Katie Ledecky added another title to her storied career Tuesday, winning gold in the women’s 1500-meter freestyle at the 2025 World Aquatics Championships. She finished with a time of 15 minutes and 26.44 seconds, marking the fifth-fastest performance in history and reaffirming her unmatched status in the distance event.
Italy’s Simona Quadarella earned silver in 15:31.79, setting a new European record, while Australia’s Lani Pallister took bronze in 15:41.18. The fast-paced final saw Ledecky leading from the start and holding world-record pace through the 1,250-meter mark.
“I was just trying to get out fast, but comfortable enough that I could go from there,” Ledecky said after the race. “I’m happy with the time and happy with the swim.”
Now a 10-time world champion in the 1500-meter freestyle, Ledecky continues to widen the gap between herself and the rest of the field. With Tuesday’s performance, she owns 25 of the 26 fastest times ever recorded in the event. It was her 22nd career gold at the World Championships and 28th overall, adding to a resume that includes nine Olympic gold medals.
“I love this race,” Ledecky said. “It was the race I broke my first world record in 2013. Lots of great races over the years.”
The American team entered the day with top qualifying times in multiple events and finished with one gold and three silver medals, despite having battled a recent bout of acute gastroenteritis picked up during the team’s training camp in Thailand.
“We’re taking it a day at a time,” said U.S. head coach Greg Meehan. “I’m really proud of our team, our medical staff working overtime. You don’t want your medical staff working overtime.”
Elsewhere in the competition, Romania’s David Popovici surged in the final 50 meters to win the men’s 200-meter freestyle in 1:43.53, edging out American Luke Hobson (1:43.84). Japan’s Tatsuya Murasa finished third.
Australia’s Kaylee McKeown narrowly defeated American Regan Smith in the women’s 100-meter backstroke, clocking 57.16, just 0.03 seconds off Smith’s world record. Smith finished with silver, and fellow American Katharine Berkoff secured bronze.
South Africa’s Pieter Coetze captured gold in the men’s 100 meter backstroke (51.85), while Germany’s Anna Elendt won the women’s 100 meter breaststroke from an outside lane with a time of 1:05.19.
Tuesday’s events marked Day three of the championships. Notably absent was Canada’s Summer McIntosh, who had already claimed two golds and is expected to face Ledecky later in the week in the 800-meter freestyle, one of the most anticipated matchups of the tournament.
