nearly 13 years, Ledecky has been the queen of long-distance swimming, breaking multiple records along the way. Although she hadn’t improved her times in seven years, she’s proven she’s still got it.
The event wasn’t the only highlight of the day. Fellow American Gretchen Walsh made history by becoming the first woman to break the 55-second barrier in the 100m butterfly, clocking in at 54.60. This impressive feat came on the same day she had already set the world record earlier.
Here are some key points from the event:
- Katie Ledecky set a new world record in the 800m freestyle with a time of 8:04.12.
- Jillian Cox finished second with a time of 8:23.58, nearly 20 seconds behind Ledecky.
- Ledecky posted the second-fastest time ever in the 1500m freestyle just a few days earlier.
- Gretchen Walsh became the first woman to break the 55-second barrier in the 100m butterfly.
WORLD RECORD. AGAIN. 🔥
Katie Ledecky just dropped a blistering 8:04.12 in the Women’s 800m Free — breaking her own world record from Rio 2016 (8:04.79)! 🐬👑
Nearly a decade later, she’s still raising the bar. 🤯💥 Set at the TYR Pro Swim Series in Fort Lauderdale, this swim… pic.twitter.com/H3rnzP62kw
— World Aquatics (@WorldAquatics) May 3, 2025
KATIE. FREAKING. LEDECKY.
She just went 8:04.12 to BREAK HER OWN WORLD RECORD from the 2016 Rio Olympics in the 800-meter freestyle!#TYRProSeries pic.twitter.com/3goB3bctSF
— USA Swimming (@USASwimming) May 3, 2025
To all the people who said Katie Ledecky was “past her prime,” I am pleased to inform you that you are…
…wrong 🤝pic.twitter.com/5gTeuJam3n
— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) May 2, 2025
During the final day of the 2025 Pro Swim Series stop in Fort Lauderdale, Katie Ledecky won the women’s 800 freestyle in an astonishing 8:04.12. This is a new world record, 0.67 seconds faster than her own previous standard from the 2016 Olympic Games. pic.twitter.com/Ptw6UaUmfO
— Swimming Stats (@SwimmingStats) May 3, 2025