Ledecky Leads U.S. Swimmers to Success at Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — Katie Ledecky, Bobby Finke, and Gretchen Walsh each secured their third victory at the Toyota U.S. Swimming Championships on Saturday, showcasing their dominance ahead of the World Championships in Singapore this July.

Ledecky extended her 15-year winning streak in the 1500m freestyle with a time of 15 minutes, 36.76 seconds, finishing over 25 seconds ahead of the competition. She holds the record for the 23 fastest times in this event.

The nine-time Olympic champion also secured wins in the 400m and 800m freestyle events during the championships, making her presence felt as she prepares for her seventh global championship appearance. “I’m excited. I still feel the same excitement, the same energy from the team,” Ledecky said.

Finke, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, added to his successful meet by winning the 800m freestyle, an event in which he has already claimed a world title. He also took home first place in the 1500m freestyle. “I knew the guys behind me were having an incredible meet,” Finke said.

Walsh matched an American record of 23.91 seconds in the women’s 50m freestyle event, tying with Kate Douglass’ previous record. “I’m just excited for the opportunity to race it again,” Walsh expressed after her victory.

The championships also showcased impressive performances across various events. Jack Alexy made headlines as he clinched the men’s 50m freestyle title, finishing with a time of 21.36 seconds, the second-fastest in U.S. history. “I wanted to focus on my race,” Alexy said.

The U.S. team is gearing up for the World Championships, aiming to build on the momentum from their strong performances in Indianapolis. Competition will begin at the end of July in Singapore.