The Paris Olympics swimming competition kicked off with a bang! In the women’s 400m freestyle preliminary heats, swimming legend Katie Ledecky, the 2016 gold medalist and former world record holder, set the fastest time, promising an epic final.
Ledecky’s performance was nothing short of spectacular. She overtook Australian Ariarne Titmus, the Tokyo gold medalist and current world record holder, in the final stretch of the third heat, finishing with a time of 4:02.19. Titmus is a formidable competitor, known for her incredible speed, making Ledecky’s victory even more impressive.
Adding another layer of intrigue to the race, Canadian Summer McIntosh, a former world record holder, was in the mix, but she finished just behind New Zealand’s Erika Fairweather, the reigning world champion. Notably, both Ledecky and Titmus were absent from the recent world championships, allowing Fairweather to claim the title.
The close competition in the preliminary heats – all four swimmers were separated by a mere 0.46 seconds – has sparked anticipation for a truly unforgettable final. The stage is set for a “race of the century” showdown, with all eyes focused on the four exceptional swimmers.
A Race for the Ages
The final is set to be a nail-biter, with the four swimmers pushing their limits to achieve victory. They’ve all demonstrated remarkable speed, with personal best times significantly under four minutes.
Titmus currently holds the world record at 3:55.38, set at the 2023 world championships. It’s clear that achieving a new world record will be essential to claiming gold in Saturday’s final.
Get ready for an exhilarating showdown! Don’t miss the finals session, starting at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC, Peacock, NBCOlympics.com and more. This is a race that will be remembered for years to come.
