Katie Ledecky swam to a world record of 7 minutes, 57.42 seconds in the 1,500m freestyle in a World Cup meet.
The previous record of 7:59.34 by Spain’s Mireia Belmonte had stood since 2013.
Indianapolis is one of three stops on the World Cup circuit organised by Fina, the world governing body for aquatic sports. The previous two were at Berlin and Toronto.
The 25-year-old Ledecky won by nearly 10 seconds over silver medalist Summer McIntosh, a 16-year-old Canadian. The American earned a $10,000 bonus.
The world record was the 17th by Ledecky since 2013, her second in short course (25m pool) and second set in Indianapolis. She set the world record in long course (50m pool) in the 1,500 freestyle with a time of 15:20.48 in this natatorium on May 16, 2018.
She lowered the world record in the short course 1,500 freestyle to 15:08.24 last week in Toronto. Her time at 800 metres, 8:00.58, nearly broke Belmonte’s world record for that distance.
“I think I was putting a lot of pressure on myself after last week,” Ledecky said.
“Having the fans here cheering me on meant a lot.”
Ledecky has seven Olympic gold medals and 19 world championship golds, both the most by a female swimmer.
Thapa betters own feat
New Delhi: India’s Shiva Thapa on Sunday became the first male boxer in the history of Asian Championships to win six medals after he out-punched Minsu Choi of South Korea to progress to the semi-finals in Amman, Jordan.
The seasoned Thapa (63.5kg) prevailed 4-1 over Choi in the light welterweight quarter final to secure his sixth consecutive medal.
With the win, Thapa is assured of at least a bronze medal in the ongoing edition, bettering his own position as the most successful Indian boxer in the tournament.
His haul includes a gold (2013), two silver (2017 and 2021) and as many bronze medals (2015 and 2019).
He overtook Kazakh legend Vassiliy Levit, an Olympic silver medallist, who was the only other male pugilist with five Asian Championship medals.
PTI