Katie Ledecky is so fast that she has already posted qualifying times for two men’s events at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials.
Ledecky’s world records from this summer came in under the USA Swimming Olympic Trials men’s time standards announced last week, as the Chicago Tribune and swimming outlets reported.
Ledecky holds the women’s world record in the 400m freestyle of 3:58.37. The men’s Olympic Trials qualifying time is 3:58.69.
Ledecky holds the women’s world record in the 1500m freestyle of 15:28.36. The men’s Olympic Trials qualifying time is 15:49.99.
Not even the great Janet Evans came in under a men’s Olympic Trials cut in her heyday in 1988, though the 1500m qualifying standard in 1988 was actually tougher than for 2016.
Ledecky likely won’t be the only woman in the world who beats the men’s time standard in the 1500m free during the qualifying period that began July 30, 2014. Last year, her top rivals — Lotte Friis (Denmark), Lauren Boyle (New Zealand) and Jazz Carlin (Great Britain) — swam faster than 15:49.99.
However, the 1500m free is not an Olympic event on the women’s side.
Ledecky’s 1500m free world record is .01 faster than Ryan Lochte‘s time at the 2004 Olympic Trials, one of the rare instances Lochte swam a 1500m free. Ledecky’s time would have placed fifth in the final there.
