Katie Ledecky Looking to Bolster Stellar Track Record at Pan Pacific Championships
Wherever Katie Ledecky competes, gold is predominantly the color of the medals draped around her neck. At the Olympic Games, nine of her 14 medals have been golden. At the World Championships, she stood on the top step for 23 of her 30 podium finishes. But Ledecky’s best percentage of golden moments is from the Pan Pacific Championships, with eight of her 10 medals representing a title.
How will she fare in her next appearance?
Ledecky is slated to contest the 200 freestyle through 1500 freestyle, along with the 800 freestyle relay, at next week’s Pan Pacific Championships in Southern California. The meet will serve as the latest showcase for the 29-year-old, who has been at the top of the sport for a decade and a half. Her scheduled workload is heavy, and with the 200 freestyle and 1500 freestyle both on the opening night of competition, it wouldn’t be surprising if Ledecky opted out of the shorter distance.
Whatever Ledecky decides, she’ll have the opportunity to add to what has been a terrific relationship with Pan Pacs. The meet is making its return after the 2022 edition was canceled due to scheduling changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Between the 2014 edition (Gold Coast) and the 2018 meet (Tokyo), Ledecky has won seven of her eight individual races. Here’s a look at her success at Pan Pacs.
2014 Pan Pacific Championships (Gold Coast)
Racing in Australia, Ledecky set world records in the 400 freestyle (3:58.37) and the 1500 freestyle (15:28.36), winning the events by respective margins of six and 27 seconds. She also won the 800 freestyle in 8:11.35, which was good for a seven-second victory, and prevailed in the 200 freestyle (1:55.74) by 1.48 seconds.
In the 800 freestyle relay, Ledecky anchored the United States to a championship record behind a split of 1:54.36. That effort rallied Team USA to a comeback win over Australia.
2018 Pan Pacific Championships (Tokyo)
For the second straight Pan Pacs, Ledecky was golden in the 400 freestyle, 800 freestyle and 1500 freestyle, all thee distance events won in commanding fashion. She took the 400 free in 3:58.50, which was 1.16 seconds clear of a rising Ariarne Titmus. She clocked 8:09.13 in the 800 freestyle to defeat Titmus by almost eight seconds and her time of 15:38.97 in the 1500 free was good for a 21-plus-second decision.
In the 200 freestyle, Ledecky was the bronze medalist in 1:55.15 and her split of 1:53.84 in the 800 freestyle relay was the quickest in the field and helped the United States to the silver medal.
