Ledecky breaks 1500m world record, wins women’s 1500m world gold
Katie Ledecky of the USA demolished her own world record as she retained the women’s 1500m freestyle world title in Tuesday’s final.
Having broken the world record in Monday morning’s heats, the 18-year-old triple world record-holder knocked 2.23 seconds off her own personal best to clock 15 minutes, 25.48secs.
New Zealand’s Lauren Boyle took silver at 14.66secs back while Hungary’s Boglarka Kapas came home for bronze at 21.61secs adrift.
This is the ninth world record of Ledecky’s fledgling career depite having only just completed High School in Maryland and the long-distance expert also holds the 400m and 800m world records.
This is the seventh time a world record has fallen in Kazan and the third occasion on Tuesday alone.
Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrom broke the women’s 100m butterfly record twice en route to winning gold in Monday’s final in 55.64secs.
Hungary’s ‘Iron Lady’, Katinka Hosszu, set a new record of two mins 06.12 secs when she won gold in the 200m individual medley final, also on Monday.
Cameron van der Burgh of South Africa broke his own 50m breaststroke record in Tuesday morning’s heats only for Britain’s Adam Peaty to better it in the evening’s semi-finals by swimming 26.42secs.
