After a record-breaking 2016, it was not very surprising that Katie Ledecky was not in the same shape she was last summer in Rio this summer. Having made the transition to college swimming over the last year, which included switching coaches and training styles, it was unrealistic to expect a performance identical to her record-breaking one at the Olympics. This summer, with the U.S. National Team in Budapest, Hungary, Ledecky competed in the FINA World Championships, the second most important international competition only behind the Olympic games. Even though she may not have been in top form, Ledecky was still the most dominating female swimmer in the pool.
On day one, Ledecky was off to the races in the 400-meter freestyle. Not surprisingly, she led the entire way, touching more than three seconds ahead of everyone at 3:58.34. Even being two seconds slower than her time in Rio, Ledecky was practically untouchable in one of her shorter races. This time still ranks as the second-fastest time in history and the second fastest for Ledecky. Twelve months ago, 3:58.34 would have been a new World Record. To say she is out of shape is not necessarily true. She is simply not as sharp as she was in Rio.
A few days later, Ledecky was upset in the 200-meter freestyle, sort of. In unusual fashion, Ledecky was chased down by Italy's Federica Pellegrini on the last 50-meters. While the American Olympic champion was the favorite heading into Budapest, Pellegrini is the World Record holder in this event, making her always in the hunt for the gold. Ledecky ended up tying for silver with Australian Emma Mckeon in 1:55.18. Not only was this her first silver medal, but the event marked Ledecky's first individual loss, or non-gold performance, at a major international competition.
In her most signature events, however, Ledecky continued her unbeaten streak by taking gold in the 1500-meter and 800-meter freestyle on days three and seven, respectively. Ledecky was nineteen seconds ahead of second place in the 1500-meter, as she posted the fourth faster time in history. Not quite as dominant in the 800 meter, she still got the job done in a time of 8:12.68. Along with the 400-meter freestyle, these gold medals mark Ledecky's third straight World Championship titles in the distance freestyle events.
What many would consider a post-Olympic slump, Ledecky may not have been near her world record times, yet she still remains the Queen of Distance Swimming. Ledecky still brought home three individual gold medals, an individual silver, plus two relay golds, adding her name to a list of the greatest swimmers of all time. With the most golds by any woman at World Championships, Ledecky sits behind only Michael Phelps for gold medals won by any swimmer. At only twenty-years-old, Ledecky sits among the best swimmers of all time and will likely one day top that list.
Now Ledecky will turn her attention back to NCAA competition. After a successful freshman season, she will look to repeat as national champion in the 200-yard, 500-yard, and 1650-yard freestyle. Ledecky will likely be unchallenged in the 500 and 1650, but just as it was at World Championships, the 200 will be another battle. At last year’s NCAA Championships, Louisville’s Mallory Comerford shocked the swimming world by tying Ledecky in the 200-yard freestyle. While it is unlikely, Ledecky might try her hand at the 400-yard individual medley, an event she swam at the Pac-12 Championships. Either way, it is bound to be another record-breaking season for the best female swimmer in the world. Ledecky, along with her teammates, might just be able to bring another NCAA Championship back to the Farm in 2018.