This is the first time the 1500 freestyle has been added to the women’s program, and with the inclusion of the 800 freestyle for men, there are now equal opportunities for both genders. The first of five heats of the women’s 1500-meter freestyle began at 6:55 p.m. (Japanese time) on Monday night at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Katie Ledecky of the United States led qualifying, with a time of 15:35.35, the eighth-fastest in history and giving her the 11th-fastest mark of all time. With a time of 15:20.48, Ledecky holds the world record in the race, with an 18-second lead over the second-best performer in history, Lotte Friis of Denmark. The 1500 freestyle prelim was Ledecky’s second event of the prelim session, after advancing to the semifinals in the 200 freestyle as the top seed.
Women’s 1500 Freestyle
World Record: Katie Ledecky, United States, 15:20.48 (2018)
Olympic Record: New Event
Finalists
1. Katie Ledecky (United States) 15:35.35
2. Wang Jianjiahe (China) 15:41.49
3. Erica Sullivan (United States) 15:46.67
4. Simona Quadarella (Italy) 15:47.34
5. Anastasiia Kirpichnikova (Russia) 15:50.22
6. Sarah Kohler (Germany) 15:52.67
7. Maddy Gough (Australia) 15:56.81
8. Kiah Melverton (Australia) 15:58.96