Katie Ledecky was barely in the pool when US swimming great Michael Phelps was asked about the precocious teenager who seems to mow down world records at will.
“It is always something special when she gets in the water,” Phelps said with an eye toward the timing board.
Minutes later, Ledecky produced yet another special moment in her young career by smashing her own world record in the 800m freestyle with a scorching 8 minutes, 6.68 seconds on Sunday night in the Arena Pro Swim Series.
It is the fourth time the 18-year-old — who does not even have a driver’s license yet — has broken the record since 2013, and she crushed her previous mark of 8 minutes, 7.39 seconds set last year at the World Championships.
“I was feeling good going into it,” Ledecky said. “I knew if I swam it the right way, I could do something good. I did not know it would be that good.”
This is getting routine for Ledecky in the 800m. She owns eight of the top 10 times in history.
She was not challenged as the crowd, knowing she was on record pace, cheered her on. American Becca Mann was second, but far back at 8 minutes, 24.49 seconds.
Ledecky’s race started just a few minutes after Phelps beat Olympic teammate and longtime rival Ryan Lochte in the 200m individual medley in a battle between the old guard of US swimming. Phelps is 30 years old and Lochte is 31 years old heading into preparation for the Summer Games in Brazil.
Lochte led after two lengths, only to be caught over the final 10m as Phelps ripped through the freestyle leg to win in 1 minute, 58 seconds. Lochte was second at 1 minute, 58.43 seconds. Phelps, in lane four, could see Lochte, who was out in lane seven and could not see Phelps over the final 50m.
“I can look back throughout my career and say: ‘He is the one who brought the most out of me,’” Phelps said.
Lochte owns the world record, and he and Phelps hold all of the top 10 times in history.
Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu won the 100m backstroke in 59.91 seconds. With American Missy Franklin, the 2012 Olympic champion, swimming in the lane to her immediate left, Hosszu made the turn in first then had to hold off a charge from Franklin over the final five meters. Franklin was second in 1 minute, 00.03 seconds.
Hosszu followed that win with another dominant performance in the 200m individual medley, an event she has owned for years. Hosszu has the world record and six of the top 10 times, and easily won again in 2 minutes, 10.69 seconds.
Matt Grevers, who won the Olympic gold medal in 2012 and finished third at last year’s World Championships, won the men’s 100m backstroke in 53.35 seconds, beating his US Olympic teammates Ryan Murphy and David Plummer.
Grevers, Murphy and Plummer posted three of the five fastest times in the world last year and Grevers said it would be a tough fight to make the US team in Rio de Janeiro. Murphy’s 52.18 seconds was the second-fastest time in the world last year.
“You never know,” Grevers said. “It will be one of us and Murphy.”
Cammile Adams won the 200m butterfly in 2 minutes, 08.21 seconds. Singapore’s Quah Zheng Wen won the men’s 200m butterfly in 1 minute, 58.07 seconds.
Andrew Wilson, who won the US Championship last year and is to be competing in his first Olympic trials this year, won the men’s 100m breaststroke in 1 minute, 00.42 seconds.
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